It’s no secret that fall on the Outer Banks is one of the best times of the year. With cooler temperatures, less crowded beaches and restaurants, and lots of fun events, visitors are sure to love it just as much as the locals!
Check out this list of late summer/fall events happening around town, so you can start planning your trip today!
September 9th – September 11th: Outer Banks Kite Festival
A regional kite festival that brings some of the nation’s best stunt kite pilots right here to our backyard. Come out and join us for three days of kite-flying fun for the whole family. Enjoy massive display kites flying high, including a 100-foot octopus, an 80-foot panda, and a 50-foot fish, and participate in FREE stunt and power kite lessons given by pros. Throughout the event, come watch world-class displays of artistry and skill with kite flying set to music, synchronized performances, and more! Enjoy massive show kites flying high above the sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, and participate in stunt and power kite lessons given by pros. This event is FREE and open to the public. Find more information here.
September 16th – September 18th: OBX Pridefest
The 11th-Annual OBX Pridefest is a 3-day gay pride festival, full of events, and all-inclusive for all LGBTQ folks, supporters, and friends. More information can be found here.
September 22nd – September 24th: Outer Banks Bike Fest
This event at the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head draws from a crowd of motorcycles that are visiting the Outer Banks. Each year our event grows bigger and bigger. The main purpose is to raise funds for providing Christmas for local underprivileged children. The event will feature live music, food & beverages, raffles, and more. Find more information here.
September 23rd – September 24th: Harvest Festival Weekend at Currituck Sound KOA
Kick off the season with pumpkin painting, family competitions, crafts, cider tasting, live music by Jonny Waters & Company, and more! This event is from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm each day. Find more information here.
September 24th: PIK’N Harvest & Whole Hog Throwdown at Sanctuary Vineyards
Sanctuary Vineyards invites you to enjoy the start of fall at the Pik’n harvest and whole hog BBQ throwdown, with live music, local beer and wine, and fun for everyone. The event is from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm and tickets are $30.00. More information can be found here.
October 1st, 8th, 15th, & 22nd: Pumpkin Patch Saturdays at Island Farm
This living history site and working farm on Roanoke Island is the place to be for fall family fun! Enjoy activities the first 4 Saturdays in October (weather permitting), including a pumpkin patch, historic activities, games, crafts, candle making, corn shuck doll crafting, popcorn, cider, a custom tractor photo booth, and more. Admission is $10, plus the cost of pumpkins. Children 3 and under are admitted for free. Find more information here.
October 4th: National Night Out at Dowdy Park
Come out and participate in the 39th Annual National Night Out at Dowdy Park in Nags Head! This program promotes police-community partnerships and engagement with the public, to help to bring back a sense of community and provide a great opportunity to bring law enforcement and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Enjoy a bounce house, a dunking booth, a seatbelt simulator, and other various vendors and kids activities. The police department will also be providing food for the event. This event is from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
October 7th – October 9th: OBX Jeep Invasion at the Soundside Event Site
OBX Jeep Charities are very excited to be hosting the 2nd annual OBX Jeep Invasion in Nags Head October 7th – 9th. The event will include a Poker Run, Scavenger Hunt, Show & Shine, raffles, live bands, vendors, food trucks, and lots of fun! So come down and hang out at the beach for a good cause and a little bit of Jeep fun! Formed to provide resources, programs and activities designed to enhance the lives of Dare County citizens, OBX Jeep Charities are proud to announce that 100% of net profits will go to the Outer Banks Special Olympics and Wounded Warriors In Action. Tickets are $65.00 per Jeep. Find more information here.
October 8th – October 9th: Duck Jazz Festival
The Town of Duck brings jazz to the Duck Town Park annually in early October. This event is non-ticketed and free to the public. Food and drinks are available to purchase from town eateries and chairs are available for rent. Attendees may also bring food, coolers, chairs, blankets, and well-behaved dogs. More information can be found here.
October 8th: Crabdaddy Fall Festival & Hook’d Fish Fry at Sanctuary Vineyards
You won’t want to miss this event, featuring all-you-can-eat steamed crabs + fish fry, local beer and wine, a harvest hayride, grape stomping, live music & more! The event is from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm and tickets are $60.00 for adults and $30.00 for kids. Find more information here.
