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Put on your favorite costume and celebrate Halloween on the waterfront at Wanchese Marina. This family-friendly afternoon features trick-or-treating around the docks, a costume contest, and live music, with food available for purchase during the festivities.
Step into an immersive outdoor art experience at Dare Arts' Courtyard this summer with Weather the Storm, a captivating mixed-media installation by artist Lara E. Parks. Blending light, shadow, sound, movement, and fabric, the installation transforms with changing weather and natural light, inviting visitors to return throughout the season to experience it in new ways.
Celebrate the opening during First Friday on Friday, July 3, from 6:00–8:00 p.m., where you can meet the artist and enjoy live music by The Blue Crab Boys in the Courtyard. The installation will remain on display through the fall, offering a unique outdoor art experience in the heart of downtown Manteo. Be sure to walk through and enjoy the art!
October 1–31, 2026
Location: Participating locations throughout Manteo and Roanoke Island
Best Nights to Visit: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Prime Evening Hours: Approximately 6–8:30 p.m.
October gets spooky on Roanoke Island when Manteo transforms into Halloween Island: Rise of the Moondog.
The month-long charity celebration turns more than a dozen local establishments into individually themed Halloween bars and gathering spots. Guests can make their way around town collecting passport stamps while exploring a lineup of elaborate Halloween themes.
Among this year's themed stops are haunted houses, ghost ships, vampires, zombies, witches, a mad scientist laboratory, a Harry Potter-inspired stop and more.
Many participating businesses operate throughout the week, but Halloween Island organizers say Thursday through Saturday are the best nights to visit because all of the Halloween bars are open. The most active time is generally from about 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Opening Weekend
Thursday, October 1
Halloween Island officially begins for the month of October.
Participating bars and businesses begin their Halloween transformations.
Friday, October 2
Halloween Island coincides with Manteo's monthly First Friday celebration.
Downtown activity is concentrated during the evening.
Saturday, October 3
Halloween Island continues throughout Manteo.
Saturday is one of the primary nights when all participating Halloween bars are expected to be open.
Halloween Island continues through Halloween night, October 31.
Proceeds from the 2026 celebration support the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.
Join Ranger Austin's skeleton crew and cool ghouls for a fun and festive hour at Jockey's Ridge State Park. Learn about what goes bump in the park after dark. This spook-tacular program will include a presentation on nocturnal critters, fun games, and creepy nature crafts. We will make Halloween-themed art using natural materials!
Treats and gift bags will be provided by NC State Parks and the Friends of Jockey's Ridge. This program is intended for ages 6 to 12.
Pre-registration is required in advance.
Please email austin.paul@ncparks.gov for details.
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Times: Trick-or-treating and onsite registration begin at 2 p.m.; walking parade begins at 3 p.m., followed by awards
Location: Aviation Park
Address: 103 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Admission: Free to attend and free to participate
Weather: Rain or shine
Show off your Halloween creativity at the thirteenth annual Outer Banks Halloween Parade of Costumes. The afternoon begins with a trick-or-treat preparty, featuring stations hosted by local nonprofit organizations around Aviation Park’s frog pond, along with decorated displays and photo opportunities.
At 3 p.m., costumed participants take part in a short walking parade, followed by Best in Show awards in three categories: ages 12 and under, ages 13 and over, and group/family costumes.
Everyone is encouraged to dress up, whether joining the parade or cheering from the sidelines. Free participant registration begins onsite at 2 p.m.; online preregistration is also offered. Public parking is available at the neighboring First Flight schools.
Celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating along the waterfront at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center’s fifth annual Ships & Sweets! Children and adults of all ages are invited to wear their favorite costumes and stroll the scenic marina docks, collecting treats at participating boats.
Bring your costumes, treat bags, and Halloween spirit for an evening of family fun around the docks.
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Start time: 5:30 p.m.
End time: Dusk; 90-minute duration
Location: Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, 8770 Oregon Inlet Road, Nags Head, NC 27959
October 1–31, 2026
Location: Participating locations throughout Manteo and Roanoke Island
Best Nights to Visit: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Prime Evening Hours: Approximately 6–8:30 p.m.
October gets spooky on Roanoke Island when Manteo transforms into Halloween Island: Rise of the Moondog.
