Events

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.

Dates: Friday & Saturday, September 18–19, 2026
Location: Hatteras Village Waterfront and other Hatteras Village locations

Description:
Day at the Docks celebrates the working watermen, maritime heritage and community spirit of Hatteras Island. The festival began following Hurricane Isabel in 2003 as a celebration of the “Spirit of Hatteras” and continues with seafood, working boats, demonstrations, competitions, live entertainment, educational exhibits, vendors and children’s activities.

Friday's events include a Hurricane Preparedness Forum and the ticketed Seafood Under the Stars dinner. Saturday brings the main waterfront festival with boat tours, local seafood, the Seafood Throw Down cooking competition, live music, children’s activities, vendors, the Fishy 5K and Dock Dash, youth fishing tournament, Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation Chowder Cook-Off and the traditional Blessing of the Fleet.

Times:
Friday, Sept. 18: Hurricane Preparedness Forum begins at 1:00 p.m.; Seafood Under the Stars dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19: Fishy 5K activities begin in the morning 7:30 a.m. Main waterfront festival approximately 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., with additional activities surrounding the festival.

Good to Know:
The main waterfront festival is community-oriented and family-friendly and free to attend.

Seafood Under the Stars requires advance registration and is $60 without wine pairing or $80 with wine pairing. Individual festival activities may have separate fees or registration requirements.

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 community-focused market brings together farmers, bakers, artisans, and makers offering an impressive selection of seasonal produce, pasture-raised meats and eggs, honey, flowers, herbs, teas, mushrooms, […]

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

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!

Spend a Saturday morning exploring the Downtown Market in Manteo, a lively open-air market in the heart of Manteo's charming waterfront district. Browse a variety of local vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, artwork, jewelry, and other unique treasures while enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of one of the Outer Banks' most picturesque towns. […]

Dates: Thursday, September 17 – Saturday, September 19, 2026
Main Event: Friday & Saturday, September 18–19
Location: The Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head, NC; additional activities take place throughout the Outer Banks.

Description:
The 6th Annual OBX Jeep Mutiny brings Jeep enthusiasts together for a weekend of coastal adventure, competitions, live entertainment and community fun. The event includes beach crawls, an Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge guided trail ride, Vendor Village, Blackbeard’s Run, off-road demonstrations, Show & Shine and sound competitions, live music, raffles and more.

The weekend begins Thursday evening with a pirate-themed kickoff party and costume contest at Jolly Roger Restaurant & Bar in Kill Devil Hills. The main event site at The Soundside opens at 10:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Saturday concludes with the Sunset Lighthouse-to-Lighthouse Toy Run & Ride beginning at Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Event Schedule:
Thursday, Sept. 17: Kickoff Party, 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18: Main event site, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; after-party 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19: Main event site, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Lighthouse-to-Lighthouse Toy Run begins at 5:00 p.m.

Dates: Saturday & Sunday, September 19–20, 2026
Location: Outer Banks Brewing Station, 600 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills, NC

Description:
Outer Banks Brewing Station puts a coastal spin on Oktoberfest with two days of German-inspired food, beer, live music and festival activities.

Saturday – Oktoberfest by the Sea
September 19, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Saturday features $5 house drafts, an oyster roast, an Oktoberfest-inspired seafood menu, local vendors at the Brew and Arts Market and live music from We Jam Band from 1:00–4:00 p.m. No ticket is required for Saturday’s event.

Sunday – Oktoberfest
September 20, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
Sunday’s ticketed celebration includes a traditional German buffet, live oompah music and Oktoberfest games. The buffet and beer portion runs from noon–1:30 p.m., followed by a stein-holding competition, keg relay, cornhole tournament and best lederhosen contest from 1:30–3:00 p.m.

Admission:
Saturday: Free admission; food and drinks available for purchase.
Sunday: $25 general admission, plus applicable gratuity/service fee.

Good to Know:
Bring a valid ID if purchasing alcoholic beverages. House drafts are $5 throughout the weekend.

Dates: September 18–27, 2026
Location: Theatre of Dare, 3848 N. Croatan Highway, Kitty Hawk, NC

Description:
Theatre of Dare opens its 36th season with Happy Birthday, Wanda June, Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s darkly comedic and unconventional satire exploring war, heroism, masculinity and what happens when the past unexpectedly returns.

The story centers on famed hunter and adventurer Harold Ryan, who returns home after being presumed dead for eight years and expects to resume his former life—only to discover that his wife, family and the world around him have changed. Vonnegut’s trademark absurdity and dark humor mix with scenes from the afterlife and a sharp look at the conflict between violence and peace. The production is directed by Kim Plyler.

Performance Times:
Sept. 18, 19, 24, 25 & 26 – 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 – Special 1:00 p.m. matinee
Sept. 20 & 27 – 2:00 p.m. matinees

Good to Know:
Individual performance tickets are on sale through Theatre of Dare. Because of the play’s dark satire and adult themes, parents may want to review the production information when considering it for younger children.