Outer Banks Arts & Crafts Events - 2020 Schedule

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.

Celebrate the springtime holiday with plenty of colorful blooms and hours of fun and activity at this annual event that is becoming a favorite tradition for Outer Banks visitors and locals alike. Easter Eggstravaganza is a festive and beloved day at one of Roanoke Island’s most notable and popular landmarks, and the festival features a wealth of ways to enjoy some holiday fun, such as crafts, games, and of course, a colorful Easter egg hunt to ring in the season.

Celebrating a collection of beautiful artworks, tempting fare, and the stunning backdrop of the Elizabethan Gardens, the PopUP Art Gallery is a fine opportunity to celebrate everything that makes life on the Outer Banks truly colorful, and truly grand. This day-long event that highlights some of the most talented artists in the state of North Carolina is a great introduction to the regional art scene, and is also an engaging way to explore what the colorful Outer Banks has to offer, both inside and out.

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.

Grab a mint julip and don your best and most elaborate hat for this fun and truly southern event that takes place at one of the most enchanting destinations on the Outer Banks. The Kentucky Derby Party is a festive celebration that is held at the famed Elizabethan Gardens, and which features a host of revels and embellishments to coincide with the annual race, and which will benefit a number of worthy local causes.

At the annual Artrageous Art Extravaganza, everyone can enjoy a little hands-on creativity with lots of interactive displays, live demos, and fun artistic activities for the young and the young at heart. This full day affair which combines art, music, and the friendly spirit of the Outer Banks, is an annual tradition that began in 1989, and which has become a favorite event for visitors of all ages.

This years theme is "The Power of Plants - Super Succulents” focusing on succulent plants that grow well on the Outer Banks. The 18th annual Coastal Gardening Festival takes place on May 16, 2020. This great event starts at 9:00 am and the fun lasts until 2:30 pm at the Thomas A. Baum Senior Center, 300 Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills. Garden art, handcrafted goods, plants and refreshments are provided by over 70 vendors. Children’s activities, educational displays and gardening information will be available. Admission is free, Rain or Shine. Proceeds from the event benefit the outreach programs of the Dare County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in association the North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

Celebrate the artistic community on Hatteras Island at Dare County Arts Council’s 7th Annual Rock The Cape Festival. This year’s Rock The Cape Concert will be held at REAL Watersports in Waves on Friday, June 5, 2020, and the soundfront concert will feature live music by two different bands, as well as a week of opportunities to discover the talented artists who call Hatteras Island home.

Discover a far-reaching range of talented local artists and craftsmen without ever leaving the quiet and charming northern villages of Hatteras Island with this fun late summer event that will entice any art fan to get out and explore. The Island Art Show in Rodanthe features a collection of local exhibitors, as well as plenty of additional reasons to stop by and see what the local art scene is all about.

Celebrate the artistic community on Hatteras Island at Dare County Arts Council’s 7th Annual Rock The Cape Festival. This year’s Rock The Cape Concert will be held at REAL Watersports in Waves on Friday, June 5, 2020, and the soundfront concert will feature live music by two different bands, as well as a week of opportunities to discover the talented artists who call Hatteras Island home.

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.

Peruse a colorful array of vibrant artworks and crafts while enjoying the postcard-perfect setting on the grounds of the Whalehead Club by attending the 19^th Annual Under the Oaks Art Festival.

Head to the tiny coastal village of Ocracoke for a big Independence Day celebration that includes fireworks, a parade, and plenty of family fun. The highlight of the Ocracoke Independence Day Celebration is the annual amazing fireworks display over the Silver Lake Harbor after the sun goes down. Visitors will find plenty of seating all around the harborfront docks, and can bring along beach chairs, towels, blankets, and everything they need to enjoy the show.

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.

Celebrate summer with Kitty Hawk Kites and support the Outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition at the annual OBX Watermelon Festival. This beloved local celebration that’s held at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head features a wealth of activities for visitors of all ages, and is the perfect way to toast the peak of the summer season on the Outer Banks.

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.

Take a stroll along any shaded street in Ocracoke village and you’ll naturally notice the town’s love of all-things fig. Fig trees are everywhere in this coastal town, and during this annual celebration, visitors and locals alike can celebrate the fig through a myriad of  music, dancing, history, activities, and of course, plenty of fig goodies.

The two day festival is open to artists from throughout the country. The juried show will exhibit original works from 75 artists from throughout the east coast. Over a dozen artists are new to the show this year and are extremely excited to be a part of such a unique and established Festival. Exhibitors include watercolors, oil & acrylic, graphics, drawings, photography, jewelry, sculpture, and pottery. The Festival provides artists and opportunity to display and sell their creative work and compete for awards.

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.

This annual show features a superb variety of creations from 25 Outer Banks artists whose specialties include painting, pottery, jewelry, photography, glass, fiber arts, collage, wood and more. Admission to the show is free on both days and there is plenty of free parking. In addition to the handcrafted art, you can gather information about two local charities – N.E.S.T. and Friends of Youth – that participate in the show. A portion of artists' entrance fees are donated to the charities. 

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.

Celebrate the vibrant Latino community on Ocracoke Island which has been growing and thriving in the past 20 years with this special festival that features a wealth of tempting foods, arts and crafts, music, activities for kids, and much more. Held at the Ocracoke School during the day and the Ocracoke Community Center at night, this festival deliciously combines education and effortless fun to present a day that visitors of all tastes will adore.

Manteo’s vibrant downtown scene is on full display during this monthly event that highlights the area’s businesses, restaurants and galleries that makes this central Outer Banks community so unique. The First Friday in Manteo is held every month on the initial Friday of the month, and is a street festival that will make any new visitor fall in love with this charming coastal community.