Events

Get a head start on your holiday shopping and support local makers, artists, growers, and small businesses at the Dowdy Park Holiday Markets. Browse unique, locally made gifts and seasonal favorites from 50 local vendors. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift, something special for your home, or want to enjoy a festive morning at the park, the Holiday Markets are a wonderful way to shop local and celebrate the season.

Find a special gift with a local touch at the Hatteras Island Arts & Craft Guild’s Holiday Art & Craft Show! Browse local art and handmade creations while supporting the Guild’s community art mission. Held at Cape Hatteras Secondary School on Highway 12 in Buxton, it’s a festive stop for your Thanksgiving weekend.

Bring the family and your Christmas wish lists for free visits and photos with Santa! Join Santa’s elves upstairs to try classic toys straight from the workshop, browse holiday sales, and enjoy a festive outing at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing. Leashed pets are welcome to pose with Santa, too. Visiting on Saturday? Stay for Kites with Lights, 4–7 p.m., when illuminated kites brighten the sky over the dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

Dates: November 27, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; November 28, 2–4 p.m.

Location: Kitty Hawk Kites, Jockey’s Ridge Crossing, Nags Head

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

New to roller skating or curious about roller derby? The Kill Devil Derby Brigade hosts New Skater Night on the first Tuesday of every month, offering a fun, welcoming introduction to skating basics in a non-contact setting. Sessions run from 6–8 p.m. at Aviation Skate Park in Kill Devil Hills. Full safety gear is required, and loaner gear may be available. No experience needed, just a positive, resilient attitude and a willingness to learn.

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

Looking for a fun way to spend a Wednesday afternoon? Join the team at the Outer Banks Brewing Station for their weekly Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting, held every Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guests will gather on the brewery's mezzanine for a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process, including a guided video tour, an opportunity to see, smell, and learn about the ingredients used to craft their beers, and a live Q&A session. The experience concludes with a guided tasting featuring four 5-ounce samples of the brewery's handcrafted beers. Tours are designed for guests ages 21 and older and are limited to 20 participants. Tickets are $15 per person and include the tasting. Advance registration is recommended.

For reservations and additional information, see the event website.

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.