Outer Banks Events - 2025 Schedule

Get your Turkey Day celebration off to a fun and fast-paced start with this annual event that is quickly becoming a highlight of the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Surfin' Turkey 5k and Puppy Drum Run is presented by the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund (HIYEF), and is a great opportunity to support a favorite local cause while enjoying miles of fun in the heart of Hatteras village.

Start your Thanksgiving Day with a little action before you start digging into the turkey feast with this annual run that features a family-friendly course, and plenty of ways to explore the local Outer Banks communities. The Outer Banks Running Club OBX Gobbler 5K & Fun Run is an engaging and scenic trek through the Village of Nags Head which is open to runners, joggers, and walkers of all ages, and which is sure to be a great kick-off to Turkey Day for everyone in the crew.

Thanksgiving Day Thursday November 27, 2025 Run our 5K and/or Fun Run! 5K 8:00 am / Fun Run 9:00 am (Clock timing only, no chip timing) Presented by Barrier Island Group (B.I.G) All 5k Participants will receive a RACE THEMED SHIRT (Giveaways must be picked up, no mailings.)Shirt sizes cannot be guaranteed if not registered by November 5, 2025 We order extra shirts but may run out of your size Pricing: 5K $45.00 - Fun Run $10 $$$$ REFUND $$$$ If you pick-up a 5K bib on Wednesday evening, you will get a FIVE dollar bill for every 5K bib picked up. Packet pick-upWednesday 11/26/25, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Get a head start on the holiday season with this post-Thanksgiving event that offers a world of fun for visitors of all ages. Held at the flagship Kitty Hawk Kites store in Nags Head, this two-day event features amazing shopping, activities, demos and displays, and - of course - a visit by old St. Nick himself to allow kids to get a jump start on their Christmas lists.  

Ring in the holidays island-style with this seasonal parade that takes place on the waters that surrounds Ocracoke village. The Ocracoke Parade of Boats is a celebration of life on the water, and this annual procession of ships of all shapes and sizes is sure to make anyone fall in love with the coastal scene and community that calls Ocracoke Island home.

Ignite your holiday spirit with this special annual event that combines the natural beauty of the Outer Banks with twinkling Christmas lights for an unforgettable display and seasonal experience. The Kites With Lights event is hosted by the flagship Kitty Hawk Kites store that’s just across the street from Jockey’s Ridge State Park, and the beautiful landscape of twinkling kites with the iconic massive sand dunes of the park in the background will be a sight that spectators won’t soon forget.

Visitors who missed the annual Wings Over Water festival - or who just want a second opportunity to admire the hundreds and thousands of birds that flock to the Outer Banks – won’t want to miss this special weekend where these feathered visitors are once again in the spotlight. The Wings Over Water Encore event is a weekend-long celebration of the many wintering waterfowl that are found at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and beyond, and is a great way for birders to discover the off-season beauty of the OBX.

Join in the fun of one of the most festive celebrations on Hatteras Island with this annual Christmas parade that has become a decades-long tradition for locals and holiday visitors alike. The Hatteras Island Christmas Parade combines local businesses, fire departments, the US Coast Guard, and non-profit organizations in a joyful and small-town parade that will inspire anyone to get into the holiday spirit.

Join us for this festive, twilight 5k & Elf Dash, run in the spirit of Christmas! Run or Walk from the decorated Aviation Park in Kill Devil Hills and enjoy its illuminated beauty upon your return. There will be post- race snacks and holiday joy to spread around! Parking will be at First Flight Elementary School which is .2 miles from the start.

Enjoy an uplifting experience at the exact location where aviation was born at the annual Celebration of the Wright Brothers First Flight at the impossible-to-miss Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. This day-long celebration honors the birthplace of flight, with a commemoration that coincides with the precise time that the first successful launch took place, and a wealth of activities throughout the day that will delight aviation fans of all ages.

Join the crew of The Brewing Station – a beloved destination for beer lovers – for this annual, active celebration that will give attendees a jump start on their St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The Annual Outer Banks Beer Mile is becoming a favorite tradition for locals and spring vacationers alike, and is a great chance to get in a little run while enjoying some of the tastiest brews that the OBX has to offer.

Not for the faint of heart, the Blackbeard's Revenge 100 is a relatively new event that first launched in 2019, and which will test the strongest athletes from the Outer Banks area and miles beyond. Covering a lengthy coastal course that extends for 100 miles, this scenic but tough race will push athletes to the limit as they head from the northernmost beaches of the OBX all the way down to the southern tip of Hatteras Island.

For a beach bike week that's big on hospitality but also provides ample room to roam, head to the Outer Banks. With miles of new terrain, incredible views, and lots of bike-friendly businesses welcoming two-wheel guests, it's no surprise that the Outer Banks is gaining recognition as one of the East Coast's best destinations for a fun beach bike week.