Events

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.

Dates: Wednesday–Saturday, October 14–17, 2026, 11 am - 10 pm
Location: Roanoke Island Festival Park
Address: 1 Festival Park, Manteo, NC 27954
Admission: Paid tickets required for the main festival; ticket options and availability are listed online.

Spend an unforgettable fall weekend enjoying bluegrass on the Manteo waterfront. The Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival brings nationally acclaimed musicians to Roanoke Island for a celebration of traditional bluegrass, contemporary acoustic music and outstanding instrumental performances.

Free parking and shuttle service are included with general tickets and passes. Visit the official website for daily performance schedules, ticket options and arrival information.

Event website and lineup: https://www.bluegrassisland.com/2026festival

Dates: Tuesday–Sunday, October 13–18, 2026
Times: Vary by registered program
Location: Multiple wildlife refuges and outdoor locations across northeastern North Carolina
Festival headquarters: National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center, 100 Conservation Way, Manteo, NC 27954
Admission: Program fees vary; registration is available online.

Discover the wild side of the Outer Banks during Wings Over Water, a wildlife festival offering approximately 60 programs in birding, paddling, photography and natural history. Guided experiences introduce participants to the birds, habitats and landscapes of the region’s national wildlife refuges and surrounding natural areas.

A highlight is the keynote presentation by author and bird researcher Scott Weidensaul, “The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save the Planet,” on Saturday, October 17, from 6–8 p.m. at the Pioneer Theater, 109 Budleigh Street, Manteo, NC 27954.

Each excursion has its own meeting location, schedule and participation requirements. Check the individual program listing before traveling; the headquarters address is not the departure point for every activity.

Admission: Fees vary by activity; many guided programs are $25 per person. Advance registration required. Various times daily, see individual program schedules.

Event website: https://wingsoverwater.org/
Program schedule: https://wingsoverwater.org/event-schedule/
Meeting locations: https://wingsoverwater.org/directions/

Dates: Saturday–Saturday, October 17–24, 2026
Times: Daily activities depend on wind and weather conditions
Location: OceanAir Sports and the sound directly behind the shop
Address: 39450 NC Highway 12, Avon, NC 27915
Registration: Advance online registration required for racers; no onsite registration.

Experience Hatteras Island’s windsurfing community during OBX-WIND, a week of competition and camaraderie based at OceanAir Sports in Avon. Planned activities include long-distance racing, slalom and light-wind racing, with organizers choosing each day’s on-water events according to the forecast.

The tentative schedule begins with participant check-in October 17–18, followed by the first possible race day on Monday, October 19. An awards party is scheduled at OceanAir Sports on Friday, October 23, from 7–10 p.m.

Because racing depends on suitable conditions, visitors should check the official event hub for updates before making a special trip. Competitors must register online and complete check-in before racing.

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.

Secotan Market shifts into its fall schedule beginning in October.

The Wanchese producer-only farmers market brings together growers, food producers, makers and artisans from northeastern North Carolina. The people selling the products are the people who grew, raised or crafted them.

Expect market offerings to vary from week to week, including:

Fresh produce
Pasture-raised meat and eggs
Vegetable ferments
Kombucha
Pecans
Mushroom products
Baked goods, pies and cakes
Jams and pickles
Local honey
Herbs, spices and teas
Flowers and potted plants
Natural skin care
Rotating local artisans
Fall Market Schedule

Beginning in October, Secotan Market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m.–Noon through Thanksgiving.

Upcoming dates include:

October 3
October 10
October 17
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
November 21

There is also a special Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving market on November 25 from 9 a.m.–Noon.

Saturdays, October 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2026
Time: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. each Saturday
Location: Island Farm, 1140 N. US Highway 64, Manteo
Admission: $11 ages 4 and older | Ages 3 and under FREE

One of the Outer Banks' favorite fall traditions returns to Island Farm for the first four Saturdays in October.

The 15th Annual Pumpkin Patch combines locally grown pumpkins with old-fashioned games, historic demonstrations, crafts, food and hands-on fall fun across the living history farm.

The pumpkins are grown in nearby Chowan County by a descendant of Island Farm.

2026 Pumpkin Patch Dates
Saturday, October 3, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Saturday, October 17, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Saturday, October 24, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Activities Throughout the Day

Admission includes:

Pumpkin Patch
Historic games
Nail-driving contest
Jumbo bubbles
Doll crafting
Candle making
Fresh maze/corn tunnel activities
Open-fire popcorn samples
Fresh apple cider
Blacksmith demonstrations and giveaways
Farm animals
Hands-on experiences around the historic farmstead

Visitors can also shop a makers market featuring local art and crafts.

Food and other items available for purchase include:

Local food vendors
Local honey
Apple cider donuts
Additional artisan goods

All scheduled activities take place throughout the 9 a.m.–3 p.m. event window rather than at individually published times.