The month-long charity celebration turns more than a dozen local establishments into individually themed Halloween bars and gathering spots. Guests can make their way around town collecting passport stamps while exploring a lineup of elaborate Halloween themes.
Among this year's themed stops are haunted houses, ghost ships, vampires, zombies, witches, a mad scientist laboratory, a Harry Potter-inspired stop and more.
Many participating businesses operate throughout the week, but Halloween Island organizers say Thursday through Saturday are the best nights to visit because all of the Halloween bars are open. The most active time is generally from about 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Opening Weekend
Thursday, October 1
Halloween Island officially begins for the month of October.
Participating bars and businesses begin their Halloween transformations.
Friday, October 2
Halloween Island coincides with Manteo's monthly First Friday celebration.
Downtown activity is concentrated during the evening.
Saturday, October 3
Halloween Island continues throughout Manteo.
Saturday is one of the primary nights when all participating Halloween bars are expected to be open.
Halloween Island continues through Halloween night, October 31.
Proceeds from the 2026 celebration support the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.
Discover coastal-inspired artwork by local artists Tammy Goodrich, Liz McBain, and Brent Nultemeier. This group exhibition features oil paintings, acrylics, and mixed-media work celebrating the beauty of the Outer Banks.
The exhibition continues through November 4 during weekday Town Hall hours, excluding holidays. Town Hall is closed October 12.
Location: First-floor conference room, Duck Town Hall, 1200 Duck Road, Duck
October 1–31, 2026
Location: Participating locations throughout Manteo and Roanoke Island
Best Nights to Visit: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Prime Evening Hours: Approximately 6–8:30 p.m.
October gets spooky on Roanoke Island when Manteo transforms into Halloween Island: Rise of the Moondog.
The month-long charity celebration turns more than a dozen local establishments into individually themed Halloween bars and gathering spots. Guests can make their way around town collecting passport stamps while exploring a lineup of elaborate Halloween themes.
Among this year's themed stops are haunted houses, ghost ships, vampires, zombies, witches, a mad scientist laboratory, a Harry Potter-inspired stop and more.
Many participating businesses operate throughout the week, but Halloween Island organizers say Thursday through Saturday are the best nights to visit because all of the Halloween bars are open. The most active time is generally from about 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Opening Weekend
Thursday, October 1
Halloween Island officially begins for the month of October.
Participating bars and businesses begin their Halloween transformations.
Friday, October 2
Halloween Island coincides with Manteo's monthly First Friday celebration.
Downtown activity is concentrated during the evening.
Saturday, October 3
Halloween Island continues throughout Manteo.
Saturday is one of the primary nights when all participating Halloween bars are expected to be open.
Halloween Island continues through Halloween night, October 31.
Proceeds from the 2026 celebration support the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.
Discover coastal-inspired artwork by local artists Tammy Goodrich, Liz McBain, and Brent Nultemeier. This group exhibition features oil paintings, acrylics, and mixed-media work celebrating the beauty of the Outer Banks.
The exhibition continues through November 4 during weekday Town Hall hours, excluding holidays. Town Hall is closed October 12.
Location: First-floor conference room, Duck Town Hall, 1200 Duck Road, Duck
October 2–31, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, October 2, 6–8 p.m.
Location: Dare Arts Vault Gallery, 300 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo
Admission: Free
Dare Arts opens its October Vault Gallery exhibition with OBX: A Dingbatter's Perspective, a mixed-media exhibition by Outer Banks artist Eric Riggs.
The month-long show combines two sides of Riggs' work: intricate, hand-manipulated printmaking and sculptural pieces inspired by his interest in African art.
Riggs creates his prints using his own equipment before cutting, layering, fusing, gluing and hand-working the pieces. He even constructs his own frames. His sculptures take a different path, incorporating found objects such as bottles, bells, natural materials and other unexpected elements.
Opening Night — Friday, October 2
6–8 p.m.
Opening reception in the Vault Gallery
Meet artist Eric Riggs
View the full exhibition
Reception coincides with Manteo's First Friday celebration
Free and open to the public
Exhibition Dates & Gallery Hours
October 2–31
Regular Dare Arts gallery hours:
Tuesday–Friday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday & Monday: Closed
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.