Yes, the daffodils are nodding their yellow heads and the sea oats are turning green, but who’s to say we can’t enjoy a little red and green sparkle and some ho, ho, ho all year round?
If you believe that Christmas is a perennial state of mind, you’ll want to check out The Christmas Shop in Manteo. For more than 50 years The Christmas Shop has been a shopping destination offering something for everybody at every price point. And it’s not just Christmas – leprechauns and Easter Bunnies are known to make an appearance right around this time of year!
Christmas All Year
The Christmas Shop offers 25,000 square feet of shopping, so you will want to grab one of their maps before setting out. All the space is wheelchair accessible and pet friendly. To start with some holly jolly, begin on the Christmas side of the shop. OBX ornaments with free personalization are some of the most popular items in the store.
“It’s so nice to pull out those ornaments and have a souvenir you can use every year,” says Gary Chatnik, owner of The Christmas Shop. “Our ornaments help mark the memories you’ve created while at The Outer Banks.”
Lighthouses, sand dollars, mermaids and Outer Banks wild ponies are just a few examples of the coastal keepsake ornaments you can find. There are ornaments for every occupation, hobby or enthusiasm you can imagine too. The free personalization is a big draw for shoppers, as they can engrave names and dates and come back to add to their family’s collection of memories each year.
A Shopping Sensation
The General Store features tons of old-fashioned candy, locally made chocolates, stuffed animals and toys. A new addition is the wine shop featuring local varieties you won’t find at the grocery store along with daily wine tastings. Coffee, gourmet foods and locally made items found here make great gifts, and housewares and loads of coastal décor help you bring the vacation feeling home. They also can put together personalized gift baskets.
Holidays in the Community
As longstanding members of the community, seasonal events are important to the owners of The Christmas Shop.
“We try to do as much as we can to involve ourselves with the community, either behind the scenes or by hosting events,” Gary says.
As you can imagine, Christmas events are popular, but leprechauns have been known to pop by for St. Patrick’s Day, and they offer a big Easter egg hunt each spring.
“We’re always trying to add more events throughout the year with activities for kids,” Gary says, adding that these events are either free or very low cost and always offer great photo opportunities.
With the magic and sparkle of Christmas mixing with shopping fun and seasonal community holiday events, it’s easy to see why The Christmas Shop has been an Outer Banks destination for more than 50 years. Hop on over to check them out this spring to keep that holiday feeling all year long.
(252) 473-2838
621 S. U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
outerbankschristmas.com
About the Author Heather Frese
Heather Frese fell in love with the Outer Banks when she was three years old. She grew up camping every summer on Hatteras Island, and her writing is deeply influenced by the history and wild beauty of the area. Her debut novel, The Baddest Girl on the Planet, won the Lee Smith Novel Prize and is set on Hatteras Island. 
