December through January, The Dare County Arts Council Vault Gallery will showcase photography by Gregory S. Bucher. The Mute Stones Speak features color and black & white photographs drawn from Gregory's corpus of images from the great East Coast American cemeteries. The exhibit explores Gregory's analytic interest in how a monument was put together and how it’s coming apart. His eye is drawn by monuments that are astonishing, ironic, or unintentionally amusing, and the selection here is marked by a strong sensitivity to the juxtaposition of beauty with decay.

Park your car and stroll the path around the little turtle pond at Aviation Park. You'll enjoy an assortment of light displays and walk under lights hanging from the trees. This is free to visit and will be lit through the end of December 31. 

Come enjoy Tiffany Lindsey's exhibition, which highlights her ongoing investigation into intuitive painting. Within these works, she used fast-paced painting techniques to capture her everyday inner world: scattered thoughts, incompletion, impulses, and flashes of emotion. Although her works are non-representational, she believes they are her reflection in a mirror, capturing a visceral reality that can only be apprehended indirectly. The paintings are the record of her intuitive and self-generated process that she claims “is where art lives.”

An Art & Architecture Exhibition Featuring The Iconic Outer Banks Cottages. In November, The Dare County Arts Council Courtroom Gallery will celebrate the history of flat top cottages on the Outer Banks. The exhibit will showcase measured drawings and floor plans of the original flat tops along with interpretive media by local and regional artists that feature these historical homes. Today, the 31 remaining original flat tops are an architectural reminder of a quieter and simpler time on the Outer Banks. Their distinctive design represents a unique modernist solution to specific design conditions.

December through January, The Dare County Arts Council Vault Gallery will showcase photography by Gregory S. Bucher. The Mute Stones Speak features color and black & white photographs drawn from Gregory's corpus of images from the great East Coast American cemeteries. The exhibit explores Gregory's analytic interest in how a monument was put together and how it’s coming apart. His eye is drawn by monuments that are astonishing, ironic, or unintentionally amusing, and the selection here is marked by a strong sensitivity to the juxtaposition of beauty with decay.

Free Skating for up to 76 Participants at a time at an outdoor Ice Skating rink made with Glice Synthetic Ice. The
Skating Rink Dimensions are 97’x42’. Skating Time is 30 minutes – 1 hour. Skates are provided. You must wait for your skate size to be available for use. You may wear your own skates as long as they are NOT figure skates with toe picks.
Only Hockey style skates allowed.

Ascend Jockey’s Ridge with a Park Ranger! As you hike, learn about the ever changing dune and its uniqueness. Enjoy the breathtaking ocean and sound views. It will be a lasting memory to treasure for years, and a great photo opportunity. Hikers meet at the Jockey’s Ridge park pavilion located beside the visitor center.

Park your car and stroll the path around the little turtle pond at Aviation Park. You'll enjoy an assortment of light displays and walk under lights hanging from the trees. This is free to visit and will be lit through the end of December 31. 

The festivities kick off on the pool deck with live music by renowned local band The Yacht Dogs and food delicacies by Cousin's Oysters. The shellabration continues Saturday, starting at 1pm with a Merry Muse Market featuring local art vendors, which is free and open to the public all day. The Oyster Cook-Off Challenge runs from 1:30-3:30, then the all-you-can-eat Oyster Roast will commence at 4pm to conclude at 11 pm! (Tickets are required for the all-you-can-eat Oyster Roast.)

A holiday tradition not to be missed! Stroll along illuminated garden walks and discover the joy of the season with holiday lights that transform the ten-acre gardens into an enchanted wonderland. The radiant glow, holiday décor, and a crackling open-air fire, add to the festive atmosphere. Seasonal plants and holiday gifts available in the Gift Shop and Nursery. Check the website for a live entertainment schedule. Cost varies depending on age ($6-$18).