From tree lightings, parades and home tours to oyster roasts, musical performances and bar-crawl extravaganzas, the Outer Banks is hopping during the holiday season.
Here is a rundown of the biggest upcoming holiday celebrations, but know that these are not all the goings on around town. All the dozens of craft shows and holiday markets can be found here. For a full list of Outer Banks holiday events and nightlife happenings, click here.
Photo: Manteo Preservation Trust's Holiday Tour on Saturday, December 7 features 11 tour sites.
COROLLA
Note that Whalehead’s Candlelight Christmas Tour, held on Friday and Saturday nights in December, is sold out for all nights.
Corolla Christmas Village
Days: Fridays and Saturdays through December 28
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: Historic Corolla Village, Corolla Village Road, Corolla
Take a stroll through Historic Corolla Village, which has been decked out with twinkling lights and music. Stop at a food truck, sip a beverage from Kind Cup and visit the merchants. Santa will make appearances as well. More details can be found here.
The Polar Express
Days: Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14
Time: Two showings - 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Location: Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, 1160 Village Lane, Corolla
Enjoy the beloved Christmas film in the cozy auditorium at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. Tickets are required; purhcase them here.
Photo: Local saxophonist Sam on Sax will perform at the Duck Yuletide Celebration.
DUCK
Duck Yuletide Celebration
Day: Saturday, December 7
Time: 3 to 5 p.m.
Location: Duck Town Park, 1200 Duck Road, Duck
Held in Duck Town Park, the celebration features holiday music with Sam on Sax and the First Flight High School Choir, family activities, holiday treats, the lighting of the town’s Crab Pot Christmas Tree and the arrival of Santa. Bring cash to make donations to Outer Banks SPCA and Beach Food Pantry. Be sure to get to Duck early to do some holiday shopping or stick around after for a nice dinner in the village.
KITTY HAWK - KILL DEVIL HILLS – NAGS HEAD
12 Bars of Christmas
Days: Daily through December 31
Locations: 12 locations Kill Devil Hills to Manteo
Besides being fully decked out for their unique holiday theme, these 12 restaurants and bars are offering festive special food and drink menus and fun special events. Get the scoop on all the bars that are participating and their special events and menus here. To book a VIP bus tour on the OBX Party Sleigh (while they last), click here.
Photo: At Noosa Beach Grill in KDH, part of the Misfits Bar Crawl, you might catch Bumble behind the bar.
Misfits Bar of Christmas Crawl
Days: Daily through December 31
Locations: 15 locations in Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head
Fifteen local restaurants and bars are decorated to the hilt and offering special events, menus and drinks. Find all the information you need plus a rundown of the events here. To book a private bar car on the Outer Banks Adventures Magic Bus, click here.
Candy Cane Hunt at Dowdy Park
Day: December 11
Time: 4:45 p.m.
Location: Dowdy Park, 3005 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head
The Town of Nags Head hosts a fun Candy Cane Hunt for children. The hunt will be divided into two age groups.
Christmas Stop at Nags Head Church
Days: December 12, 13 and 14
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: 105 W. Soundside Road in Nags Head
Nags Head Church is hosting its annual Christmas Stop, which includes train rides, a snowball arena, hot cocoa and cookies, photo ops with Santa, Christmas movies and more. The event is free, and donations will be accepted for Beach Food Pantry.
Photo: Manteo Preservation Trust's Holiday Tour of Homes lets you peek inside Manteo's beautiful houses.
Photo: WinterLights is a favorite holiday-season tradition on Roanoke Island.
MANTEO
WinterLights at The Elizabethan Gardens
Days: Wednesday through Saturday, through December 28 (except Wednesday, December 25)
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: The Elizabethan Gardens, 1411 National Park Drive, Manteo
A million lights illuminate the paths and features in the 10-acre Elizabethan Gardens, plus there are holiday vignettes throughout the gardens. All this makes for a lovely evening stroll with the whole family, plus there are open fires, live music, entertainment, hot cocoa and gift shop sales. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $14 for youth and $6 for dogs. Santa will be present on December 6, 7, 13, 14, 29, 21, 26, 27 and 28. Click here for info.
Manteo Tree Lighting
Day: Friday, December 6
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Manteo Waterfront at the end of Budleigh Street
Christmas carols, hot cocoa, cookies, games and dancing accompany the lighting of the town tree. The activities coincide with the First Friday events in Downtown Manteo, making this a fun way to celebrate.
Manteo Christmas Parade
Day: Saturday, December 7
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Downtown Manteo
The annual parade is full of fun and floats and Santa. It starts at Manteo High School and winds along Wingina Street then through the streets of Downtown.
Photo: The largest holiday parade on the Outer Banks is held in Manteo on the first Saturday in December.
Manteo Preservation Trust’s Holiday Tour
Day: Saturday, December 7
Time: 1 to 6 p.m.
Location: 108 Budleigh, 108 Budleigh Street, Manteo
After the parade, stick around Manteo for the Holiday Tour. The self-guided tour features 11 sites around Manteo that have been decorated for the season. Check-in and ticket sales are at 108 Budleigh. Tickets cost $25.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus by Theatre of Dare
Days: December 7 through 15
Time: December 7, 12, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and December 8 and 14 at 2 p.m.
Location: Dare Arts, 300 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo
Theatre of Dare's Christmas show is a story is about a young girl who writes to a newspaper editor asking if there really is a Santa Claus Tickets cost $11 to $16. Tickets are selling fast, with some shows already sold out. Buy tickets here.
Christmas Past at Island Farm
Days: Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7
Time: 2 to 7 p.m.
Location: Island Farm, 1140 U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
Island Farm hosts an experience of the holidays as it was in the 1850s. Activities, crafts, food and tintype portraits are offered by costumed interpreters. Tickets cost $10 for all guests ages 4 and older.
Roanoke Island Holiday Flotilla
Day: Saturday, December 14
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Downtown Manteo
Lighted boats will cruise past the Manteo waterfront. Watch from the boardwalk or head up to the Waterfront Trellis, which is hosting an art show at that time. To join the flotilla, click here.
HATTERAS ISLAND
Rodanthe Christmas Tree Lighting
Day: Saturday, December 7
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Building, 23646 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
Watch the community tree lighting outside. Music, cookies, cocoa and Santa will follow indoors.
Christmas Light Festival at Frisco Woods Campground
Days: Nightly through December 15
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: Frisco Woods Campground, 53124 N.C. Highway 12, Frisco
Take a drive through Frisco Woods Campground to see thousands of lights and lighted displays. It's free but a $5 donation is requested, with proceeds going to the proposed Frisco-Buxton pathway. On Saturday, December 7 there will be extras like hayrides with Santa, bounce houses, music, food and more.
Hatteras Village Christmas Parade
Day: Saturday, December 14
Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
Location: N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras
Join the Hatteras Villagers for their annual community parade along N.C. Highway 12. Note that the route is different this year due to construction on the Slash Creek Bridge. This year the parade will start on the southern side of Slash Creek Bridge and continue south toward Eagle Pass Road. After the parade there will be cookies, hot chocolate and the announcement of parade winners at the Hatteras Civic Center.
The best-tasting oyster will be crowned in the Oyster Cookoff Challenge at the Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival.
Shuck Hatteras III Oyster Festival
Day: Saturday, December 21
Time: 1 p.m. until
Location: Cape Hatteras/Outer Banks KOA Resort, 25099 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
Oysters, tons of live music by local bands and lots of fun are happening all day long. There’s an Oyster Cookoff Challenge, an oyster roast with local oysters, an art village and more. Tickets cost $30 in advance or $40 the day of. Get the details on tickets here.
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.
