Experience the magic of the holidays at the Annual Corolla Christmas Village! Historic Corolla Village comes alive with twinkling lights, festive music, and the warmth of holiday cheer. Each weekend brings something new—whether it’s visits from Santa, live music filling the crisp evening air, or a delicious treat from the food trucks and The Kind Cup coffee shop. 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. Corolla Christmas Village is every Friday and Saturday evening from 5:00pm-8:00pm, November 29 – December 28.

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 will be available in the Gift Shop and Nursery. Enjoy s'mores and hot chocolate (while supplies last.) Check schedule for designated nights of live entertainment. November 22, 23, 29, 30 and December 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 from 6 - 9 pm.

The 12 Bars of Christmas in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, is a popular annual event that combines holiday cheer with a festive pub crawl. The event takes place at 12 local bars and restaurants, each offering a different holiday-themed drink, dish and/or special activity for the occasion. It's a fun way for both locals and visitors to celebrate the season while enjoying the vibrant bar scene of the Outer Banks. Eleven of the bars double as family-friendly restaurants. We plan many special events for kids such as cookie decorating, crafts, trivia, and character dining. All the stops offer a holiday kids menu with festive drinks and desserts. This year, the event introduces Christmas Island Kids Quest! See the event website for participating restaurants and additional information.

Join a park Ranger for an exciting dune hike. This guided hike will take you through maritime evergreen forest and out to the tallest living sand dunes on the east coast. Learn about the unique ecosystem of Jockeys Ridge and recreational opportunities our park has to offer. Observe plants and learn about the wildlife at Jockey’s Ridge. This hike will take approximately 30 minutes and will meet at the Visitor’s Center Pavilion. Please wear appropriate shoes, sunscreen, and bring water!

The 12 Bars of Christmas in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, is a popular annual event that combines holiday cheer with a festive pub crawl. The event takes place at 12 local bars and restaurants, each offering a different holiday-themed drink, dish and/or special activity for the occasion. It's a fun way for both locals and visitors to celebrate the season while enjoying the vibrant bar scene of the Outer Banks. Eleven of the bars double as family-friendly restaurants. We plan many special events for kids such as cookie decorating, crafts, trivia, and character dining. All the stops offer a holiday kids menu with festive drinks and desserts. This year, the event introduces Christmas Island Kids Quest! See the event website for participating restaurants and additional information.

Children grades Kindergarten through 7th will enjoy the "Hooked on Books Club" in the Manteo Library Meeting Room. Join Ms. Tammy to receive a copy of the current Book Club book. There will be a Trivia Game about the book and prizes! Come Get Hooked on Books!

Join a park Ranger for an exciting dune hike. This guided hike will take you on a one mile loop hike along the Soundside Nature Trail.  Learn more about the environment found at the base of the dunes, including the Roanoke Sound and the unique ecosystem at Jockeys Ridge. Observe plants and learn about the wildlife at Jockey’s Ridge. This hike will take approximately 45 minutes and will meet at the Visitor’s Center Pavilion. Please wear appropriate shoes, sunscreen, and bring water! This is free and open to the public.

The 12 Bars of Christmas in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, is a popular annual event that combines holiday cheer with a festive pub crawl. The event takes place at 12 local bars and restaurants, each offering a different holiday-themed drink, dish and/or special activity for the occasion. It's a fun way for both locals and visitors to celebrate the season while enjoying the vibrant bar scene of the Outer Banks. Eleven of the bars double as family-friendly restaurants. We plan many special events for kids such as cookie decorating, crafts, trivia, and character dining. All the stops offer a holiday kids menu with festive drinks and desserts. This year, the event introduces Christmas Island Kids Quest! See the event website for participating restaurants and additional information.

“A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans,” is a collection of photographs taken by North Carolina soldiers and explores the experiences of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Each snapshot is enhanced by commentary from veterans relaying what a photo means to them. This collection was assembled by Winston-Salem photographer Martin Tucker. It lets visitors step into the memories of Vietnam veterans. The exhibit, on loan from the North Carolina Museum of History, is on display at Roanoke Island Festival Park in the ticket sales exhibit space Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Dec. 31. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

Step back in history during this short walk to the actual site of the Wrights’ first powered flights!  Discover why the Wrights chose Kitty Hawk for their flight experiments and what life was like in the Outer Banks; learn about the events that led to the first powered flight on that cold December day, and the lasting impact their first flight continues to have on the world today.

This FREE program is weather-dependent and may be moved to accommodate wind/rain. Check in at the Visitor Center desk for the most updated information.  This 30 minute program recurs every week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from October 6, 2024 until January 2, 2025 at 11 am and 1 pm. Meet on the back patio of the Visitor Center.