Outdoor Markets on the Outer Banks, Summer 2025 Edition

Whether you’re procuring necessities or browsing for gifts, souvenirs and other fun stuff, the Outer Banks has a shop, store, boutique, outfitter, grocer, market, bakery or bottle shop to fulfill your every want and need. To see all the hundreds of Outer Banks stores, which you can sort by town or type of shopping, click here.

But sometimes it’s just fun to wander through an open-air market in a one-stop shopping situation. It’s a delight to spend an hour or two or three in the fresh air and sunshine exploring locally made goods and getting to know the makers, producers, artists, crafters, growers, bakers, juicers and entrepreneurs behind them.

If an outdoor market is your kind of thing, you’re in luck on the Outer Banks. Each summer week there are nine markets from Kitty Hawk to Avon, so you should be able to make at least one of them.

Don’t forget to bring your own reusable bags, bring cash if possible (though all vendors take cards or electronic payments, of course) and be prepared to spend hours wandering around amongst all this goodness.

Photo above from the Soundside Sunset Festival Series in Rodanthe

MONDAY

Soundside Sunset Festival Series

Mondays, 4 to 8 p.m. through September 29

Kitty Hawk Kites Waves Village, 24502 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe

Think of this as Soundside Market South. The same team that offers Soundside Market in Nags Head puts on this market with Kitty Hawk Kites at the Waves Village site right along Pamlico Sound. Shop among artists, makers and food vendors, dance to some live music, enjoy an adult beverage and grab some great food for dinner. There is parking on site, along with shops, restaurants and recreational opportunities.

Brew & Arts Market

Mondays, 5 to 8 p.m. through August

Outer Banks Brewing Station, 600 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills

Every Monday during the summer months, Outer Banks Brewing Station invites a variety of vendors to set up shop in the upstairs mezzanine area. This means you can sip a tasty beer or beverage, shop for locally made products, listen to live music in the yard and eat dinner all in one location.

Discover treasures along the paved trail at First Flight Farmers Market in Kill Devil Hills.

TUESDAY

First Flight Farmers Market

Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through August 12

Aviation Park, 103 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills

Put on your walking shoes and get ready for the Town of Kill Devil Hills’ large market with around 50 vendors every week. Vendors are set up along the multiuse trail, so shoppers get the experience of walking the pathway and discovering vendors along the way. You’ll find lots of food items, like fresh-grown vegetables and fruits, eggs, meats, microgreens, baked goods and more. You might catch a food truck as well. You’ll also find dozens of artists and crafters selling photography, artwork, candles, bath and body items, jewelry, woodworks and more. Overflow parking is available at First Flight High School. A skate park, dog park, walking trail and playground are available on site. 

Avon Farmers Market

Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through September 9

41156 N.C. Highway 12,  next to Vacasa Vacation Rentals

A Hatteras Island staple since 2010, Avon Farmers Market is a summer tradition for locals and visitors. A wide variety of food producers and growers, makers, artists and crafters set up on the lawn next to the Vacasa Vacation Rental office. All items are made by the seller. You’ll find flowers, food, honey, sweets, bread, coffee, arts, crafts and goodies of all sorts. Avon Farmers Market has a lot of vendors, so make sure you have plenty of time to explore them all.

Blowing giant bubbles at Soundside Summer Market in Nags Head

WEDNESDAY

Soundside Summer Market

Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through August 20

Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head

Soundside Market, held at Soundside Event Site along the Roanoke Sound in Nags Head, is growing exponentially. Along with farmers, food producers, artists and makers all circled up and selling their goods, this market has a fun family vibe. There’s always a food truck serving breakfast and lunch, and in the circle center there are games like giant Connect Four and giant bubble makers. Plenty of parking is available on-site. There is not much shade at this location, so wear sunscreen and a hat. Restaurants, recreation and shopping are also close to the site.

Tri Villages Market at Camp Hatteras

Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through September 24

Camp Hatteras, 24798 N.C. Highway 12, Waves

Held at Camp Hatteras Campground, Tri Villages Market serves Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo locals and visitors. At this indoor-outdoor market, you’ll find more than 50 artists, makers, growers and producers set up outside on the soundside yard, along the paved pathway, on porches and inside the conference center. If it rains, the show goes on inside. There is a lot of variety among the vendors, and they have plenty of parking for cars, bikes and golf carts on site.

Dowdy Park Farmers Market in Nags Head offers a family-friendly atmosphere with a playground.

THURSDAY

Dowdy Park Farmers Markets

Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through August 21

Dowdy Park, 3005 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head

With more than 50 vendors, it can take a while to make the rounds among the locally grown produce, all-natural meats, cheeses, juices, baked goods, kombucha, microgreens, spices, pottery, art, crafts, soaps and other goodies at this market. If you’re just coming for food, all the food vendors are lined up in one area, which can make things quicker. While you shop you can let the kids play on the playground equipment, exercise trail and big open grassy field. Parking is available at Nags Head Elementary School next to the park, but walk or bike up if you can.   

Secotan Market is a popular local gathering spot on Saturday mornings in Wanchese.

SATURDAY

Secotan Market

Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. through September 27

2868 N.C. Highway 345, Wanchese

This might be a small market, but its vendors pack a punch. It’s a producer-only, all-local market with locally and regionally grown produce, all-natural meats and eggs, bread and baked goods, ferments, honey, salsa, jams and more. Food is the focus, and you could stock up on a week’s worth of groceries here. Every market also features one or two artists or makers as well. The ride down to Wanchese is about 15 minutes from Nags Head and is a beautiful drive with not too much traffic. After the market, check out Wanchese and its four places to eat lunch. From October through Thanksgiving, the hours change to 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and in the winter Secotan Market is held on the 1^st and 3^rd Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Downtown Market on the Manteo Waterfront

Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through September 13

George Washington Creef Park, 104 Fernando Street, Manteo

Downtown Market enjoys a beautiful shady setting overlooking Shallowbag Bay in Manteo. The local community comes out to shop among numerous vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, prepared foods, pottery, plants, artwork, paintings, skin-care products and so much more. Downtown Manteo offers plentiful parking for cars or bikes, and you can even arrive by boat. The downtown area has options breakfast or lunch and lots of other shops to explore after you've made your rounds at the market.  

For more information about these events and more, check our Daytime events listings. And be sure to check our Nightlife pages for a rundown of the fun things to do after sunset on the Outer Banks.