Winter is for nesting and resting, but if you're getting tired of nights at home watching Netflix, there’s plenty of nightlife on the Outer Banks in the colder months. From trivia nights – lots of trivia nights – to live music to film and theater performances, you can find something social to do nearly every night of the week. And if you're participating in Dry January, don't let that stop you from going out. Sip something nonalcoholic and join in the fun with all the other people taking a break from alcohol this month. Many of these events are at restaurants, so be sure to plan for dinner out while you're there. If you’re looking to get out of the house, in this blog I let you know about some of the weekly events around town as well as a few of the special events coming up. Stay tuned to Outer Banks This Week's event listings for more great events all winter long.
Photo: Musician Chuck Hodges performing at Buffalo City Distillery.
Weekly Events
Mondays
Whalehead Brewery in Corolla - Bingo Night starting at 6 p.m.
Jolly Roger Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills – Poker Tournament at 6:30 p.m., Karaoke at 9 p.m.
McGrath’s Burger Shack in Nags Head - Open Mic Night with Laura Harrell from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tuesdays
Jolly Roger Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills – Music Bingo at 6 p.m., Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Wednesdays
Buffalo City Distillery in Point Harbor, Trivia Night starting at 6 p.m.
NC Coast Grill & Bar in Duck, Board and Bottle Wednesday (board for two and a bottle of wine for $95) plus live music. Reservations required.
Art’s Place in Kitty Hawk – Open Mic Night starting at 6 p.m.
Jolly Roger Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills – Working Women’s Wednesday at 5 p.m., Karaoke at 9 p.m.
McGrath’s Burger Shack in Nags Head, Trivia Night with Justin Bateman at 6 p.m.
Lost Colony Tavern in Manteo, Troyvia Trivia with Troy Tugwell plus sushi from Moondog, 7 to 10 p.m.
Thursdays
Whalehead Brewery in Corolla, Trivia Night starting at 6 p.m.
Shipwrecks Taphouse & Grill in Kitty Hawk, Live Music starting at 6 p.m.
Jolly Roger Restaurant in Kill Devil Hlls - Beach Music and Shag Dancing from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Mug Night with DJ starting at 10 p.m.
Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills (reopening in Feb.) – Trivia Night with Salty Sam from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.
NouVines in Manteo, Trivia Night with Greg Smrdel starting at 6:30 pm
Lost Colony Tavern in Manteo, Karaoke Night with Billy Raney from 7 to 10 p.m.
Enjoy flights of Weeping Radish beer at Firetender Stone Oven Cooking & Bar in Manteo.
Fridays
Buffalo City Distillery in Point Harbor – Live Music from 6 to 9 p.m.
Art’s Place in Kitty Hawk – Live Music starting at 6 p.m.
Tap That OBX in Kitty Hawk – Trivia with Jody O’Donnell at 6:30 p.m. followed by live music
Jolly Roger Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills – Live Music starting at 6 p.m.
Firetender Stone Oven Cooking & Bar in Manteo – Friday Night Flights from 5 to 9 p.m.
Lost Colony Tavern in Manteo – Live Music from 7 to 11 p.m.
Wanchese Marina in Wanchese - Trivia Night with Justin Bateman starting at 6 p.m.
Saturdays
Art’s Place in Kitty Hawk – Live Music starting at 6 p.m.
Tap That in Kitty Hawk – OBX Soundbites Music Bingo & Trivia starting at 6:30 p.m.
TRiO Restaurant and Market in Kitty Hawk – Wine Tastings starting at 5 p.m.
Jolly Roger Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills – Live Music at 6 p.m., Karaoke at 11 p.m.
Lost Colony Tavern in Manteo – Music Bingo from 7 to 11 p.m.
NouVines in Manteo – Live Music from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sundays
Buffalo City Distillery in Point Harbor – Live Music from 2 to 5 p.m.
Old Tom’s Beer Wine and Provisions in Manteo – Live Music on 1/19 with Red & Willow from 5 to 8 p.m.
Photo: Have dinner at The Black Pelican and see Theatre of Dare's winter production Now and Then on January 17, 18 or 19.
Special Events
Theatre of Dare
Theatre of Dare's dinner and a show event, Now and Then, is running for the second weekend “off-TODway” at The Black Pelican Restaurant in Kitty Hawk. Dates are Friday, January 17 and Saturday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 19 at 2 p.m.
Lizzie The Rock Musical is a musical based on the story of Lizzie Borden, who murdered her father and stepmother in 1892. The show will run at Theatre of Dare in Kitty Hawk from January 31 to February 9 (Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.).
Tickets are available online.
Love & Light & Music a Benefit for Greg Howell & Family
Come to Swells'a Brewing in Kill Devil Hills on Saturday, January 18 to support a sweet local family that's dealing with cancer. At 10:30 a.m. there will be Yoga with Pickles, at 11:45 a.m. Meditation with Meg. Live music will run all afternoon, from 1 to 6 p.m., with Suzie Jacuzzi, Manteo Murphy, Folkjet and more. Cafe Lachine will be serving food and there will be a bake sale.
Whalebone Seafood Oyster Roast
Outer Banks Distilling in Manteo is hosting an oyster roast on Saturday, January 18. Whalebone Seafood will serve steamed or raw oysters, and you can pair those with a rum-based cocktail.
Bluegrass Island Winter/Spring Concerts
Bluegrass Island is hosting off-season events at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Here’s the lineup:
January 25: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
February 22: Seth Mudler & Midnight Run
March 29: The Malpass Brothers
April 26: Shadowgrass
Tickets are available online.
Photo: Dueling Pianos is a lively fundraiser that benefits Dare Education Foundation and Dare County students and teachers.
Dueling Pianos Benefit for Dare Education Foundation
This night of music and giving will be held at 108 Budleigh in Downtown Manteo. Live, piano-playing vocalists, food, drinks, dancing, an auction and more are all for a great cause. Cost is $125 per ticket. Tickets are available online.
Outer Banks Film Society
Outer Banks Film Society shows two films a month at Dare Arts in Manteo. Coming up:
January 28: The Taste of Things
February 4: All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
February 18: Oscar Nominated Short Films
March 4: Polite Society
March 18: Museo
Art Opening: Frank Stick Memorial Art Show
The 47th annual show opens with a reception at Dare Arts in Manteo on February 7 at 6 p.m. The show features the work of dozens of local artists and will be available for public viewing at Dare Arts through March 1.
Besides nightlife and special events, there is plenty to do around here in the daytime. Local attractions like the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and Frisco Native American Museum are open, and there are hiking trails all over the Outer Banks. See this article from our Winter Outer Banks This Week Magazine to see what else we do on the Outer Banks in winter.
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.
