**UPDATED 12/4/24**
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!
Photo: Locally made Amy's Candles can be found at many holiday markets, including The Kind Cup Holiday Market on Black Friday.
Kitty Hawk
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
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: Monday, December 9 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
Soundside Holiday Markets
Date: 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.
Tinsel Tuesdays
Date: Tuesdays, December 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
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
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
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.
