Get ready to shop, stroll, and soak up the holiday spirit at Dowdy Park! Come for the festive Holiday Markets at Dowdy Park for a celebration of local makers, coastal charm, and community cheer.

Market Dates:
November 8, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
November 29, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
December 13, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Dowdy Park, Nags Head
Enjoy the sights, sounds, and smiles of the season while supporting small businesses that make our community special. Mark your calendar, bring your friends, and let’s make this holiday season merry at Dowdy Park!

From November 8 to December 20, 2025, the Vault Gallery will feature a collection of first-edition, framed original photographs by Baxter Miller. The exhibit, Inheritance, examines the liminality of sacred places. Ethereal vignettes of ancestral grounds anchor the photography exhibition by Baxter Miller, a descendant of a Hatteras Island family who arrived in the 1700s. Printed and framed oversized on Hahnemühle watercolor rag, the work stands in stark contrast to traditional depictions of landscape.

The 12 Bars of Christmas return for their third year, bringing 33 days of festive food, drinks, and holiday events across Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, and Manteo. Visit all 12 decorated bars, pick up a passport to support local charities, and collect stamps for a keepsake ornament and a chance to win prizes. This family-friendly holiday celebration runs from November 28 through New Year’s, sponsored in part by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

This program is FREE to the public. Challenge a ranger to a round of target practice with an atlatl.  This is an example of primitive technology Native Americans and early people worldwide used for thousands of years to survive.  Additional games will be set up for visitors to play. This is a great activity for young explorers and big adventurers!

Recommended for ages 6 and up.  

Activity will take place near the end of the visitor center's boardwalk.  

Come spread the holiday cheer with Kitty Hawk Kites and the Jockey’s Ridge Crossing crew. Free visits and pictures with Santa are just a few of the fun and festive things going on. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Share all your Christmas wishes and have your picture taken with Santa at Kitty Hawk Kites at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head on Friday, November 28th from 10 AM – 2 PM, and Saturday, November 29th from 1 – 4 PM. Have some fun with Santa’s elves and try out classic toys straight from the workshop on the second floor of Kitty Hawk Kites!

In celebration of the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse (December 1, 1875 – 2025), the Outer Banks Conservationists and The Northern Outer Banks proudly present Joseph Smith, a New York–based living history performer, in two special performances of his one-man play, Augustin Fresnel: Through a New Lens.

Through drama and storytelling, Mr. Smith brings to life Augustin Fresnel (1788 – 1827)—the French physicist and civil engineer whose invention of the Fresnel lens transformed maritime navigation by dramatically extending the brightness and range of lighthouses around the world. The original first-order Fresnel lens, installed in the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in 1875, remains one of the last of its kind and is still an active aid to navigation. Both performances will take place at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla. Admission is free, and donations supporting another 150 years of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse are welcome.

Experience the magic of the holidays at the Corolla Village Holiday Market on Friday 11/28 4-8 and Saturday 11/29 4-8. Historic Corolla Village comes alive with local artists, craft vendors, twinkling lights, festive music, and the warmth of holiday cheer. Corolla Village BBQ will be open along with another food truck and sweet treat vendor. Christmas music and live music at Corolla Village Inn. This event will be in conjunction with the Currituck Beach Lighthouse 150th anniversary party. The WEVS school will be caroling. There will be a fire pit with S’mores and plenty of hot chocolate from the Kind Cup. Stroll through the sparkling village and shop unique local finds from Corolla Village merchants. This free, family-friendly event is the perfect way to celebrate the season, with something for everyone to enjoy.

The Elizabethan Gardens’ beloved WinterLights celebration returns November 21–December 30, 2025, transforming ten acres of gardens into a glittering holiday wonderland. Visitors can stroll illuminated garden paths from 6–9 p.m. on select evenings, enjoying thousands of sparkling lights, festive décor, and the warmth of an open-air fire. Seasonal plants and unique gifts will be available in the Gift Shop and Nursery, with live entertainment featured on select nights. Timed-entry tickets are sold online only, and the event is weather-dependent. Overflow parking and shuttle service will be available on select weekends. Whether you’re planning a magical family outing or a festive holiday party, WinterLights offers a joyful way to celebrate the season in the heart of the Outer Banks.

Adults: $22; Youth (ages 2 to 17): $14; Child (under 2): FREE; Dog: $6

Join a park ranger at Jockey’s Ridge State Park for a guided hike to the top of the tallest living sand dune on the East Coast. Along the way, you’ll discover the fascinating plants and animals that thrive in this ever-changing landscape and learn what makes this park such a natural treasure. Once at the summit, enjoy sweeping views of the Roanoke Sound and Atlantic Ocean that you won’t soon forget. This free, family-friendly event is open to the public. Just be sure to wear sunscreen, bring water, and wear comfortable shoes. The group will meet at the park’s pavilion beside the visitor center.

In celebration of the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse (December 1, 1875 – 2025), the Outer Banks Conservationists and The Northern Outer Banks proudly present Joseph Smith, a New York–based living history performer, in two special performances of his one-man play, Augustin Fresnel: Through a New Lens.

Through drama and storytelling, Mr. Smith brings to life Augustin Fresnel (1788 – 1827)—the French physicist and civil engineer whose invention of the Fresnel lens transformed maritime navigation by dramatically extending the brightness and range of lighthouses around the world. The original first-order Fresnel lens, installed in the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in 1875, remains one of the last of its kind and is still an active aid to navigation. Both performances will take place at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla. Admission is free, and donations supporting another 150 years of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse are welcome.