October on the Outer Banks: Events for Everyone

Fall fun is in full swing on the Outer Banks. From pumpkin patches and seafood festivals to wildlife adventures, live music and Halloween thrills, October is packed with reasons to get out and explore the Outer Banks. Whether you're looking for family-friendly fun, a chance to give back or something a little scary, here's what's happening around the islands this month.

This is only a taste of what you can get into for the rest of October on the Outer Banks, so be sure to see our Daytime and Nightlife listings for more fun events.

For Families

Pubkin Patch Kids Event

Sunday, October 18, 12 to 3 p.m. | Outer Banks Brewing Station, Kill Devil Hills

Bring the kids to the Brewing Station backyard for an afternoon of fall fun benefiting The Wave Function Project. The Pubkin Patch will feature free pony rides and a petting zoo, pumpkin painting, a bounce house, face painting and seasonal food and drink specials, including cocktails and mocktails. Island Snowball Co. will be serving treats, and the Under the Seam Hat Bar will be on hand for an additional cost. Find more details here: Pubkin Patch. FYI, this event was originally scheduled for October 4 but was moved to October 18 due to weather.

Island Farm Pumpkin Patch Saturdays

October 17 and 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Island Farm, Manteo

Island Farm celebrates its 15th Annual Pumpkin Patch Saturdays of old-fashioned fall fun. Along with purchasing pumpkins, visitors can try historic games, doll crafting and candle making, a nail-driving contest, jumbo bubbles, a corn tunnel and more. Enjoy open-fire popcorn and fresh apple cider, watch the blacksmith at work and browse local art and food vendors. And yes, the popular apple cider donuts will be back. Find details here: Pumpkin Patch Saturdays.

For Festival Lovers

Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival aka Bluegrass Island

October 14 to 17 | Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo

The 15^th annual Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival, aka Bluegrass Island, brings  bluegrass, Americana and roots musicians from around the country and draws fans from around the globe to Manteo. The main festival setting, Roanoke Island Festival Park, is on a stunning 22-acre island with an amphitheater overlooking Roanoke Sound. You sit on a grassy lawn watching the music with the water flowing behind the stage. The event includes free parking and shuttle service with tickets. Food and drink vendors are on site. It's an epic setting. Information and tickets: bluegrassisland.com. See the full lineup here. 2026 Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival: Join Us for Bluegrass Music Festivals Fun!

Outer Banks Seafood Festival

Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Soundside Event Site, Nags Head

This event puts Outer Banks seafood heritage front and center. The Outer Banks Seafood Festival takes over the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with seafood all day, local history and storytelling, vendors, the Fishing Village and Hook ’Em and Cook ’Em Stage. The music lineup includes SOULone, Daniel Jordan Band, The Main Event Band and Funkamongus. General admission is $20, with VIP options available. Buy tickets in advance here: Outer Banks Seafood Festival - Tickets.

The Last Swell OBX Surf Film, Art & Music Festival

Sunday, October 18, 12 to 8 p.m. | Village Beach Club, Nags Head

The Last Swell — OBX Surf Film, Art & Music Festival will bring together Outer Banks surf culture, film, art, music, local makers, food and community organizations for a full-day fall festival overlooking the ocean. There will be surf films from Brian Murray and Doug Walker, live surfboard shaping by Clint Runyon of Runyon Surfboards, and live surfboard art by Chris Wheeler. Scott Dawson of the Croatoan Archaeological Society will join the festival as a special guest speaker, adding a local history component to the day. SOULone, Cha Cha Cadillac and DJ Dorner will play the tuns. Presented by: Kona Brewing Company | Special Community Partner: Global Surf Network. Admission is free. Find information here: The Last Swell - OBX Surf Film, Art & Music Festival

Outer Banks Brewtäg

Saturday, October 24, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Soundside Event Site, Nags Head

Beer meets aviation at one of the Outer Banks’ more unusual fall festivals. Brewtäg combines local food, Eastern North Carolina beers and live music with teams launching handcrafted, half-barrel-keg-powered flying machines from a flight deck. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s part food and beer festival, part homage to the Outer Banks’ long love affair with flight. Proceeds benefit The Rogallo Foundation, which honors flexible-wing inventors Francis and Gertrude Rogallo and works to preserve their legacy and support education and research related to flight. Admission is free. Beer vendor punch cards are $30 each, and food will be for sale. Find information here: OBX Brewtag

For Nature/Environment Enthusiasts

Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival

October 14 to 18 | Various times and locations

Keynote Speaker: Saturday, October 17, 6 to 8 p.m. | Pioneer Theater, Manteo

Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival connects the public with wildlife and wildland experiences in National Wildlife Refuges and other natural areas in northeastern North Carolina. The festival features about 60 programs, including birding, paddling, photography, and natural history, making it one of the premier East Coast wildlife festivals. This year's keynote speaker, Scott Weidensaul, is the author of nearly 30 books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist, Living on the Wind and his New York Times bestseller, A World on the Wing. His latest book, Return of the Oystercatcher, showcases what’s working for bird conservation around the world. Weidensual will speak at the Pioneer Theater in Downtown Manteo on Saturday, October 17 at 6 p.m. Admission is $20 and tickets can be purchased at the door. Some programs are still open for registration. If you miss this week’s events, Wings Over Water Encore is held December 4 to 6. Find information here: Wings Over Water Festival | Wings Over Water Festival

Photo: Karen Lebing captured this image of a feeding frenzy at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. These are just a few of the types of birds you'll see at Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival. Photo courtesy Wings over Water Facebook

In the Park After Dark Night Hike

October 16, 7 to 8:15 p.m. | Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nags Head

Experience Jockey’s Ridge State Park after dark with Ranger Austin. Walk along the newly built boardwalk to the base of the dunes, then ascend up to the ridge. All things Jockey’s Ridge will be discussed to include natural and cultural history, ecology, geology and more.  Preregistration is required. Email austin.paul@ncparks.gov to sign up.

