Before the holiday hustle begins, take advantage of a November weekend filled with live music, oysters, a little mystery and plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the coast.
It seems like everyone is already talking holiday plans, but hold on a minute. We've still got some beautiful November days ahead, and there's no reason to rush into the holiday season just yet. If you're hoping to spend this mid-November weekend catching some live music and spending time with friends, the Outer Banks has a pretty good lineup. From a bluegrass festival and a Mexican rodeo celebration to an oyster-themed restaurant adventure and a little theatrical suspense, there's something for just about everyone.
Here are a few ways to make the most of the weekend.
This photo and above: The Battle of the Bands: Grand Mexican Rodeo Dance at Melchor Ranch is a great way to experience traditional rodeo events right here on the Outer Banks. Photos courtesy Melchor Ranch
Experience a Mexican Rodeo at Melchor Ranch
For something a little different, make your way to Jarvisburg on Saturday for Battle of the Bands: Grand Mexican Rodeo Dance at Melchor Ranch.
This celebration of Latin culture combines the excitement of traditional rodeo events with live music and plenty of entertainment. The afternoon and evening lineup includes bullfighting and bull-taming events, horse exhibitions, horse competitions, cash prizes and performances by two bands: Banda Guanajuatense and Banda La Prendidisima.
The music features the lively rhythms of Jaripeo, while the rodeo events showcase the skill of the riders and the traditions that make this type of celebration so popular.
Bring the family and friends for an afternoon that promises plenty of energy, music and cultural entertainment. The event runs from 2 to 11 p.m. at Melchor Ranch, 166 Fisher Landing Road in Jarvisburg. Tickets are $45, and all ages are welcome.
Find ticket information at Melchor Ranch.
Get Your Bluegrass Fix at GrassFed
If live music is your idea of a good Saturday, head to the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head for the second annual GrassFed Bluegrass Music Festival on Saturday, November 14.
The all-day festival brings together a lineup of bluegrass talent, including Shadowgrass, East Nash Grass, Broken Compass Bluegrass, Front Porch, Pickety Split, Redbud, All She Wrote and the Podunk Ramblers.
Expect plenty of picking and singing, along with local vendors, food, drinks, games and opportunities to spend the day enjoying good music and good company. The festival celebrates bluegrass while bringing the community together for a laid-back day along the Roanoke Sound.
The music gets underway at noon at the Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Highway in Nags Head. General admission tickets start at $60, with children's general admission tickets available for $26.
For tickets and additional information, visit GrassFed Bluegrass.
Photo: Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar's Chef's Choice Local Oysters stuffed and roasted with house-made chorizo and pepper jack cheese, topped with toasted panko breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, and fresh chives will be served during the Shuck Yeah! window. Photo courtesy of Outer Banks Restaurant Association Taste of the Beach
Follow Your Appetite During Shuck Yeah!
Oyster lovers, this one's for you. The Outer Banks Restaurant Association is hosting its first-ever Shuck Yeah! An Outer Banks Oyster Affair, a weeklong celebration running November 9 to 14.
The idea is simple: Visit participating Outer Banks restaurants, sample their featured oyster creations and vote for your favorites.
Restaurants are putting their own spin on the coastal favorite, with dishes that may include raw, roasted, fried, grilled and Rockefeller-style oysters, along with oyster fritters, shooters, tacos, chowder and other chef-inspired creations. Each participating restaurant features one signature oyster dish.
Restaurants are competing for bragging rights and trophies in categories including Best Oyster Dish on the Outer Banks and Best Oyster Shooter on the Outer Banks.
It's a fun way to explore the local dining scene, try a few new places and support the restaurants and chefs who help make the Outer Banks such a great food destination. With the event wrapping up Saturday, this is your last chance to join the oyster adventure.
Participating restaurants are: 1903 Bar & Kitchen, Barefoot Bernie's, Beachside Bistro, Black Pelican, Blue Moon Beach Grill, Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar, Bonzer Shack, Dirty Dick's Crab House, Dune Street Raw Bar & Grill, Jolly Roger, Lost Colony Tavern, NC Coast Grill & Bar, Red Sky Casual Dining & Cocktails, Shipwrecks Taphouse & Grill, TRiO and Vicki B's.
See event details at Shuck Yeah!
Photo: Enjoy Cousins Oysters and Swells'a Brewing beer at NC Coastal Land Trust's Land, Lager and Oysters. Photo courtesy NC Coastal Land Trust
Raise a Glass to Coastal Conservation
On Saturday, November 14, the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust invites the community to Land, Lager & Oysters, an afternoon gathering celebrating the beauty of the Outer Banks and the conservation work that helps protect it.
The event takes place from 3 to 6 p.m. at Swells'a Brewing in Kill Devil Hills. Guests can enjoy beer from Swells'a Brewing, oysters from Cousins Oysters, live music and good company.
More than just an afternoon of food and drink, the gathering celebrates coastal conservation successes and the community members and supporters who help make that work possible. Whether you're a longtime Coastal Land Trust supporter or simply someone who loves the coast, it's an opportunity to connect with others who share an appreciation for this special place.
General admission is $35 and includes entry, oysters and two beer tickets.
Find registration and additional information at NC Coastal Land Trust.
Photo: A scene from the upcoming production of Theatre of Dare's The House on Haunted Hill. Photo by Rachel Saddlemire courtesy of Theatre of Dare
Spend a Night at The House on Haunted Hill
If you're in the mood for a little mystery, there's still time to catch Theatre of Dare's production of The House on Haunted Hill, running through November 15.
Based on the classic 1959 Vincent Price film, the play centers on millionaire Frederick Lauren and his wife, Annabelle, who invite five guests to spend the night in a supposedly haunted house. The incentive? A $50,000 prize for anyone who survives until sunrise.
It sounds like easy money, but things get complicated when the house begins revealing its secrets. Expect double crosses, unexpected twists, a few laughs and some supernatural suspense along the way.
Performances this weekend are Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 15, at 2 p.m. Theatre of Dare is located at 3848 N. Croatan Highway in Kitty Hawk.
Tickets and additional information are available at Theatre of Dare.
Make More Plans
Before the holiday lights go up and the calendar fills with seasonal celebrations, take advantage of a regular November weekend on the Outer Banks. Grab a plate of oysters, find some live music, catch a show or try something you've never experienced before. There's still plenty of fall left to enjoy.
For more events this week, and for when you are ready to start planning your holiday events and activities, be sure to visit our Daytime and Nightlife listings. From turkey trots and Thanksgiving buffets to holiday markets, home tours and light shows, it’s all there.
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.
