Spring break has sprung on the Outer Banks. Our little towns, quiet all winter long, are once again bustling with visitors. Roads, stores, restaurants and attractions are busy, and it’s exciting for things to be picking up around here. It was a long, cold winter!
Whether you’re a local, a visitor in town for your kids’ spring break or second homeowner enjoying your beach house before summer hits, there’s a lot going on to celebrate Easter and Earth Day, which is on Tuesday. Get out there and enjoy the warm spring weather at these upcoming events.
Photo: Hanging with the Easter Bunny at Kitty Hawk Kites
Easter Egg Hunt at Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site
Saturday, April 19, 1 to 3 p.m.
The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe has 7 acres and plenty of nooks and crannies in which to hide Easter eggs filled with goodies. Local musician Martin Sommers will be playing seasonal songs on the porch of the 1911 station before and during the hunt. The Easter Bunny will ride in on the Chicamacomico Banks Ladder Fire Truck at 1 pm. Entry is free, but donations will be accepted for the Elvin Hooper Scholarship Fund.
Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum, 23645 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
Eastertide in the Gardens
Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There’s no better place to celebrate spring than in The Elizabethan Gardens. Among the picture-perfect settings, this fun-filled family event features egg gathering at designated “egg stations” plus contests, games and vendors on the Great Lawn. Egg races and Easter hat & bonnet contests grouped by age for kids and adults are a highlight. Admission is $15 for ages 13 and older, $11 for ages 3 to 12 and free for children 2 and younger. Dogs can come along for $5.
The Elizabethan Gardens, 1411 National Park Drive, Manteo
Photo: The Easter Bonnet contest at The Elizabethan Gardens
Fly into Spring Kite Festival and Easter Extravaganza
Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19
Kitty Hawk Kites celebrates spring with a kite festival at Jockeys Ridge State Park and an Easter celebration at Jockeys Ridge Crossing. The Kite Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, with display kites, stunt kites, kite sales, music and more. Easter Egg Hunts take place on Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m. The Easter Bunny will be on hand for photos under the hang glider from 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. A $7 registration fee is charged to reserve your spot for the hunt, and spots fill up fast.
Kitty Hawk Kites, Jockeys Ridge Crossing, 3933 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head
Soundside Easter Market
Saturday, April 19, 12 to 4 p.m.
The Soundside Easter Market features vendors, makers, music and fun along the Roanoke Sound in Nags Head. Enjoy lunch from a food truck, do a little shopping and let the kids run around on the great big lawn.
Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head
Photo: An aerial view of Soundside Market in Nags Head
Easter Cookie Decorating Class at Buffalo City Distillery
Saturday, April 19, 4 p.m.
Head over to Buffalo City Distillery for a creative experience of learning cookie decorating techniques. The ticket price of $47.53 includes instruction and six cookies to decorate and enjoy.
Buffalo City Distillery, 8821 Caratoke Highway, Point Harbor
Earth Fair OBX
Tuesday, April 22, 1 to 4 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day with the Coastal Environmental Educators Network. This free event will bring together many Outer Banks organizations that offer environmental education, so you’ll be sure to learn something new from the groups that are working hard to preserve the delicate ecosystems of the Outer Banks. Share your love for the natural world and enjoy fun and informative exhibits and activities for kids.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park Visitor Center, 300 W Carolista Drive, Nags Head
Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Civic Association (RWSCA) will host its third annual Earth Day Celebration at the RWS Community Building. There will be a Plant Swap, planting stations, crafts, music, raffles and activities and information from numerous organizations. There will also be a seed-saving workshop. Chicamacomico Banks Fire and Rescue will be grilling up delicious food, with donation proceeds to benefit the Department.
Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Building, 23646 N.C. Highway 12, (across from the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station), Rodanthe
Keep up to date on all the upcoming Outer Banks events on our Daytime and Nightlife pages.
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.
