On the Outer Banks, holiday socializing has become synonymous with barhopping. It's becoming a tradition for local restaurants and bars to go all out with holiday decorating, special events and signature holiday-themed drinks and food specials that draw in patrons ready to revel in the festive season. If you're looking for a fun way to celebrate with friends and family, be sure to add the Misfit Bars of Christmas Crawl to your list. This Misfits includes 15 of the Outer Banks' favorite restaurants from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head, each offering something special to make your holiday celebrations extra festive. The theme is the Island of Misfit Toys (from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), with each restaurant picking a toy from the Island of Misfit Toys as its mascot.
Not all of the events and locations are alcohol related. Families can join in for live music and holiday-themed food, visits with Santa, holiday photos and even crafts at Noosa Scoops. All the locations will also be selling Misfit Bars of Christmas Crawl merch as well, from cups to hats to clothing. At each location the signature holiday drinks will be served in a keepsake Misfits cup. Whether you hit up all 15 or just visit a few, you'll be surprised how much fun it can be when the bars are all in on the holiday spirit.
The Misfit Bars of Christmas Crawl runs from Tuesday, November 26 through Tuesday, December 31.
Christmas Postcards for a Cause
At any of the Misfit Bars of Christmas Crawl locations, you can pick up a postcard for $10. At each location you visit you'll get a stamp when you purchase a drink or food. If you get 10 stamps, you'll receive an ornament. If you get all 15, you'll be entered into a raffle with some big prizes. All of the money from all postcards sold will be donated to the Outer Banks Relief Foundation, which helps local individuals and families in times of crisis.
The Misfit Bars
Here are the restaurants/bars on the list for the Misfit Bars of Christmas. The events that have been announced to date are listed here but many more are coming. Keep checking the Misfits Bars of Christmas website and Facebook page for upcoming events.
Kitty Hawk
Art's Place, 4624 N. Virginia Dare Trail, MP 2.5, Kitty Hawk, (252) 261-3233. Art's is a neighborhood hangout that's popular with the locals and renowned for its burgers and fries. Inside it's quite cozy, and there's a upstairs deck and huge backyard with a stage. Live music and open mic nights add to the fun.
Tap That OBX, 4622 N. Virginia Dare Trail, MP 2.5, Kitty Hawk, (252) 455-8436. Tap That is a beer, bourbon, tequila bar and cigar lounge with a game room. It's next to Art's Place, making it easy to hit up two holiday bars in the same night.
The Pony & the Boat Comfort Kitchen, 3712 N. Croatan Highway, Unit A, MP 4.5, Kitty Hawk, (252) 715-2991. This is a popular restaurant for comfort-food dinner and Sunday brunch. It's got a great bar and a warm and inviting interior with a fireplace so we can't wait to see what they come up with for the holiday celebrations.
TRiO Restaurant & Market, 3708 N. Croatan Highway, MP 4.5 Kitty Hawk, (252) 261-0277. TRiO is a sophisticated and popular restaurant full bar, gourmet goods market, wine and beer shop and cheesemonger. Have some drinks and nibbles here, and you can definitely knock out some holiday shopping while you're here! You TRiO neighbors The Pony and the Boat, so you go to both on the same night. TRiO's Holiday Market benefitting OBX SPCA and featuring 15 local artisans is set for December 3 from 5 to 9 p.m.
Misfits bars and restaurants are getting their decorations up in preparation for the November 26 kickoff.
Kill Devil Hills
Chilli Peppers Coastal Grill, 3001 N. Croatan Highway, MP 5.5, Kill Devil Hills, (252) 441-8081. Chilli Peppers offers not only tasty cuisine from around the world for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, but also a fun bar and outdoor courtyard. This is the only Misfit bar that stays open for late-night fun past midnight.
Blue Crab Tavern, 1180 Colington Road, Kill Devil Hills, (252) 441-5919. A local favorite for 30+ years, The Blue Crab is a quintessential neighborhood bar. They serve beer and wine and sunset views and frequent live music. On opening night of the Misfit Bars (November 26), they'll welcome Santa, the Ten O'Six food truck, musicians and storytellers. They're having a chili cookoff on November 29, photos with Santa on November 30, a visit from the Grinch on December 7, ornament decorating on December 8, trivia with Santa on December 11 and 18 and photos with Santa on the 20th. The Ten 'O Six food truck will be there every Friday and Saturday night in December.
The Saltbox Cafe, 1469 Colington Road, Kill Devil Hills, (252) 255-5594. The Saltbox can be round down Colington Road not too far past Blue Crab Tavern. It's a small restaurant known for its delicious food for lunch and dinner. They frequently have live music for dinner as well. Their Misfit shenanigans begin on November 30. As a stop on the crawl they'll be offering small plates and drink specials plus a special Holiday Brunch on Sundays. Their Home for the Holidays Tapas Night is set for December 4. They'll have Wine Dinners on December 9, 10, 16 and 18 and The Nutcracker Sweet Dessert Tasting on December 22.
