It’s spring break and Easter week on the Outer Banks. All the visitors in the restaurants, shops and grocery stores are a welcome sight, and it’s great to see everyone out enjoying the bike paths, beaches and parks on these spring days.
If you’re here, there’s a lot to keep you busy this weekend. It looks like we are going to get a good old Outer Banks nor’easter and rain for Easter weekend, but hopefully there will be some rain-free stretches throughout the weekend so that all of these events can go on as planned.
Photo: Eastertide in the Gardens, courtesy of The Elizabethan Gardens
First Friday
Friday, April 7
Downtown Manteo’s monthly First Friday event is back for 2023. On the first Friday of every month between April and December, the downtown area comes alive with live music, art, food, special events and more. Kids can play on the playground and run around on the lawn by the waterfront. Adults can bar-hop between a wine bar, a distillery, a brewery, a bottle shop and several restaurants. Art lovers can attend an art exhibit opening or a book signing. The shops stay open late, and the restaurants are open serving food of course.
Live music this week includes Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs at Dare County Arts Council, Jeremy Russell at Poor Richard’s and The Jazzmen at NouVines. Exhibition openings at Dare County Arts Council include Caroyln Sleeper’s ceramics and a multimedia group exhibit. At Downtown Books, author Matthew Quick will be signing books, including his latest We Are the Light.
First Friday is sponsored by the Town of Manteo, and the action happens from 6 to 8 p.m.
Climb a Lighthouse
Daily
Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla is currently the only Outer Banks lighthouse that’s open for climbing. If you want to go up for a great view of the northern Outer Banks, head up there from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It costs $12 per person for ages 4 and older, and you pay at the door (not online).
Fly Into Spring Easter Eggstravaganza
Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8
Kitty Hawk Kites hosts its annual spring kite festival at Jockey’s Ridge State Park with massive 30’ to 100’ kites flying over the dunes on Friday and Saturday. Across the street at the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Nags Head on Saturday, there are pictures with the Easter Bunny and egg hunts. You can register online ahead of time, and the cost for the egg hunt is $7.
Photo: Kitty Hawk Kites Easter Eggstravaganza features pictures with the Easter Bunny and egg hunts.
Eastertide in the Gardens
Saturday, April 8
The Elizabethan Gardens, all abloom with spring flowers, is the perfect place for an Easter party. This family-friendly event has a wide range of happenings for all ages. There will be live music, egg hunts, games on the Great Lawn, visits with the Easter Bunny, a hat and bonnet contest, egg races, face painting and more. Vendors and food trucks will also be on site. Registration in advance is recommended.
Sea Turtle Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 8
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is hosting a fun event for children ages 3 to 7. It’s more than an egg hunt; it’s also an educational program and a chance to meet a sea turtle. Register as soon as you read this because it’s limited to 20 children. But it will be canceled in inclement weather, so be forewarned. Start time is 2 p.m. Cost is $15 per child plus regular admission. Buy tickets here.
Nags Head Police Department Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 8
Come to Dowdy Park on Saturday at 10 a.m. for an Easter egg hunt. They divide the hunts into age groups to make them fun for all ages. This one is happening rain or shine, and it’s free.
Photo: Come to Dowdy Park on Saturday for Nags Head Police Department's Easter Egg Hunt.
Sanctuary Vineyard’s Easter Egg Hunt for Grown Ups
Saturday, April 8
At noon on Saturday, Sanctuary Vineyards in Jarvisburg will place Easter eggs throughout the vineyard, each with a unique number that corresponds to a great prize. There is no fee to join this event, and no purchase is necessary to join in. They will feature free snacks from OBX Vine and Board and acoustic live music. All ages are welcome to visit but they ask that only 21+ enjoy the egg hunt. Get more info here.
OBX Duathlon and Easter Morning 5K
Sunday, April 9
If you’re the active type, jump in on OBX Running Company’s OBX Duathlon or 5K on Easter morning. The Duathlon is a 5K, 28-mile bike ride and a second 5K, or you can just choose to run a 5K. The events start at 8 a.m.. A BBQ cookout and awards ceremony follows the race. The races are held in Corolla, starting at Whalehead in Historic Corolla Park. The 5K costs $38, and the duathlon costs $80 for an individual or $160 for a relay. Click here to register.
Find more events and nightlife offerings in our Daytime and Nightlife pages. Have fun out 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.
