We're about to call a wrap on 2023, so it's time to start thinking about your New Year's Eve plans. Whether you're celebrating with the family or staying up all night, you can find plenty to do on the Outer Banks this year. Below I have listed 10 ways to ring in 2024, but this is not a complete list. Check our Daytime and Nightlife pages for more ideas.
Family Friendly
Midnight Magic in Manteo
Hit the streets of Downtown Manteo a family-style New Year’s Eve. From 6 to 9 p.m. there are food vendors and food trucks, a DJ, kids’ games and activities, and giveaways. A huge fireworks display brings cheer to the night starting at 8 p.m. At 9 p.m. there’s live music with Riggsbee Road, an all-female country and new grass band from Raleigh. The Manteo bars will be open so you can grab a drink and bring it outside to the enjoy the show at the historic courthouse. The entertainment and kids’ activities are free.
Late night, the bars in Manteo will still be celebrating. NouVines, Lost Colony Tavern and Poor Richard’s Pub will keep the fun going.
Music Festival Vibes
New Year’s on the Banks 2024
VusicOBX, known for its series of summer concerts, is taking over the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk for two nights of live music on December 30 and 31. On Saturday night (Outer Space Theme Night) the lineup includes The Movement, Little Stranger and Cultivated Mind. On Sunday night, New Year’s Eve (Cosmic Disco Theme Night), it’s Andy Frasco & the U.N., Little Stranger and Dale and the ZDubs. Tickets are still available for both shows, but all the hotel room/show packages are sold out. Stick around on New Year’s Day for a Freeze with Frasco polar plunge fundraiser at 11 a.m.
NYE Bashes
Basnight’s New Year’s Eve Bash
Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café is hosting a dance party in the bar from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Ty Fleming will be playing the tunes. Go early for a special New Year’s Eve dinner menu starting at 4:30 p.m. (no reservations required!)
Christmas Vacation Station New Year’s Eve Party
A NYE tradition for more than 20 years, this New Year’s Eve bash features live music, a 1,000 balloon drop and a Champagne toast at midnight. This year Funkamungus is playing the music starting at 10:30 p.m., and the fun goes on until 2 a.m. Dress up a little bit for this one.
Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation’s New Year’s Eve Dance
Party for a great cause at the Hatteras Civic Center in Hatteras village. All are welcome to enjoy the drinks, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, selfie station, music and Champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $60 at the door, and the party goes on until 12:30 a.m.
Bar Hopping
12 Bars of Christmas
The hugely popular 12 Bars of Christmas, featuring 12 festive pop-up bars fully decked out for the holidays, wraps up on New Year’s Eve. All 12 bars from KDH to Manteo will be open for drinks and food, so if you didn’t get your passport completely stamped, this is your last day to wrap it up. Get things started at McAllister’s Corner (Two Roads Tavern), which is hosting an Oyster & Pig Roast from 1 to 4 p.m. See 12barsofchristmas.com for a full list of the participating restaurants.
Nice Dinners
If sitting down to a nice dinner is your favorite way to celebrate, many local restaurants are preparing feasts that you won’t want to miss. A few to consider: NC Coast Grill and Bar in Duck; Red Sky Cafe in Duck; Kimball’s Kitchen at The Sanderling in Duck; The Pony and The Boat Comfort Kitchen in Kitty Hawk; The Inn on Pamlico Sound in Buxton
Healthy Things
Grateful Yoga
Whether this is main activity or a pre-game for a night of festivities, Grateful Yoga is a donation based, all ages yoga class with Grateful Dead music, trippy lights and lots of laughs from instructor Scott Lawlor. This will be held at Roanoke Island Fitness Lab in Manteo at 5:30 p.m. No reservation needed. Just show up and make a donation if you can.
Cacao Ceremony
Ascension Studio OBX in Kill Devil Hills is hosting a sacred ceremonial Cacao Ceremony for setting intentions on New Year's Eve at 8 p.m. This will be followed by a Drum Circle. Earlier in the day, they're hosting a Vision Board Workshop starting at 11 a.m. Register for either one here.
34th Annual New Year’s Eve Unofficial Beach Road 5K
Tortuga’s Lie restaurant in Nags Head hosts an untimed, unofficial fun 5K starting at 10 p.m. Just show up as no registration or fee is required. Bring a flashlight as the route is dark. Stick around after to ring in 2024.
Happy New Year!
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.
