The Best Outer Banks Summer Night Activities

After a glorious day on the beach, in the sound or exploring the local attractions, don’t you dare hunker down in front of Netflix at night! To maximize your Outer Banks vacation time, you need to spend as much time as possible soaking up goodness of the Outer Banks – and that means going out at night.

Beyond the obvious dinner, ice cream, beach walk combination, there are so many ways to keep all ages entertained as the sun goes down and well after that. Here are a few ideas, and you can find many more on our Outer Banks Nightlife & Events pages.

Photo: Legendary photographer Ray Matthews captured this sunset image on Jockey's Ridge. Photo courtesy of Friends of Jockey's Ridge State Park Facebook

Sunset Destinations & Cruises

You can watch the sunset from many places on the west side of the islands, but one of the most popular places to watch the sunset is at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. As the sun is going down, the temperature drops and the sand is not as hot, making it the perfect time for a dune climb. The view from the top is amazing! The brand-new boardwalk at Jockey’s Ridge makes the park accessible for everyone in the family. 

The newly built boardwalk at Soundside Event Site at milepost 16 in Nags Head is also a great place to catch a sunset, as is the Duck Boardwalk through Duck Village and Historic Corolla Park in Corolla.

You can always watch the sunset from land, but watching it from the water adds a whole new level of fun. Hop aboard a sunset cruise or sailboat cruise and you’ll see dolphins, pelicans and osprey, islands and lighthouses – a whole different side of the Outer Banks. Some of our favorites are the Miss Oregon Inlet II, Capt. Johnny's Dolphin Tours, Crystal Dawn, Harbor Star Dolphin Tours, Paradise Dolphin Cruises, Coastal Sols, Down East Rover and Sail Ocracoke Schooner Windfall II. See a full list of options here.

Photo: The Live From OBX summer concert series at Roanoke Island Festival Park kicks off this week with Joe Russo's Almost Dead on June 12 and Kool and the Gang on June 13.

Live Music

Live music happens every single night around here, early to late and in multiple venues. See a list of favorite places to see live music here and check out our nightlife calendar in our Outer Banks Nightlife & Events section.

Live From OBX

This week brings the much-anticipated opening of the Live From OBX shows at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo. The best way to enjoy these shows is to do a little pre-gaming in Downtown Manteo – have a few cocktails in the local bars, eat lunch or dinner, shop – and then head over the bridge to the show. Shuttle buses are available. Here’s the summer lineup:

Friday, June 12: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

Saturday, June 13: Kool & the Gang

Sunday, June 21: The String Cheese Incident

Thursday, July 9: Moe.Memtum Tour – Moe. & Umphrey’s McGee

Sunday, July 12: Josh Turner

Saturday, August 1: Wing Fling Outer Banks

Friday, September 4: Reggae Returns (lineup announced 6/22)

Sunday, September 6: Flatland Calvary

Photo: Indie rock band Mo Lowda and the Humble, out promoting their new record, Tailing the Ghost, will make a stop at Outer Banks Brewing Station this month.

Coming June 25: Mo Lowda and the Humble 

Of the many, many live music shows you can choose from on the Outer Banks this summer, one to look forward to later in the month at Outer Banks Brewing Station is indie rock band Mo Lowda and the Humble. The band is touring major cities around the United States and Canada, and one of their stops is little old Kill Devil Hills. Don’t miss this show, as this band probably won’t play small stages for very long. Check out Outer Banks Brewing Station’s lineup of music events here.  

The Pioneer Theater in Manteo

I know I said you shouldn't curl up in front of a movie or show on vacation, but The Pioneer Theater in Manteo hits different. The historic theater is a must-visit for its retro appeal, incredible sound quality and epic popcorn. Inside the theater starting on Friday, June 12, it’s the new Steve Spielberg movie Disclosure Day, a family-friendly PG-13 option. Next Friday, the 19th, it’s the Shelly Belly Unapologetically Me comedy tour. And the following week, there will be a free show called Wilbur & Orville The Workshop Upstairs running at 7 p.m. Outside, The Pioneer has frequent fund events like Wine Dancing, live music and vendor fairs in its backyard bar area.

Free Music in the Park

The Towns of Nags Head and Duck provide free music on the lawn in the early evenings, and the fun kicks up this week. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic. The kids will have fun playing at a playground or running around on the lawn.

Dowdy Park Summer Concert Series, Nags Head

Wednesdays starting June 10, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Dowdy Park, 3005 S. Croatan Highway. See the lineup here.

Concerts on the Green, Duck

Thursdays starting June 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the Duck Town Green, 1200 Duck Road. See the lineup here.

Photo: The Lost Colony outdoor drama is a time-honored Outer Banks summertime tradition.

The Lost Colony

The Lost Colony has been a family-friendly nighttime tradition on the Outer Banks for 89 years. Even if you’ve seen it dozens of times, it’s definitely worth visiting again. In recent years the show has been updated greatly, thanks to millions of dollars of investment. Nearly every aspect of the show, from the music to the lights to the costumes to the sets to the special effects, has been transformed, while the play still tells the classic story. The visual upgrades with Broadway-quality projections are a must-see!

