As the calendar rolls into June, the Outer Banks weather feels cool and springlike, but the events are rolling in like it’s full-blown summer. This weekend of the year always feels like the start of the season, the beginning of the big boom of visitors, and we definitely have the events to welcome them.
Photo: The 86th season of The Lost Colony starts this week.
Rock the Cape Festival
Thursday, June 1 and Friday, June 2
The official kickoff to the season on Hatteras Island, Rock the Cape Festival is a celebration of the Hatteras music and arts scene. On Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. there’s a full afternoon of live music by Stereo in Words, The Carolina Sweaters, Loose Wheel and a Hatteras musician family jam. Plus an art show with 25 local art vendors. It’s a free, family-friendly event held at Kitty Hawk Kites’ Waves Village Watersports Resort in Rodanthe. Good Winds Restaurant will be serving barbecue. On Friday, take a tour of the Hatteras Island art galleries from Rodanthe to Hatteras. The participating galleries will have demos, classes, sales, raffles, music, food and drink.
Photo: Tri-Village-based band The Carolina Sweaters will play at Rock the Cape on Thursday.
First Friday in Manteo
Friday, June 2
Every first Friday from April through December, Downtown Manteo comes alive with music, merriment, special events and visitors. All the fun happens from 6 to 8 p.m. This month’s music includes the First Flight High School Jazz Band at Magnolia Pavilion, Tripp Harrison at Old Tom Street, Toolan & Evans at NouVines, John Baldwin at Poor Richards, Ruth Wyand at 1587 and Uncle Jack Waddell at Lost Colony Tavern, The Storyweavers at Dare Arts and Elisa McVearry in the Dare Arts Courtyard. Panda Daniels will fire dance in The Courtyard at dusk. Downtown Books will have a book signing with Marjorie Hudson, author of Indigo Fields and Searching for Virginia Dare. Dare Arts will also have two exhibit openings: Outside Straight Lines, A Visual Arts Exhibition Featuring Queer Artists in celebration of Pride Month and Whimsical Woodworking by Tyson Andrews. In between all that fun, stop in the restaurants, shops and galleries for special eats, treats, finds and deals.
Ocrafolk Festival
Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4
Every first weekend in June, a wealth of musicians, storytellers, artists and characters come together for a magical weekend on Ocracoke Island. The grassroots festival is jam-packed with events. If you go, plan to wait a while for the ferry as this event is very popular but definitely worth the time it takes to get the island. If you haven’t already arranged accommodations you might be out of luck, but it would definitely be worth a day trip. Day passes or weekend passes are available. The festival supports community and school programing year round on Ocracoke Island.
Photo: Catch the Outer Banks boys of summer at their opening-night game on Friday.
Outer Banks Scallywags Summer Baseball Opening Night
Friday, June 1
The Outer Banks Scallywags are a collegiate summer baseball team. They play their games at Manteo High School’s Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field. The season runs through early August. Games start at 7 p.m., and tickets are affordable (kids 5 and younger get in free). Concessions are available at the game. obxscallywags.com.
Opening Night of The Lost Colony
Friday, June 2
The 86th season of The Lost Colony officially opens on Saturday night. However, on Thursday, June 1, you can enjoy a preview night that supports the Outer Banks SPCA. General admission for preview night is $20 for adults and $10 for children – or you can bring a donation of food or supplies for the SPCA in lieu of the ticket price! The regular show runs June 2 through August 26, Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with ticket prices starting at $25. Get there early on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays for a Native American Pre-Show (free to ticket holders). Dare Nights, free for Dare, Currituck, Hyde and Tyrrell County locals, will be held on June 9, 16 and 23. Free admission is contingent on contributing a minimum of three nonperishable food items, and be sure to bring your ID.
Dare Days
Saturday, June 3
Manteo is a super-busy place on the first weekend in June. Right after First Friday, Saturday features one of the biggest events of the year: Dare Days. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Downtown Manteo is filled with music, vendors, numerous food trucks, kids’ games, rides, activities and so much more. The Town of Manteo event has been a tradition for almost 50 years, and it draws a huge crowd. New this year is a second event on Sunday, June 4. From 3 to 5 p.m. come to the Pea Island Cookhouse on Sir Walter Raleigh Street for a gospel concert. Lemonade and sweets will be available.
Photo: Soundside Fun Fair is held at Soundside Event Site in Nags Head.
Soundside Fun Fair
Thursday, June 8 through Sunday, June 11
Coming up next week it’s the annual Soundside Fun Fair, a benefit for Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County. Every night from 5 to 11 p.m., come out for carnival fun with rides, midway games and all the traditional carnival food like funnel cakes, cotton candy and more. All-you-can-ride wristbands cost $30 on site, or you can buy them early at the CYP office (534 Ananias Dare Street, Manteo) for $25.
You can find details about all of these events and more on our Daytime and Nightlife pages.
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.
