New years bring the desire for new beginnings. When the calendar flips to January, our culture has ingrained in us that we need to improve ourselves, but I’m not here to talk about resolutions to overhaul your life, which seem to set us up to fail. In this blog I’m going to tell you about some fun things to do around the Outer Banks this winter, things to get you out of your comfort zone and add to your enjoyment of life.
Adopt a Furry Friend
Nothing will spice up your new year like bringing home a new pet. Outer Banks SPCA has an abundance of cats and dogs that need a home, like this kitty named Octane. You can meet all the animals at the new SPCA building at 378 Airport Road in Manteo or see a lot of the animals on their Facebook page.
Learn Something
The Workforce Development and Career Readiness Department at College of the Albemarle Dare County Campus offers a wide range of classes, from forklift operating and pool cleaning to hospitality management and QuickBooks to conversational Spanish and photography. Whether you’re looking for a new career path or just want to learn a skill, it’s definitely worth taking a look at the schedule. Classes start very soon, and you can still register for any that are not full. Don’t delay on this one. Here’s the link.
For those who prefer to stay at home to learn, Dare County Library's Virtual Adult Programming Series is held via Zoom. The programs are taught by local experts and include topics on health and wellness, mindfulness for breaking bad habits, Outer Banks bird identification, gardening, history and more. The series begins Friday, January 14, and one-hour classes are held one or two times a week at 11 a.m. or noon. The programs are free to Dare County residents and property owners, but you need to pre-register. The link to see the classes and registration information can be found here or call the library at (252) 441-4331 for assistance.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn self-defense techniques, there’s a Common Sense Self Defense Workshop this Sunday at Outer Banks Fitness Collective. You’ll learn about fear, intuition, spatial and situational awareness and practical self-defense techniques. This event is open on a donation basis. It’s being held Sunday, January 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. at OBX Fitness Collective, 3810 N. Croatan Highway, Kitty Hawk. Pre-registration is required; click here.
Learning (or re-learning) to play music is a very rewarding way to spend your time. Ascencion Music Academy in Kill Devil Hills teaches students of all levels, children to adults, beginners to experienced. They teach piano, voice, strings and woodwinds. Click here for info.
Move Your Body
Moving your body makes you feel amazing! Whether you want to get fit or stretch, there are many options available on the Outer Banks. OBX Fitness Collective and Zen&Zip have a Wellness Weekend Reboot from January 14 to 16. All weekend long there are classes, nutrition and CBD presentations, massage opportunities and more. Outer Banks Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga have an upcoming Ashtanga Beginner’s Workshop Series, a six-week class starting on January 17, for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Ashtanga yoga. Classes are offered in person and online. A Prenatal Yoga Series at KIND Yoga starts in January. Ascension OBX has a range of offerings, from sound healing to restorative yoga to past-life regressions to coaching and healing sessions of all sorts. Duck Village Yoga offers a range of classes and workshops all winter long. To see all the Outer Banks yoga studios, click here. For the gyms and fitness studios, click here.
Embrace the Arts
Do you have theatrical talents – behind the scenes or on stage? Theatre of Dare, the community theater for the Outer Banks, is holding auditions for its next production, Arsenic and Old Lace on January 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. and January 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Dare County Arts Council in Manteo. They have roles for 14 actors. If you’re interested in helping out backstage, stop by during those times.
If you’d rather watch than participate, Theatre of Dare premieres Five Women Wearing the Same Dress this weekend. The show will run at Dare County Arts Council on January 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15 at 7:30 p.m. and January 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 each. Keep in mind that the show has some adult content that may not be appropriate for young children. Get tickets here.
If you’ve been creating but not showing your artwork to the world, now’s the time to get it out there. Dare County Arts Council’s Frank Stick Memorial Art Show opens on January 29, and there’s still time to get your entries in. This community art show is open to both Dare County Arts Council members and non-members. Presentation-ready work must be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on January 25, 26 or 27 – so you still have a few weeks to finish those pieces. Awards are presented. Find the show prospectus here.
Volunteer
If you’ve got some extra time on your hands this winter, there’s no better way to spend it than by volunteering. Local organizations need people to clean up roadsides and beaches, volunteer at events, help at the food pantry, walk dogs at the SPCA and so much more. Outer Banks Common Good makes it easy to find volunteer opportunities that suit your skills and interests. Click here to find them.
I hope you find something you love to fill your winter days. Be sure to check out our Daytime and Nightlife pages for more fun things to do.
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.