The show runs Monday through Saturday nights at 8:30 p.m. A Native America preshow runs on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. The show lasts two hours and is held at Waterside Theater on Roanoke Island. Get tickets here.  

Outer Banks Swinging Mullets Baseball  

Summer nights were made for baseball, and the newly formed Outer Banks Swinging Mullets have officially brought summer baseball back to Kill Devil Hills. The team opened its inaugural season on May 23 and will play through July 18 as part of the Tidewater Division of the Old North State League. The quirky name Swinging Mullets pays homage to both the retro baseball hairstyle and the ubiquitous local fish and reflects this team’s fun attitude and Outer Banks pride. The team plays at TowneBank OBX Park at the First Flight High School Complex in Kill Devil Hills and consists of top-tier players from colleges, universities and hometowns throughout the country. Every game feels like a event with nightly themes, food trucks, kids activities, contests and a mullet toss (you’ll have to go to find out what that is).

The team plays through July 18 — see the schedule here. Nightly admission is $5 to 7; ages 18 and younger get in free. A Season Pass costs $90. First Flight High School Baseball Field is at 109 Veterans Drive in Kill Devil Hills Get More Information.

Theater of Dare’s Greater Tuna

Theater of Dare is a wildly popular community theater group based in Kitty Hawk. Their summer show, Greater Tuna, starts June 24 and runs through August 13. It plays on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Greater Tuna is a long-running off-Broadway hit featuring two actors and 20 characters. It’s a barrel of laughs farce with quick-change artistry, quick wit and amazingly quick costume changes. The theater in Kitty Hawk is a great place to cool off on a summer night. Get tickets and all the info you need here.

Photo: On Ocracoke Island, Ghost Story Beach Fires will build the fire, bring the chairs and s'mores supplies and tell you spooky stories by the sea.

Ghost Tours

If you love a good mix of history and spooky tales, you’ll love a nighttime ghost tour. On the Outer Banks you have four options:

Legends, Lore and Ghost Tours at Whalehead

The Whalehead mansion in Corolla is one of the most intriguing Outer Banks attractions. It’s been fully restored to its 1920s glory and is open for daily tours, but people say it’s still haunted so visiting at night is a totally different experience. This flashlight tour runs on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. from June 10 to August 28 (except June 17 and 24). Cost is $15 per person.  

OBX Ghost Tours in Manteo

This ghost tour is based in Downtown Manteo, one of the Outer Banks’ most concentrated historic areas. With a guided walk around town you’ll hear spooky stories that will thrill all ages. Tickets cost between $22 and $27, and tours start at 7:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. Get the info you need and purchase tickets here.

Ocracoke Ghost and History Tour on Ocracoke Island

The folks at Village Craftsmen, one of the island’s favorite shops, host tours on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. You’ll learn about history and ghost stories from one of the island’s oldest families, and you can choose from two locations. Cost is $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Get more information here.

Ghost Story Beach Fires on Ocracoke Island

Village Craftsmen teams up with Ocracoke Beach Fires on Mondays for ghostly stories by a bonfire on the beach. S’mores are provided! Time is 7 to 9 p.m. and cost is $28 for adults and $18 for children ages 5 to 18. Get more information here.

First Friday in Downtown Manteo

If you’re here on the First Friday of the month, don’t miss First Friday in Downtown Manteo. Live bands play outdoors all over town, the shops stay open late, art exhibits are held, the restaurants are hopping, and locals and visitors spill out into the streets of Manteo, beverages in hand, thanks to Manteo’s many bars and its social district that allows open containers. It’s a fun, family-friendly night outdoors. Find more information here.

Full Moon Lighthouse Climbs at Bodie Island Lighthouse

One day a month the National Park Service offers a rare opportunity to climb Bodie Island Lighthouse at night. You'll ascend the 219 steps by flashlight then emerge on the balcony to survey the landscape in the light of a full moon. Snagging a spot is almost like winning the lottery, but it can't hurt to try to get one. Full Moon Climb tickets go on sale at 7 a.m. on the morning of the climb. Only eight people are allowed per tour and there are four tours per night. This summer's Full Moon Climb dates are:

Monday, June 29: 9, 9:30, 10 and 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 29: 9, 9:30, 10 and 10:30 p.m.

Friday, August 28: 8:30, 9, 9:30 and 10 p.m.

Saturday, September 26: 7:30, 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m.

Click here to buy tickets and good luck!

Stargazing

The Outer Banks is a great place to stargaze, but you have to go a little remote. Get out of the busy towns and head south on N.C. Highway 12 to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge or the remote stretches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and you'll have a much better opportunity to see constellations, planets and even the Milky Way. You can also go to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge for some dark sky viewing. A good place to keep up with upcoming night sky events is the Night Sky Network's Night Sky Planner. The OBX Astronomy Club hosts occasional events, and Dare County Public Library has a Telescope Program for checking out tabletop telescopes.