The Outer Banks is a fun place to be during the holiday season. If you’re looking to entertain your family and gather with friends, here are nine ways to get a shot of the holiday spirit.
WinterLights
Through January 16
Holiday magic is alive and well at The Elizabethan Gardens. This event is a true crowd pleaser, and only the grinchiest of Grinches would not enjoy bundling up and strolling through the 10 acres of gardens that are decorated with millions of lights and creative holiday displays. Throughout the self-guided tour there are opportunities to stop along the way and warm up by a bonfire, watch a bit of a holiday movie, take photos and selfies and enjoy holiday music. WinterLights is guaranteed to lift your spirits.
Tuesdays through Sundays in December (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve)
Dates: 1 to 5, 7 to 12, 14 to 19, 21 to 23, 26, 28 to 30
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in January until January 16 (closed New Year’s Day)
Dates: January 2, 7 to 9, 14 to 16
Hours: 6 to 9 p.m.
Tickets: $12 adults, $10 youth ages 6 to 17, $7 children ages 5 and younger, $3 dogs. Season passes are available. Tickets must be purchased online for a specific time of entry. Passes can be printed or sent to your phone.
The Elizabethan Gardens is at 1411 National Park Drive in Manteo. Call (252) 473-3234 for information.
Photo courtesy of The Elizabethan Gardens.
Corolla Christmas Village
Fridays and Saturdays through December 24
This is a brand-new holiday event, held on Friday and Saturday evenings through December 24 in Historic Corolla Village. The charming little village has been transformed into a winter wonderland with lights, floral displays and all sorts of holiday sights. You can stroll through the village, enjoy tasty eats from a food truck, sip a warm beverage at The Kind Cup coffee shop and shop with the village merchants if you’d like. The food trucks and activities vary each week. Check the website for the list of activities and food offerings.
Fridays and Saturdays in December
Dates: December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24
Hours: 6 to 9 p.m.
Photo courtesy Twiddy/Corolla Christmas Village
Duck Yuletide Celebration
Saturday, December 4
The Town of Duck kicks off the holiday season with the Duck Yuletide Celebration in Duck Town Park. Gather at Duck Town Park from 3 to 5 p.m. for holiday music, tasty treats, activities and the lighting of the Crab Pot Tree. Bring donations for Outer Bank Food Pantry and Outer Banks SPCA. Get some shopping done in Duck before the event (the local merchants offer some great deals), and be sure to stay in town for drinks and dinner at Duck's fabulous dining options.
Manteo Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade
Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4
Manteo has a deep holiday tradition with its Manteo Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade. Both are held downtown and draw large crowds, so be prepared! Plan to arrive early to find a parking place. The Manteo Tree Lighting is held on Friday night at 6 p.m. The tree is in front of the historic courthouse, where a stage is set up for musical performances. Free hot chocolate is available. The tree lighting coincides with First Friday, which features live music and special events all through town, so plan to stay in town after the tree is lit.
Saturday morning brings the charming small-town Manteo Christmas Parade. The town turns out in full force to participate in or watch the parade. There’s candy for the kids, and Santa wraps up the parade on a fire truck. The parade leaves Manteo High School and travels down Wingina Street then heads downtown along John Borden Street to Queen Elizabeth Avenue to Fernando Street. The parade starts around 10:30, but it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to reach downtown Manteo. Still, get there early to get a good viewing spot. If you have small children, head over to the Manteo Elementary School after the parade for the Winter Carnival.
Christmas on the North End
Saturdays December 4 and 11
Island Farm has a new tradition called Christmas on the North End of Roanoke Island on the first two Saturdays in December. To celebrate the holidays in 19th-century style, the farm's historic homeplace is decorated inside and out, and interpreters share how Roanoke Island families celebrated the Christmas holiday through traditions of food, traditions and crafts in the mid-1800s. Activities include candle making, ornament making, grapevine wreath making and photos with St. Nicholas. The event is held from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for ages 4 and older and free for children 3 and younger. Island Farm is located at 1140 N. Highway 64, just north of Manteo on Roanoke Island. For information call (252) 473-6500.
Hatteras Village Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 11
Head to Hatteras Village for their 30th annual Christmas Parade. This is an old-fashioned community parade with the local award-winning school band, floats from local organizations and businesses, fire trucks, the United States Coast Guard, Santa and many other colorful participants. After the parade, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies at the fire house. If you bring children, make sure they bring a goodie bag for the candy and other prizes thrown to them from the parade participants. The parade route is from Teach's Lair Marina to northern Eagle Pass Road. The parade starts at 2 p.m., and the festivities at the fire house last until 5 p.m. If you would like to enter a float in this parade, call (252) 475-4388.
Ocracoke Wassail and Tree Lighting
Tuesday, December 7
The Ocracoke community gathers for a cheerful tree lighting on a Tuesday afternoon at Ocracoke Preservation Society. Starting at 4:30 p.m., there are Christmas carols, a quilt raffle drawing, cookies and hot beverages. The tree is lit as night falls. Bring your own mug for beverages and a plate of cookies to share.
The Candy Bomber
Sunday, December 19
Gail Halvorsen got the nickname of the Candy Bomber as a U.S. pilot when he dropped candy out of his plane to a group of hungry German children during the post-World War II Berlin Airlift. For the last two decades, he has annually visited the Outer Banks to repeat the Candy Bomb at Dare County Regional Airport, and the event has become synonymous with the Christmas season. The candy drop starts at 1 p.m., but get there early (and manage kids' expectations – they won't receive buckets of candy but they might get a few pieces and they will learn about an interesting historical event). Find the airport next to the N.C. Aquarium at 410 Airport Road in Manteo.
Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol
December 9 through 19
Theatre of Dare presents a twist on the classic Christmas play with Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley. Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol is funny and irreverent but touching all the same. The play will be performed at Dare County Arts Council at 300 Queen Elizabeth Avenue in downtown Manteo.
Dates: December 9, 10, 11, 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. December 12 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $10 each
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.