October 8th: Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run in Avon
The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation’s 5K is coming back in 2022 with a “BLAST”. The 18th-Annual race will head through the neighborhood of Kinnakeet Shores on the soundside in Avon. This year will be back in person and with a Color Blast Run! Be prepared to walk, run, stroll or ride your bike through color stations where you will be “blasted” with color powder. Race t-shirts or your choice of white clothing is suggested for the full “blast” effect! The cost of this event is $45 in advance and $50 on the day of the race. Registration is at 8:00 am. Bikes start at 8:45 and walkers and runners start at 9:00 am. It is $45.00 to register. Find more information here.
October 15th: Outer Banks Seafood Festival at the Soundside Event Site
The mission of the Outer Banks Seafood Festival is to provide a fun and educational experience promoting, honoring, and celebrating our coastal seafood heritage and community. The Outer Banks is known for its seafood, but before the seafood can be served, it has to be brought to market. For generations, hard-working families on the Outer Banks have been doing just that, giving their all to bring fresh, local seafood to your table. This festival celebrates their efforts and long-standing fishing heritage. The Festival also showcases a variety of tasty seafood creations prepared by some of the Outer Banks’ best restaurants. There will be entertainment throughout the event with music, cooking demonstrations, friendly competitions, and all manner of family fun – all relating to seafood. The event is 10:30 am – 6:00 pm and tickets are $20.00 for anyone over the age of 13. Price includes $10 in Beverage/Merchandise Bucks good for the purchase of beverages and festival merchandise. Additional “bucks” may be purchased at the event. Find more information here.
October 18th – October 23rd: Wings over Water Wildlife Festival
One of the premier east coast wildlife festivals, Wings over Water began as a way to encourage and offer the public wildlife and wildland interpretation, educational opportunities, and experiences on regional national wildlife refuges. It now offers over 90 birding, paddling, photography, art & natural history programs. This annual refuge fundraising event is sponsored by Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society (CWRS), a non-profit group that exists to support regional national wildlife refuges. WOW, besides providing funds for educational grants to schools, is a part of many CWRS refuge support projects such as maintaining trails and signs and other refuge structures. Also, WOW helps CWRS provide volunteers and staff who are essential to the maintenance and operation of the regional national wildlife refuges visitor centers and refuges. Find more information here.
October 21st – October 22nd: Bluegrass Island Music Festival at Roanoke Island Festival Park
The Bluegrass Island Music Festival is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, with a number of regionally and internationally famous bands set to take the stage. The festival is held at the stunning Roanoke Island Festival Park, which overlooks miles of pristine sound waters. This unique 22-acre island becomes Bluegrass Island each year to host the event. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets and lodging well in advance as this event tends to fill up fast each year. If your dream vacation involves laying back in your most comfortable beach chair and listening to great music, then you’ll definitely want to set this long weekend aside for the Outer Banks’ most popular festival! A festival pass can be purchased for $125.00, or day passes can be purchased for $65.00/day. Find more information here.
October 22nd: OBX Brewtag at the Soundside Event Site
A celebration of flight and beer, OBX Brewtag is modeled after the whimsical and entertaining Red Bull Flugtag, translated to “flying day” in German. With OBX Brewtag, the general premise is the same, although rather than human-powered flying machines, Brewtag contestants will be competing to see who can launch and fly an empty 1/6 keg barrel the furthest. The cost to compete at OBX Brewtag is only $150 and the sky’s the limit as to how creative your homemade flying contraption can be! Individuals and teams are welcome. Admission to the event is FREE to the general public. A rather crafty selection of local and regional beer and food will be available for purchase that day. This family-friendly event will also feature plenty of activities for the kiddos! Find more information here.
October 23rd – October 25th Hatteras Island Surf Fishing Challenge
Head on down to Hatteras Island for legendary, world-class surf fishing! This popular tournament format is known for offering individual competition and big cash payouts. Fishing takes place round-the-clock from 11:59 pm on Friday until noon on Sunday, followed by an awards dinner. Participants will be looking to weigh in the heaviest bluefish, flounder, sea mullet, and pompano over the course of the event. The five heaviest of each of the four species will earn slots on the leaderboard, as well as hefty prize checks. Find more information here.
