Events

Celebrate the season at 12 local bars and restaurants transformed into festive holiday pop-ups. From a Griswold family Christmas to a tropical holiday tiki hut, 12 Outer Banks bars and restaurants are getting a festive makeover! Discover over-the-top decorations, themed food and drinks, and plenty of playful details as you explore these holiday hangouts. Pick a few favorites for an evening out or make it a season-long adventure.

Explore the 12 Bars of Christmas, menus, and operating hours here: https://12barsofchristmas.com/questions-and-answers

The Facing History Exhibit displays the work of North Carolina potter Ben A. Watford through a collection of his face jugs, functional pottery, and dragon vases. Facing History will be on display in the Vault Gallery from November 6 through December 23, 2026. The gallery is FREE and open to the public.

Current Gallery Hours: 

Tuesday-Friday: 10:00am-5:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm

Sunday & Monday: Closed

From November to December, the Dare Arts Courtroom Gallery will feature over 30 commissioned pieces from the private collection of descendant, historian, and researcher Joan Collins.

Each piece in the exhibit tells part of the story behind the life of Collins' father, Herbert M. Collins, who was the last surfman at the historic Pea Island station, and the Collins family's history on Roanoke Island.

Beyond Pea Island will be on display November 7- December 19, 2026, in the Courtroom Gallery.

Current Gallery Hours: 

Tuesday-Friday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday: 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Sunday & Monday: Closed

Find a little holiday cheer, and something one of a kind, at the First Flight Holiday Market in Kill Devil Hills! Browse offerings from around 50 local vendors, including sweet and savory treats, jewelry, artwork, woodworking, candles, and bath and body products. Food trucks add to the fun as you shop for gifts and a little something for yourself.

Holiday market dates:

Tuesday, November 17: 4–7 p.m.

Saturday, December 5: Noon–4 p.m.

Friday, December 18: 3–7 p.m.

Markets take place at Aviation Park, 103 Veterans Drive. Parking is available at the park, with overflow parking directly across the street at First Flight High School.

Experience a little Christmas magic as ten acres of The Elizabethan Gardens become an enchanted wonderland of dazzling lights, festive décor, and seasonal sounds. Pick up hot cocoa at the Gingerbread House, wander the illuminated garden paths, and warm up beside a crackling open-air fire. Live entertainment adds to the celebration on designated evenings, while the Gift Shop and Nursery offer holiday gifts and seasonal plants.

2026 dates: November 20, 21, 25, 27 & 28; December 2–5, 9–12, 16–19, 21–23 & 26–29 from 6-9 pm

Admission: $22 for ages 13 and older; $14 for ages 3–12; free for children 2 and younger. Well-behaved dogs are welcome with a $6 ticket. Advance online tickets are recommended. This outdoor event is weather-dependent, with overflow parking at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and shuttle service on select nights.

Celebrate the season at 12 local bars and restaurants transformed into festive holiday pop-ups. From a Griswold family Christmas to a tropical holiday tiki hut, 12 Outer Banks bars and restaurants are getting a festive makeover! Discover over-the-top decorations, themed food and drinks, and plenty of playful details as you explore these holiday hangouts. Pick a few favorites for an evening out or make it a season-long adventure.

Explore the 12 Bars of Christmas, menus, and operating hours here: https://12barsofchristmas.com/questions-and-answers

The Facing History Exhibit displays the work of North Carolina potter Ben A. Watford through a collection of his face jugs, functional pottery, and dragon vases. Facing History will be on display in the Vault Gallery from November 6 through December 23, 2026. The gallery is FREE and open to the public.

Current Gallery Hours: 

Tuesday-Friday: 10:00am-5:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm

Sunday & Monday: Closed

From November to December, the Dare Arts Courtroom Gallery will feature over 30 commissioned pieces from the private collection of descendant, historian, and researcher Joan Collins.

Each piece in the exhibit tells part of the story behind the life of Collins' father, Herbert M. Collins, who was the last surfman at the historic Pea Island station, and the Collins family's history on Roanoke Island.

Beyond Pea Island will be on display November 7- December 19, 2026, in the Courtroom Gallery.

Current Gallery Hours: 

Tuesday-Friday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday: 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Sunday & Monday: Closed

Experience a little Christmas magic as ten acres of The Elizabethan Gardens become an enchanted wonderland of dazzling lights, festive décor, and seasonal sounds. Pick up hot cocoa at the Gingerbread House, wander the illuminated garden paths, and warm up beside a crackling open-air fire. Live entertainment adds to the celebration on designated evenings, while the Gift Shop and Nursery offer holiday gifts and seasonal plants.

2026 dates: November 20, 21, 25, 27 & 28; December 2–5, 9–12, 16–19, 21–23 & 26–29 from 6-9 pm

Admission: $22 for ages 13 and older; $14 for ages 3–12; free for children 2 and younger. Well-behaved dogs are welcome with a $6 ticket. Advance online tickets are recommended. This outdoor event is weather-dependent, with overflow parking at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and shuttle service on select nights.

Celebrate the season at 12 local bars and restaurants transformed into festive holiday pop-ups. From a Griswold family Christmas to a tropical holiday tiki hut, 12 Outer Banks bars and restaurants are getting a festive makeover! Discover over-the-top decorations, themed food and drinks, and plenty of playful details as you explore these holiday hangouts. Pick a few favorites for an evening out or make it a season-long adventure.

Explore the 12 Bars of Christmas, menus, and operating hours here: https://12barsofchristmas.com/questions-and-answers

Celebrate the season at 12 local bars and restaurants transformed into festive holiday pop-ups. From a Griswold family Christmas to a tropical holiday tiki hut, 12 Outer Banks bars and restaurants are getting a festive makeover! Discover over-the-top decorations, themed food and drinks, and plenty of playful details as you explore these holiday hangouts. Pick a few favorites for an evening out or make it a season-long adventure.

Explore the 12 Bars of Christmas, menus, and operating hours here: https://12barsofchristmas.com/questions-and-answers

Celebrate the season at 12 local bars and restaurants transformed into festive holiday pop-ups. From a Griswold family Christmas to a tropical holiday tiki hut, 12 Outer Banks bars and restaurants are getting a festive makeover! Discover over-the-top decorations, themed food and drinks, and plenty of playful details as you explore these holiday hangouts. Pick a few favorites for an evening out or make it a season-long adventure.

Explore the 12 Bars of Christmas, menus, and operating hours here: https://12barsofchristmas.com/questions-and-answers