October shows no signs of slowing down. Hot on the heels of the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival come two, couldn't-be-more-different music festivals back-to-back in Corolla and Duck, a combination pig-picking and oyster roast, a production of Steel Magnolias and a bevy of ghost tours.
Coastal Castles
From Thursday, October 10 through Sunday, October 13, visitors and locals can take advantage of the calm off-season pace to enjoy the 21st Annual Outer Banks Parade of Homes, an all too rare opportunity to tour 19 newly constructed coastal homes and three extensive renovations, each providing examples of new designs, innovative technologies, high quality furnishings and best building practices. The self-guided tour includes homes from Corolla to South Nags Head to Manteo on Roanoke Island. Participating builders and vendors will be in the homes to answer questions and demonstrate products from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Each $10 ticket is valid for all four days of the event and may be purchased in advance by mail, at any of the tour homes or at the outlets listed on the website. Proceeds go to support the Outer Banks Food Pantry and other local charities. For more information visit the website or call the Outer Banks Home Builders Association at (252) 449-8232.
This Week's Music Central - Corolla and Duck
Beginning at noon on Friday is the 3rd Annual Mustang Music Festival, two days of music, art, food and libations held at Mike Dianna's Grill Room in Corolla, all in service of the noble goal of preserving and protecting one of the Outer Banks' most precious resources, the Colonial Spanish Mustang. The diverse musical line-up includes Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, George Porter Jr. & Runnin' Pardners, Orgone, The Mantras, Formula, Zack Mexico and many more! Check the event website for the complete schedule. Bring your dancing shoes and your best moves to the Silent Disco and groove to the mixing of DJ Face via headphones. Saturday's events begin at noon and run through 1 a.m. Single-day tickets are $35, weekend passes are $55. Tickets can be purchased online prior to the event or at the gate. The festival benefits the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.
Scarborough Faire Shopping Village in Duck gets a head start on the Duck Jazz Festival with its own Friday courtyard concert from 2 to 6 p.m. featuring the jazzy blues of Mojo Collins and his band, Triple Vision. Mojo Collins has an international following and is the recipient of the North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship for Songwriting. The free event will take place amidst the village's tree-shaded shops and eateries and appetizers, wine and cocktails will be available for purchase at Elizabeth's Café.
The Duck musicfest weekend continues on Sunday with the 7th Annual Duck Jazz Festival at Duck Town Park. The free day-long Duck Jazz Festival has an impressive track record of showcasing national, regional and local jazz musicians. This year's line-up includes Grammy-winning headliner Delfeayo Marsalis and his octet performing Sweet Thunder, an arrangement of big band leader Duke Ellington's Such Sweet Thunder, a suite dedicated to the works of William Shakespeare. Also on the ticket are jazz chanteuse Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Peter Lamb and The Wolves, and Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr., Director of Jazz Ensembles at the East Carolina University School of Music. Gates will be open to the public at 10 a.m. with performances beginning at 11 a.m. Audience members may bring chairs, food, coolers, blankets and leashed pets. Beach umbrellas and tents are not permitted. Chair rentals will be available and vendors will be onsite providing food and drink for purchase. Visit OuterBanksThisWeek.com to read Eve Turek's feature article on the jazz festival.
Oink 'n' Oyster Roast
To a person like myself who recognizes only two seasons, Oyster Season and Not Oyster Season, an event like the First Flight Rotary Club's Oink 'n' Oyster Roast fundraiser is cause for celebration! My motto for the next several months? Have Oyster Knife - Will Travel. On Saturday, October 12 from noon to 4 p.m. like-minded folks can get their fill of steamed oysters and delicious North Carolina-style barbecue with all the sides at Longboards Island Grill in Kitty Hawk. Funds raised will be used to support a variety of Dare County non-profit organizations and other worthy causes. Tickets are $25/adults, $ 7/children aged 7-13 with children 6 and younger admitted free. Tickets may be purchased in advance from any First Flight Rotary member, online or at the gate.
In the Footlights
The Theatre of Dare continues its two-week run of Steel Magnolias with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee showing Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10/adults, $5/students with valid high school or North Carolina college student ID. Performances will be held at the College of the Albemarle auditorium in Manteo, and all seating is general admission. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Gray's Department Store in Kitty Hawk or at the door.
Hoo, hoo...HOO!
While not an official Halloween event, the North Carolina Aquarium's Owl Prowl Night Hike at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 11 might help prepare you for your upcoming haunted house excursions. Hikers will meet inside the Nags Head Woods Nature Preserve pavilion in Kill Devil Hills to learn about nocturnal animals (such as bats, owls, moths and spiders) and astronomy before heading outside for a nighttime hike of Nags Head Woods trails. The fee is $7/person with children 2 and younger admitted free; children aged 16 and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult. If you can handle the dark of the Nags Head Woods, you're ready for anything, right?
Ghouls Galore!
The Outer Banks is rife with mysteries, spooky legends and tales of ghostly apparitions and Outer Banks Ghost Tours held in downtown Manteo each Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. will chill you with tales of hauntings, ghost dancers, hoodoos roaming the island's vine-choked woods and more! Bring your camera and discover haunted Manteo. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and is an easy walk with frequent stops along the way. Reservations required. Prices are $13/adults; $8/children aged 10 and younger. Walk-ups are welcome with availability.
Billed as seven acres of pure terror, The Darkness OBX, an outdoor haunted trail in Wanchese, promises an experience of such spooked out creepiness that the faint of heart and those younger than 10 are discouraged from attending! The Darkness OBX will begin its reign of terror at 1101 ER Daniels Road this Friday night from 7 to 11 p.m. and will run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night through its special Halloween Night showing. Admission is $13/person (CASH ONLY due to the remote location). Remember to wear weather-appropriate clothing and shoes.
PsychoPath Update: Despite the federal government shutdown which has halted National Park Service functions at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, PsychoPath, The Lost Colony's outdoor haunted tour will continue its run on Friday and Saturday nights for the remainder of the month. For more information visit the event website.
From Chills to Roller Derby Spills
Kill Devil Derby Brigade, the Outer Banks' own all-female roller derby team, is hosting the 2nd Annual Derby Spills at Aviation Skate Park across from First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills on Saturday, October 12. Gates open for this family-friendly event at 10 a.m. with a series of tournament bouts featuring mixed teams of derby skaters from all over the nation beginning at 11 a.m. The main event will be the 6 p.m., a rematch between Kill Devil Derby Brigade and Free State Black-Eyed Suzies! Food, art and merchandise vendors will be on hand throughout the day. A donation of $10 is suggested with a portion of the event's proceeds to be donated to Outer Banks Hotline.
This week you have a chance to win a $35 gift certificate to Kinnakeet Clay & a $35 gift certificate to Gidget's Pizza & Pasta!
For more information about Kinnakeet Clay, check out their website.
For more information about Gidget's Pizza & Pasta, check out their website.
Last Week's Winner
Congratulations to Barbara DiMichele!!!
You won a wild horse tour for two with Bob's Wild Horse Tours & a $35 gift certificate to Ocean Annie's Craft Gallery!
For more information about Bob's Wild Horse Tours, check out their website.
For more information about Ocean Annie's Craft Gallery, check out their website.
About the Author Michael Lay
Michael Lay is a local graphic designer, artist, photographer and writer. He lives in picturesque downtown Manteo, NC, and is the manservant of two beautiful and willful feline princesses, Sophie and Sassy. You can contact Michael at mike.lay@oneboat.com.
