See ya, June

By Molly Harrison | Monday, June 28, 2010
Wine festivals are held this week in Corolla and Manteo

Everybody I've been talking to lately is a little freaked at how fast the summer is flying by - me included. * On Wednesday we'll say goodbye to June Sweet June and start making plans for the Fourth of July. * I know that the less you do the slower time goes, but that's not really working for us this summer. We've been doing a lot and we've got a lot more to do...

Still on the summer to-do list for my family: The Lost Colony, the new American Indian Town at Roanoke Island Festival Park, the new Sharks exhibit at the North Carolina Aquarium, an Outer Banks Daredevils baseball game, a couple of shows at the Pioneer Theater in Manteo, a Red Wolf Howling Safari, the Breeches Buoy re-enactment at Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, The Tale of the Frog Prince at Waterside Theatre, the new tram tour at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, First Friday in downtown Manteo, plus the lofty goal of swimming in the ocean every single day in July (as long as the red flags aren't flying)...

And every week the list just grows. Look at all the stuff going on this week (July 4 events are at the end) ...

Outdoor music series are hot, and we're lucky to have several free options: Duck's free Summer Music Series of local acts starts on Tuesday with Aquarium and continues Thursday with Old Enough to Know Better. Shows start at 6 p.m. * On Thursday, the Whalehead Club's Summer Concert Series has the band Connected playing jazz and funk at 6:30 p.m. * On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8 p.m., Roanoke Island Festival Park is hosting A Tribute to George M. Cohan in its Outdoor Pavilion. Cohan wrote more than 1,500 songs, including many standards and Broadway hits. * All of these outdoor music shows are free, and seating is on the lawn so bring a blanket or chairs and a picnic...

Outdoor wine festivals are also hot. * In Corolla, the Whalehead Club offers its Wednesday Wine Festivals every Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. This week at the wine festival local favorite songwriter Becky Kessler along with Ed Tupper on double bass are playing, and they should not be missed * The Town of Manteo hosts its Waterfront Wine Festivals on Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. * Both festivals offer wine tastings, live music and food...

Wednesday through Friday, Kitty Hawk Sports is hosting a Sand Sculpture Festival at its Nags Head location across from Jockeys Ridge State Park. * Basically, a team comes in to build a mind-boggling sand-sculpture and Kitty Hawk Sports hosts a party around them. Wednesday is Kids' Day with lots of games. Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. you can take a sand-sculpture clinic and on Friday at 10 a.m. there's a kids' sand sculpture contest. * They'll also have Skin Cancer Screenings by Outer Banks Hospital Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m...

Wednesday night is the Dare County Arts Council's Annual Awards Ceremony and "White Hot Cabaret" with a program designed by the folks at Elizabeth R and Co. It's at Pamlico Jack's in Nags Head. * Everybody dressed in white will be a lovely sight. Tix are $25 but get them in advance (473-5558)...

Friday is First Friday in downtown Manteo - the night when the people of Roanoke Island (and elsewhere) hit the downtown streets for outdoor dining, live music and entertainment all over town, special deals in the shops and just good fun. * Hatteras Island artist Stephanie Kiker is opening her Colored Pencil and Pastel show at the Dare County Arts Council Gallery in Manteo that night from 6 to 8 p.m. * And don't forget to come back downtown for the Manteo Farmers Market on Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon...

On Saturday, get a taste of the local seafood at the Hatteras Village Fish Fry and the Kinnakeet Fish Fry. Both are from 5 to 7 p.m. at the village Fire Stations...

This week the action doesn't die down on Sunday -- it keeps ratcheting up for the Fourth of July. * Here's a quick rundown of what you can do on the Fourth:

Rodanthe: 3:30 p.m. at the Rodanthe Civic Association Building - patriotic music, community singing, a reading of the Declaration of Independence (why don't more towns do this?) and a Watermelon feast...

Corolla: 6 to 11 p.m. with fireworks at dusk at the Whalehead Club. Food, music, activities.

Manteo: Downtown festivities start at 2 p.m. and include live music, karaoke, contests (apple pie, decorated bike, wacky hat), The Crowd playing at 6 p.m. The party continues at Roanoke Island Festival Park at 8 p.m. with a show of patriotic music and fireworks at dusk.

Duck: Duck's not staging its annual parade and party until the 5th because of Sunday check-in /check-out traffic. The parade starts at 9 a.m. on Monday and Ruth Wyand will play in the park afterward...

Don't stay out too late on July 4 and you might be able to get up and run the Killer Dunes 2-Miler on Jockey's Ridge at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 5. Note the name of the event and be forewarned. It's a doozy. I wish they'd do it a little earlier. 9 a.m. on the ridge is beyond Saharan. * You have to register by July 2 so don't delay! See www.fsseries.com. There's also a Kids Firecracker Fun Run ¼ Mile on Jockey's Ridge...

If you're going out on the town this week, here are a couple of highlights: Cracker at Kelly's on Wednesday; King Yellowman (reggae) at Port O'Call on Wednesday; Ben Phelps Project at Kelly's on Thursday; Lloyd Dobler Effect on Thursday at Outer Banks Brewing Station; Rajun Cajuns at Ocean Boulevard on Friday; Jesse Chong Band on Friday at Outer Banks Brewing Station; Monster Band at Kelly's on Friday and Saturday; Tyler Reeve (country) at Kelly's on Sunday...

Keep looking around the site for many, many more things to do, places to eat and where to shop. * More businesses and attractions are coming on board every day...

And put your 2 cents in. If you'd like to contribute or add your voice to this blog, you can do that below. Keep in mind that the blog comments are moderated so that this site is only putting positive vibes out there...

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.