When I sat down to write today I realized I had collected nine pages worth of stuff to tell you about. * Some weeks I have a little room to ramble in my blog, but this isn't one of those weeks, so I'm cutting right to the chase and I promise I'll edit it all down to the essentials...
I presume we all know that Halloween is on Sunday, right? * I've heard rumors of a parental uprising to hold Trick or Treating on Saturday night since Sunday is a school night, but I'm not into that. My little ghost and kitty-cat are Trick or Treating on October 31 (ahem, neighbors)...
Since I'm on the subject I'll just go right in to the list of Halloween-related events, but keep reading past this section because there is a lot more to do on the Banks this week beyond candy and monsters...
The Halloween events kick off on Thursday with the North Carolina Aquarium's Trick or Treat under the Sea, but if you don't already have tickets you won't be going! They're sold out...
Three local haunted houses begin on Thursday. The Lost Colony's Quarantine Island Haunted House runs Thursday through Saturday nights from 7:30 until 10 p.m. It's $10 a person. Does anyone remember when the Jaycees had haunted houses at Waterside Theatre about 10 or 15 years ago? Trust me, Waterside Theatre is the perfect spooky setting, so much so it's not recommended for kids younger than 10. It benefits RIHA and Dare CASA. Call (252) 473-2127 * Black Pelican's Haunted House is Thursday through Saturday nights as well. Hours are 6 to 8:30 p.m. and their fee is $5 for adults and $2 for children (to benefit Relay for Life.) * The Coast Guard Haunted House is at the Hatteras Inlet Coast Guard station on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., and admission is a canned food donation...
On Friday, Children at Play Museum in Kitty Hawk has its Halloween Hayday event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. * There's a Pumpkin Carving Contest at the Fessenden Center in Buxton from 3 to 5 p.m...
On Saturday, Elizabethan Gardens has its Harvest Hay Day with hayrides, a haybale maze, music, crafts, games, a bake sale and more. It's from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids younger than 12 get in free with a paying adult. Call (252) 473-3234. * Rodanthe is hosting a Halloween Parade and Party at the Community Center from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wear your costume. * The Red Wolf Coalition is holding a special free Howl-O-Ween Wolf Howling on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Alligator River NWR. Call (252) 796-5600 to register...
On Sunday, Nags Head Church has its huge Trunk or Treat event from 6 to 8 p.m. It's a one-stop Trick or Treating event with free candy, hot dogs, drinks, games and more, and up to 3,000 people are expected. Call (252) 441-7548...
On Halloween night, adults who want to get dressed up can take it on down to Kelly's Halloween Party, where two DJs will be spinning tunes and hosting a costume contest (they are also have a Halloween Party on Saturday night with the band Borderline Crazy), or to Port 'O Call for the Happy Halloween DJ Dance Party, or to the Brewing Station for the Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball IX...
And, as promised, the beyond-Halloween events.
In the fitness realm, the 2nd Annual Kinnakeet Health and Fitness Fair is being held at the Avon Fire Station on Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m. Area agencies and the hospital will be offering information and services like blood-pressure checks, glucose screenings and more. * There's a special Vinyasa/Hatha Yoga Class on Thursday at the Comfort Inn North Hotel on Thursday at 6 p.m. Roger Jarrell is offering the class to the attendees at the Association of Transpersonal Hypnotherapists, but anyone can drop in...
On Friday, take the little kids to Wildfest at the Wright Brothers Pavilion in KDH. It was supposed to be a school holiday, but now the schoolkids have to make up that day, so this is going to be a treat for the little kids. It's usually so crowded but I bet this year will be much more tolerable. * It's a free event with educational booths and activities related to the local wildlife. Pamlico Joe will be performing at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The overall event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m...
This weekend former local Don Bridge returns to the Theatre of Dare as director of Sylvia. It's a romantic comedy about marriage and a talking dog. TOD shows are always top-notch. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at COA Dare Campus. Call (252) 261-4064 for info...
On Saturday, Roanoke Island Festival Park is hosting NC A&T University's offering of Dancing and Drumming of Africa and the Caribbean. Expect drums, vibrant costumes and powerful dancing. Shows are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Indoor Theater. Call (252) 475-1500...
Saturday is also the First Annual Marshes Light King Mackerel Tournament on Roanoke Island. The first 30 anglers to sign up are given a free slip for the weekend, and there's a guaranteed first prize of $10,000. For more info contact (252) 305-4737...
Saturday night, Left Bank Restaurant is hosting its Duck In Duck Dinner to celebrate the beginning of duck season. Duckhorn Vineyards and Chef de Cuisine Travis Robertson are featuring a six-course meal for $100 a person...
And, quite possibly, the best for last. Starting October 30 and running through November 7 is Outer Banks Restaurant Week. All week long, local restaurants are offering special deals and you can see a big list of them in our By Day and By Night sections. Also during the week, more than 15 local restaurants are offering three-course prix fixe lunches or dinners at a fixed price between $20 and $35. See www.outerbanksrestaurantweek.com for full details, and make your reservations early...
A couple of other things I need to give you a head's up about. If you can volunteer for the Outer Banks Marathon, now is the time to sign up * If you want to register for Ashtanga Yoga - A Spiritual Practice Weekend Yoga Retreat from November 5 to 7, call local instructor Michelle Dorer at (252) 202-0345...
That's not all, but that's all I've got room for. Keep looking around our site. From exercise classes to high school sports events to live music to restaurant deals to shopping deals, it's all here in our listings...
Wait, I've got to sneak in one bit of personal commentary: For god's sake, could retail world stop putting out the Christmas stuff already? Can't we at least get through Halloween?...
Now I am done.
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
