The holiday shopping season officially begins on Friday, and if you want to feel good about where you spend your money, please shop local! Around the Outer Banks there are a thousand ways to shop local, from locally owned, independent stores to artisan markets to gift certificates for services.
It's fun to get out and about in the community and meet the store owners, service providers and artisans while you shop. Plus, the goods are right here where you can touch them – not some virtual idea of a product on the internet. They’re already made. They're already here. These artists and retailers are depending on us to buy them, in the holiday season and all year round. It feels good to support the local makers and store owners and return the money you spend back into the local economy.
Photo: The Christmas Craft Village in Historic Corolla Park features a variety of artist vendors on December 29.
In this week's blog I'm giving you a rundown of local artists and makers markets. There are a ton of them happening from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas, and this list is all of them that I know about so far. I'll add to the list as I find out about more of them so check back in to this blog.
Local artists and artisans are bringing out all of their fun goods to make it easy for us to buy holiday gifts. You'll find it all: jewelry, pottery, photography, woodworks, baked goods, bath and body products, macrame, plants, trolls, clothing, textiles, paintings, shell art, candles, baskets, hot sauces, home goods and so many more creative wonders.
Have fun shopping local this holiday season!
Corolla
9th Annual Christmas Craft Village
Date: Friday, November 29
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Whalehead in Historic Corolla Park
Extras: Pony rides, petting zoo, food vendors
The Kind Cup Holiday Market
Date: Friday, November 29
Time: 12 to 8 p.m.
Location: The Kind Cup Coffee, 1129 Corolla Village Road, Corolla
Extras: Fire pit with s'mores and hot chocolate
Photo: Locally made Amy's Candles can be found at many holiday markets, including The Kind Cup Holiday Market on Black Friday.
Kitty Hawk
TRiO Holiday Market
Date: Tuesday, December 4
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Location: TRiO Restaurant & Market, 3708 N. Croatan Highway, Kitty Hawk
Extras: Food and drink specials
Merry Chris'Mos Merry Maker Market
Date: Wednesday, December 18
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: Hurricane Mo's, 120 E. Kitty Hawk Road, Kitty Hawk
Extras: Food and drink specials, pet selfies with theGrinch, food drive
Kill Devil Hills
Goombrrrs Sip, Savor & Shop
Date: Tuesday, December 3
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: Goombay's Grille & Raw Bar, 1608 N. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
Extras: Complimentary appetizers, cash bar
Brew and Arts Market
Date: Friday, December 6 and Friday, December 13
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: Outer Banks Brewing Station, 600 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills
Extras: Food and drink at the restaurant and bar
First Flight Holiday Markets
Date: Saturday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 17
Time: December 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and December 17 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: Aviation Park, 103 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills
Extras: Dog park, park setting
Kids Holiday Soiree
Date: Thursday, December 5
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Swells'a Brewing, 1802 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
Extras: Crafts, face-painting, Buddy the Elf, pizza, hot chocolate, fundraising auction
Photo: Salty Inks will be selling special holiday-themed designs at many local markets, including the Starvin' Artists Christmas Party at Swells'a on December 7.
39th Annual Starvin' Artists Christmas Party
Date: Saturday, December 7
Time: 1 to 7 p.m.
Location: Swells'a Brewing, 1802 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
Extras: Beer and food
Mama Klaus's Merry Market
Date: Sunday, December 8
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.
Location: Mama Klaus's (Mama Kwan's), 1701 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills
Extras: Food and drink at the restaurant
Nags Head
Dowdy Park Holiday Market
Dates and Times: Saturday, November 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Thursday, December 5 from 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 14 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Dowdy Park, 3005 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head
Extras: Park setting
7th Annual Surfin' Spoon Christmas Artisans Market
Date: Saturday, November 30
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Surfin' Spoon Frozen Yogurt Bar, 3408 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
Extras: Froyo, live music, Santa
12th Annual Outer Banks Entrepreneurs Holiday Bazaar
Date: Saturday, November 30
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Comfort Inn South Oceanfront, 8031 Old Oregon Inlet Road, Nags Head
Extras: Door prizes, holiday music
Soundside Holiday Markets
Date: Sunday, December 1 and Sunday, December 15
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.
Location: Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head
Extras: Santa Claus, the Grinch, campfire, holiday music, food trucks
Photo: Look for Denise Turner Jewelry at many markets around town, including Dowdy Park and the Jingle Market.
Jingle Market
Date: Monday, December 2
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Location: Jingle 12 (Lucky 12 Tavern), 3308 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
Extras: Restaurant and bar open
Tinsel Tuesdays
Date: Tuesdays, December 3 and 10
Time: 4 p.m. until
Location: Sam & Omie's Restaurant, 7228 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
Extras: Food and drink at the restaurant
A Magical Season Winter Market
Date: Saturday, December 7
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Traveler's Moon, 210 E. Gallery Row, Nags Head
Extras: Craft activities for all ages
Photo: Schultz Brothers Christmas Trees in Manteo will host a vendor market with local artists on Black Friday.
Manteo & Wanchese
Schultz Brothers Black Friday Local Vendor Market
Date: Friday, November 29
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Location: Schultz Brothers Christmas Trees, 806 U.S. Highway 64/264, Manteo
Extras: Christmas trees
A Wanchese Christmas Craft Show
Date: Saturday, November 30
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Wanchese Community Building, 295 Old Schoolhouse Road, Wanchese
Extras: Food, petting zoo, Christmas music, Christmas parade and tree lighting
Secotan Holiday Market
Date: Saturday, December 7 and Saturday, December 21
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Secotan Market, 2868 N.C. Highway 345, Wanchese
Extras: Locally vegetables, meats, ferments
Holiday Market at the Waterfront Trellis
Date: Saturday, December 14
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: The Waterfront Trellis, 207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Unit 5, Manteo
Extras: Beverages at the bar; watch the Roanoke Island Christmas Boat Parade from inside the cozy space
Photo: Festive ornaments for sale at Secotan Market in Wanchese.
Hatteras Island
Hatteras Island Arts & Crafts Guild Holiday Show
Date: Friday, November 29 and Saturday, November 30
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Cape Hatteras Secondary School, 48576 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
Shuck Town Vendor Market at Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival III
Date: Saturday, December 21
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Cape Hatteras/Outer Banks KOA Resort, 25099 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
Extras: Oysters, food, beverages, live music
Ocracoke Island
Ocracoke Island Holiday Gift Market
Date: Saturday, November 30
Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Berkley Barn, 58 Water Plant Road, Ocracoke
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.