Swells'a Brewing, 1802 S. Virginia Dare Trail, MP 8.5, Kill Devil Hills. This brewery and beach bar is such a fun place to hang out where its warm inside, on the upstairs deck or in the yard. It's open daily until 10 or 11 p.m. The aesthetic is impeccable so we can't wait to see what they do with the holiday theme. We do know they are coming out with a new Misfit beer for the occasion. All of the 15 bars on the Misfit tour will serve it.
Kill Devil Grill, 2008 S. Virginia Dare Trail, MP 9.75, Kill Devil Hills, (252) 449-8181. A popular restaurant in a historic diner, Kill Devil Grill begs to be dressed up for the holidays. Wine Wednesdays and Martini Thursdays are always welcome events here. Kill Devil Grill is kicking off the Misfit events with its Yukon Cornelius & The Caboose with Square Wheels Oyster Roast and Live Music with BirdDog on November 26 at 5 p.m. On December 12, 14 and 19 they have live music with Bryan Campbell at 6 p.m.
You can't miss Noose Beach Grill's Misfit mascot, Bumbles.
Noosa Beach Grill, 2003 S. Croatan Highway, MP 9.75, Kill Devil Hills, (252) 715-6393. Noosa is a popular restaurant for lunch and dinner seven days a week. They serve dinner until 10 and the bar stays open late. Their Misfits drink menu, Big Bumble's Holiday Drinks, is looking tasty with a Noosa Nog, Poquito Coquito and more. Look for the giant blowup snow monster out front. Their Winter Wonder Wine Dinner will be held on December 12.
Noosa Scoops, 2005 S. Croatan Highway, MP 9.75, Kill Devil Hills. Next to Noosa Beach Grill, Noosa Scoops ice cream and acai bowl shop, is getting in on the Misfits act as well. They're hosting Craft Mornings on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Ornament Making on November 30, Stocking Decorating on December 7, Gingerbread Houses on December 14, Christmas Cookie Decorating on December 21, and Hot Cocoa Bomb Making on December 28.
Nags Head
Red Drum Grill & Taphouse, 2412 S. Virginia Dare Trail, MP 10.5, Nags Head, (252) 715-1107. Red Drum is a fun pub-style restaurant for lunch and dinner, and their bar (with 18 taps) and game room is a popular hangout. They're kicking off on November 26 with free pool in the game room and food and drink specials all day.
South of KDG Kitchen + Bar, 5000 S. Croatan Highway, MP 15, Nags Head. Not quite open yet, this new restaurant from the owners of Kill Devil Grill is going to be a popular Misfit stop. We're all dying to see it and enjoy what they've got going on. They're opening up next week with brunches, lunches and dinners.
Sam & Omie's Restaurant, 7228 S. Virginia Dare Trail, MP 16.5, Nags Head, (252) 441-7366. One of the oldest, coziest restaurants on the Outer Banks, Sam & Omie's is well loved by the locals. Inside it feels like a quaint beach cottage, so it's going to be all cozy for the holidays. They'll be hosting Tinsel Tuesdays pop-up shopping gatherings with different local artisans each week on November 26 and December 3 and 10. Come have a cocktail and do a little shopping.
Lost Colony Brewery Waterfront Pub, 7531 S. Virginia Dare Trail (Nags Head-Manteo Causeway), Nags Head, (844) 629-2337. What's not to love about drinking award-winning beer in a tasting room overlooking the sound with a pizza place next door? This is the tasting room for the stellar beers of Lost Colony Brewery, and Dirt the bartender and trivia nights add just the right amount of extra. It's open Wednesday through Saturday. The Lost Colony's Christmas beer, The Santa Sleigher, will also be served at all the restaurants and bars.
Outer Banks Adventures' Magic Bus accommodates up to 20 people.
Misfit Bar Crawl Tours
The Misfit Bar Crawl has partnered with Outer Banks Adventures, which operates the Magic Bus and Outer Banks Trolley, to offer fun and safe chauffeured bar crawls. The Magic Bus is a custom-renovated school bus outfitted with a TV, music, wet bar, coolers and comfortable seating for up to 20 people. Call (252) 202-4429 or click here to book a private bar crawl with a driver. Their dates are booking up fast so call to reserve soon.
Listen to the Outer Banks This Week Podcast about the Misfit Bars of Christmas Crawl here.
Have lots of fun, be extra safe and stay tuned to our extensive Outer Banks This Week event calendar for all the holiday stuff going on around the Outer Banks all season long!
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.
