Events

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is home to nearly 400 species of birds that reside here or migrate through. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, you'll enjoy this casual stroll beside North Pond. Field guides, binoculars, sunscreen, and insect repellent are recommended. Some field guides and binoculars will be available for loan. Pea Island Bird Walks are held year-round except during the Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival in October and December. Meet at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, located on NC Highway 12 approximately 4 miles south of Oregon Inlet and 9 miles north of Rodanthe. The Pea Island Bird Walk is FREE. 

Sept. 2–4, Artists take to the outdoors across the Outer Banks during Dare Arts’ Fresh — A Plein Air Event, celebrating the tradition of painting en plein air — or “in the open air.” Participating artists will create works inspired by Outer Banks landscapes, waterways and coastal scenery. Registration required for artist participation.

Artists wishing to participate in Fresh from the Outer Banks can find the prospectus and register to participate online at DareArts.org/fresh. Artists can also call the Dare Arts Gallery at (252) 473-5558 to register over the phone. A $70 fee ($60 for Dare Arts Members) entitles each artist to participate in the event, including a Wednesday night social hour in the Dare Arts Courtroom Gallery.

The finished pieces will be featured in a September exhibit at the Dare Arts Gallery. A free public opening reception will be held during First Friday on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m., offering visitors a chance to see the freshly created artwork and meet participating artists.

Location: Dare Arts, 300 Queen Elizabeth Ave., Manteo
Event dates: Sept. 2–4
Public opening reception: Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.
Exhibit: Sept. 5–25
Opening reception admission: Free

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!

Enjoy an evening under the string lights during the First Friday Vendor Market at the historic Pioneer Theater Garden in downtown Manteo. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., the open-air market features local artisan and craft vendors, food trucks, a beer and wine bar, and live local music in a relaxed garden setting. Held every First Friday from March through December, it’s a lively way to shop local, grab a bite, and enjoy music in the heart of Manteo. Attendance is free and open to the public.

Friday, March 6, kicks off the 2026 First Friday season in downtown Manteo. We will have Joe Mapp playing live music on the front porch of the Gallery starting at 6:00 pm.

There will also be live music by The Conch Shells at Poor Richard's, The Bar Cats Duo at NouVines, and DJ Night at Lost Colony Brewery.

The First Friday Manteo Stroll, where restaurants and shops in downtown Manteo stay open late with specials, live music, sales, and events at their locations, will also be happening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. 

Discover the mysterious side of Ocracoke Island on an evening walking tour filled with local legends, fascinating history, and ghostly tales. Choose between the Down Point Tour, featuring stories near the Ocracoke Lighthouse, or the 'Round Creek Tour, exploring the historic Howard Street area. Each tour is led by knowledgeable local guides who bring the island's rich past—and its lingering spirits—to life.

Tours are offered most Tuesdays and Fridays from May 19 through September 29, beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m. and lasting approximately 90 minutes. Advance online reservations are required, and space is limited.

Give a little back to the beach this Labor Day weekend by joining the Surfrider Foundation Outer Banks Chapter for its Labor Day Beach Cleanups, September 5–8. Locals and visitors are invited to help remove litter and debris from Outer Banks beaches while enjoying some time outdoors and helping protect the coastline we all love.

The cleanup effort runs throughout the holiday weekend, with volunteers able to choose from available cleanup opportunities through Surfrider’s online registration. It’s a simple, family-friendly way to make a difference, whether you live on the Outer Banks or are spending the weekend here. Surfrider’s Outer Banks Chapter works year-round to protect local beaches, ocean access and coastal environments through cleanups, conservation programs and community involvement.

The WRV Outer Banks Pro presented by Pacifico returns to Jennette's Pier in Nags Head for four days of world-class surfing action along the Outer Banks coastline.

The World Surf League North America Qualifying Series event features Men's and Women's QS 2,000 competitions, bringing talented professional surfers to the Outer Banks to battle for points and showcase high-performance surfing. WRV has hosted this popular qualifying-series event for years, with its history on the Outer Banks stretching back to the early 2000s.

In addition to the competition, WRV and Pacifico will host family-friendly activities at the event throughout Labor Day weekend. Once competition is called on, fans who can't make it to the beach can also watch the action live through the World Surf League.

Dates: September 3–6, 2026
Location: Jennette's Pier, Milepost 16.5, Nags Head, NC
Competition: Men's & Women's WSL QS 2,000
Admission: Free for spectators
Good to Know: Surf competition times are dependent on wave and weather conditions. Once competition is called on, the event will be streamed live online through the World Surf League, WRV OBX Pro and the WSL app.

Around Town Events

The fun continues off the beach with parties and fundraisers throughout the Outer Banks:

Wednesday, Sept. 2: Pacifico Kick-Off Party & Corona Cares Cancer Fundraiser at Fish Heads, 5 p.m.–until

Thursday, Sept. 3: Backyard Party at Jack Brown's, 5–7 p.m.; Pizza & Brews at Lucky 12 Tavern, 7–9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 4: Tiki Time Party at Mimi's Tiki Bar at Bluewater Grill, 5–7 p.m.; Pacifico Party on the outside deck at Mulligan's, 7 p.m.–until

Saturday, Sept. 5: Corona Cares Cancer Fundraiser & Pacifico Surf Party at Avalon Fishing Pier, 5–7 p.m.; Pacifico Backyard Party at Bonzer Shack, 7 p.m.–until

Experience the freshest flavors of Northeastern North Carolina at Secotan Market, a producer-only farmers market where everything is grown, raised, crafted, or created by local vendors. Held in Wanchese, this […]

From Sept. 2–4, Artists will take to the outdoors across the Outer Banks during Dare Arts’ Fresh — A Plein Air Event, celebrating the tradition of painting en plein air — or “in the open air.” Participating artists will create works inspired by Outer Banks landscapes, waterways, and coastal scenery.

The finished pieces will be featured in a September exhibit at the Dare Arts Gallery. A free public opening reception will be held during First Friday on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m., offering visitors a chance to see the freshly created artwork and meet participating artists.

Location: Dare Arts, 300 Queen Elizabeth Ave., Manteo
Event dates: Sept. 2–4
Public opening reception: Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.
Exhibit: Sept. 5–25, Tues-Fri (10am - 5pm), Sat (10 am - 4 pm), Sun (10 am - 3 pm)
Opening reception admission: Free