For Volunteers

Outer Banks Volunteer Week Projects

Outer Banks Visitors Bureau’s second annual Outer Banks Volunteer Week is well underway and there are a few projects you can still help out with.

Dare Education Foundation Fall Outdoor Classroom Spruce Up at First Flight High School – October 15, 3:45 to 6 p.m.

Dare Education Foundation Fall Outdoor Classroom Spruce Up at First Flight Elementary School – October 17, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Friends of Jockey’s Ridge Soundside Sweep and Marine Debris Cleanup – October 17, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Volunteer at Bluegrass Island Music Festival – October 15 & 16

Volunteer at Island Farm Pumpkin Patch – October 17

Volunteer at Outer Banks Seafood Festival – October 17

Get all the details here: Volunteer Week

Photo: Oysters take center stage at the Roanoke Island Oyster Shellabration & BBQ. Photo courtesy of The Lost Colony

For Seafood Lovers

Outer Banks Seafood Festival - See above

Cancer Shucks Oyster Feast

Friday, October 23, 5:30 to 9 p.m. | Pirate’s Cove Pavilion, Manteo

Enjoy an evening of seafood and live music by the Blue Crab Boys while supporting local cancer services and programs for patients in our community! Purchase tickets here: 2026 OBH Cancer Shucks

Roanoke Island Oyster Shellabration and BBQ

Sunday, November 1 | Safe Harbour Marina, Wanchese

Oysters and barbecue share the spotlight at the second annual . The Roanoke Island Historical Association event brings together an expanded lineup of North Carolina oyster farmers and local barbecue vendors. Guests can sample shucked and roasted oysters along with barbecue, chowders, biscuits and desserts, with live music from Partly Crowdy. Even the shells go to good use: All oyster shells will be recycled in collaboration with the North Carolina Coastal Federation. The event is for ages 21 and older and runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Safe Harbor Tiki Hut in Wanchese. Tickets are $95 and include all food, two drink tickets and entertainment. Buy tickets here: Roanoke Island Oyster Shellabration and BBQ

Photo: Get ready for sand volleyball action at the 10K Pro Invitational Volleyball at Tortuga's Lie in Nags Head.

For Sports Enthusiasts

OBX Wind Competition

October 17 to 24 | Ocean Air Sports, Avon

Head to Hatteras Island for one of the biggest windsurfing events in the country with the annual OBX-Wind Competition. Held on multiple days during one of the prime local seasons for wind-based watersports, this series of events will entice windsurfers of all skill levels to meet and mingle with their colleagues, have some fun on the water and enjoy a race or two. Find information here: OBX-WIND – OceanAir Sports

10K Pro Invitational Volleyball

Saturday, October 17 & Sunday, October 18 | Tortuga’s Lie Shellfish Bar & Grille, Nags Head

Professional volleyball players from as far away California will converge in Nags Head for a two-man beach volleyball tournament. With two sand courts in play, the beach doubles action will run until there’s only two men left standing. With $10,000 in prize money, these AVP guys are sure to go all out to win it all. Everyone is welcome to come out to watch the matches that will take place behind this vibrant eatery where there’s shade, tables and even a tiki bar. While Saturday belongs to the elites, Sunday morning has been set aside for free clinics for all levels, ages 8 to 17. Find information here: 10K Pro Invitational Volleyball Doubles Tournament 

Dare to Scare 5K & Sweet Treat Fun Run

October 24, 8 to 10 a.m. | Roanoke Island

Enjoy fun on the run at this annual road race. Beginning at the Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese and finishing at the Virginia S. Tillett Community Center in Manteo, the course offers plenty of Roanoke Island scenery along the way. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for top finishers and creative looks. Proceeds benefit the Virginia S. Tillett Community Center’s annual Toy Drive. Pre-registration is required, and all ages are welcome. Find information here: Dare to Scare 5K & Sweet Treat Fun Run

Outer Banks District Surf Contest

Saturday, October 24 | Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head

It's the OBNC District Surf Contest! Join us as OBX residents battle it out for the top spot in this ESA district competition! Spectating is free, and the competition usually starts early in the morning.

For Halloween Lovers

View all the Halloween events here: Your Guide to Outer Banks Halloween Fun 

Halloween Island

Throughout October | Manteo

Spooky season takes over Roanoke Island when Manteo transforms into Halloween Island for the month of October. Now in its third year, the month-long celebration brings Halloween-themed pop-ups to more than a dozen Manteo restaurants and watering holes, with this year’s theme, Rise of the Moondog. The 21-and-older crowd can make its way through Manteo’s walkable downtown and social district or catch the Haunted Ghoul Bus to participating spots outside downtown. Look for special Halloween Island happenings throughout the month and a Halloween Night Street Party on October 31. Find more information here: Halloween Island Takes Over Manteo in October

Wicked Woods Haunted Attraction

October 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31, 7:30 to 11 p.m. | 18766 U.S. Highway 64, East Lake

Ready for something scary? Wicked Woods kicks off this weekend. Head west to East Lake for Wicked Woods, a nighttime haunted attraction offering six nights of scares leading up to Halloween. Make your way through the woods after dark and see what — or who — might be waiting around the next corner.