October 29th: Night of 1587 Pumpkins at Elizabethan Gardens
In 1587, English colonists came to Roanoke Island. Night of 1587 Pumpkins is a new event at The Elizabethan Gardens at which we will attempt to light 1,587 jack-o-lanterns. The evening will consist of trick-or-treating, contests, and of course, pumpkins! Everyone is encouraged to come in costume to enjoy the festivities. Jack-o-lanterns are provided by event attendees, so if you visit, please bring a few carved pumpkins! There will also be a costume contest and a scream contest. Tickets for adults are $12; youth (between 6 to 17) $8; child (between 2 to 5): $4; infant (under 2): free; dog: $3. This event is from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Find more information here.
November 11th – November 13th: Outer Banks Marathon & Half Marathon
The OBX Marathon is the oldest continuously running road race in the Outer Banks! The marathon course is fast and flat, which makes it the perfect place for your first marathon or even your own personal record! Participants will enjoy the gorgeous natural scenery along the course as it twists and turns across the islands of the Outer Banks. The post-race celebration will feature live music and entertainment, as well as excellent southern barbecue (free for all runners!) and an awesome beer garden for all those 21+. More information can be found here.
November 24th: Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile
Join the Brewing Station crew for a Thanksgiving-themed beer mile. Backyard party, chip timing, and T-shirt included. This is an adult 21 and over-only social run. Prizes to the fastest male and female overall. Wear your Holiday finest, as there will be a costume contest for the most creative. The race starts at 11:00 am and admission is $40.00. Find more information here.
November 24th: 11th Annual Surfin’ Turkey 5K & Puppy Drum Fun Run
Run this beautiful 5K course through the historic fishing village of Hatteras before your big Thanksgiving feast! The proceeds from this race support the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund (HIYEF). HIYEF provides funding for educational and enrichment opportunities for our Hatteras Island students. This is not a timed race; it is a family fun event, if you want to know your time please wear a watch or make sure you look at the clock at the finish line. Non-refundable charity event. The race begins at 8:00 am and is rain or shine but will be canceled for safety reasons in the event of severe weather. Registration before 11/1 is $35.00; after 11/1 is $40.00. Registration on-site is $45.00. The Puppy Drum Fun Run (½ mile) begins at 9:00 and is free for children 10 and under. Find more information here.
November 24th: 9th Annual Wild Turkey Thanksgiving Day 5K at Whalehead Club
This event is a family and community event in the spirit and fellowship of the holiday. Bicycle lead, course marshals, turn arrows, and a water stop is provided at the halfway point. Open to runners, walkers, wheelchair participants, and stroller/jogger participants. Service dogs are OK (no pets please). In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the OBX Running Company will be collecting canned goods/non-perishable food items for The Sonder Project in support of our local Food Bank. The Fun Run begins at 7:55 am, and the 5K begins at 8:15 am. Pricing for adults is $40; active service members/veterans is $35; under 18 is $38. The youth Fun Run is $20. Find more information here.
November 25th – 27th, 29th – 30th, December 1st-4th, 6th-11th, 13th-18th, 20th-23rd, 27th-30th: WinterLights at Elizabethan Gardens
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.
If inclement weather or other conditions prevent the lights from occurring, a notice will be sent out to all anticipated guests by 2 pm. The event is from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Tickets for adults are $16; youth (between 6 to 17) $12; child (between 2 to 5): $8; Infant (under 2): free; dog: $5. Find more information here.
November 26th: Currishuck at Sanctuary Vineyards
Sanctuary Vineyards is finishing up fall 2022 on the Outer Banks with Currishuck! Enjoy all-you-can-eat steamed oysters + crabs, sides, local beer and wine, hayrides, live music, and more! The event is from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm and tickets go on sale on October 8th. Find more information here.
November 26th: Kites with Lights
Be sure to make it out to Jockey’s Ridge State Park from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm for a light display like no other. Kites with Lights features large 19-to-30-foot kites decked out in the spirit of the holiday season! At 5:00 pm, enjoy the lighting of the Jockey’s Ridge State Park Solar Christmas tree out on the dunes directly across from Jockey’s Ridge Crossing. Warm beverages and baked goods are available across the street at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing. All donations benefit the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge. Find more information here.
Article originally seen on: https://www.sunrealtync.com/blog-post/pumpkin-spice-your-fall-these-obx-events