February on the Outer Banks has a different rhythm. With the quiet of winter settling over the beach towns and the pace a little slower, there’s a collective exhale in the air. This is the perfect time to rest and reset, and that’s why ThriveOBX has declared February 2026 as Thrive Month.
What’s ThriveOBX you say? Launched by Outer Banks Health and Dare County Department of Health & Human Services, ThriveOBX is a long-term, community-wide initiative focused on physical and mental well-being, longevity and connection for everyone in the community. The idea is that the community and workplaces support well-being, so that it is woven into everyday life. ThriveOBX inspires a healthy lifestyle through strategic partnerships, guided workshops, practical tools, education and resources, which are all included on website, ThriveOBX.com. Thrive Month, sponsored in part by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, is just one of ThriveOBX's community initiatives.
The idea behind ThriveOBX is simple but powerful. According to Outer Banks Health, research shows that only about 10 percent of longevity is influenced by access to healthcare. Genetics account for roughly 30 percent. The remaining 60 percent is shaped by the lifestyle choices we make every day. These daily choices determine how long and how well we live.
ThriveOBX seeks to guide these daily choices with the Thrive5 framework: Nourish, Move, Purpose, Engage and Balance. Drawing inspiration from established research, including the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the Blue Zones Power 9, Thrive5 was intentionally streamlined to be practical, approachable and easy to apply to everyday life.
The Nourish pillar invites you to be mindful about goes in your body and to choose mainly whole, natural foods. The Move pillar reminds you to be active throughout your day, while the Engage pillar encourages creating meaningful connections with others. Purpose is for finding and doing what fulfills you, and Balance is about intentional relaxation and sleep.
Photo: The ThriveOBX team has been introducing the ThriveOBX concepts around the Outer Banks community.
Many Outer Banks locals do not realize that ThriveOBX has already taken hold in the community with some amazing projects.
“We have nearly 100 Thrive activities going on in Dare County Schools,” notes Amy Montgomery, executive director of operations at Outer Banks Health Hospital. “Our Thrive Provider Champion group has activated to bring more lifestyle medicine training into our local physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Thrive information is being shared through Food for Thought, our Thrive Bites Food Trailer is ready to deploy to local businesses and events to take healthy foods and cooking on the road, and, last but not least, OBH and Dare County team members are getting a jump start by being the first worksites where Thrive is rolling out.”
The ThriveOBX team is getting the word out further in the community with Thrive Month in February.
“Thrive Month will introduce Thrive to community residents and visitors in an accessible and fun way,” Montgomery says.
This month locals and visitors will explore the Thrive5 pillars through 25+ activities offered across the Outer Banks. Participation will look different for everyone. It might be dropping into a free fitness or chair yoga class. It might be attending a book club gathering at the library, joining a beach cleanup or hosting a game night with friends. It might be browsing the website to learn more about how sleep, movement and nutrition impact long-term health. All ages, backgrounds and fitness levels can find something to encourage more well-being in their lives.
Photo: Thrive Month is guided by the Thrive Month Playbook.
Guiding the experience is the Thrive Month Playbook, available for $10, with proceeds supporting the ThriveOBX Well-Being Grant Program. The Playbook is a personal roadmap for the month, outlining all 25+ activities with step-by-step instructions, links and resources. Inside, participants will also find the Thrive Tracker, which was designed to help track progress, celebrate wins and turn what you learn into habits that last beyond February. Participants can choose their level of involvement, from the Thrive À La Carte challenge (complete any five activities) to the Thrive Sampler (five activities across all five pillars) or go all in as a Thrive Champion by completing all 25 activities. Prize details will be emailed at the end of the month.
Playbooks are available online or at Waveriders Coffee & Deli in Nags Head. Thrive Month starts February 1.
Adding a strong community component to Thrive Month are Thrive Hives, community-led groups organized around shared interests that align with one or more of the Thrive5 pillars. From gardening and birdwatching to book clubs, pickleball, walking, photography, cooking, volunteering and more, Thrive Hives offer a way to connect with others while doing something you already love or something you’ve been meaning to try. New and existing groups can be submitted through the ThriveOBX website, helping the directory grow organically with the community.
Photo: Local businesses and organizations are partnering with ThriveOBX to create a community-wide sense of well-being and purpose. Look for this sticker on the doors of local businesses to see who is supporting the initiative.
Local businesses and organizations also play an important role as ThriveOBX Partners. By aligning their existing practices with the Thrive5 pillars, partners receive tools and support ranging from menu planning to workplace wellness activities like chair massage, breathwork and sleep education, creating healthier environments across the Outer Banks.
Whether you’re looking to move more, eat better, connect deeper or slow down and find balance, Thrive Month offers places to start. And it's only the beginning of a long-term well-being movement on the Outer Banks. Montgomery notes that it is not a one-time offering.
“With every passing year the month of February will be our community's opportunity to focus with intent on relaxing, resetting, moving, engaging, connecting and nourishing – all the things that contribute to our wellbeing and longevity,” Montgomery says.
Here is a sampling of the events happening in Thrive Month. Other events include community books reads at all three libraries (Kill Devil Hills, Manteo and Hatteras), chair yoga, free yoga classes and gym classes, financial literacy workshops and much more. To see the full lineup and register, go to ThriveOBX.com.
Don’t Stress… Thrive! with Dr. Christina Bowen and Sarah Summerton, NP
February 10, 6 to 9 p.m.
At Dinner with a Doc at Jennettes Pier, Dr. Christina Bowen & Sarah Summerton, NP, will talk about controlling only what you can control so that stress and anxiety don’t control you! This event space has a limited capacity. Please RSVP at your earliest convenience. A live stream link will be available at the start of the event. View Event Details
Thrive Move-a-Thon
February 14, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Enjoy a full day of movement and community at the ThriveOBX Move-a-Thon. Enjoy a Thrive-inspired playlist, a silent disco, ThriveOBX-inspired snacks, games and prizes, plus special guest appearances by ComMotion – Community in Motion, local musicians and fitness instructors. Pop in anytime and MOVE. The Move-a-Thon will take place at three locations: First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills, Virginia S. Tillett Center in Manteo and the Fessenden Center in Buxton (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Whether you stay all day or stop by for a few minutes, this event is all about moving your body, connecting with others and celebrating inclusive movement for everyone. View Event Details
Big Beach Cleanup and Keep Our Island Clean Day
February 21, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
From Duck to Buxton and Manteo to Wanchese, the community will come together to help clean more than 74 miles of coastline! This event is open to everyone. View Event Details
Photo at top: A free yoga class at Byrd Street access in Kitty Hawk by Outer Banks Health. Other photos from ThriveOBX Facebook.
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.
