Outer Banks Festivals Events - 2025 Schedule

Outer Banks Festivals Events - 2025 Schedule
Week of July 28, 2025 - August 3, 2025
Friday, August 1st 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Friday, September 5th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Manteo

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.

Friday, August 1st - Saturday, August 2nd
Ocracoke

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.

Week of August 18, 2025 - August 24, 2025
Tuesday, August 19th
Kill Devil Hills

First proclaimed on August 19, 1939, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, National Aviation Day is a celebration of Orville Wright’s birth date, and is a fun-filled event at the Wright Brothers National Memorial that visitors of all ages will enjoy.  

Week of August 25, 2025 - August 31, 2025
Saturday, August 30th
ocracoke

The Ocracoke Health Center is hosting its fourth fundraising Seafood Festival in 2025, which was revitalized and returned to the island after Hurricane Dorian hit Ocracoke Island in 2019. Featuring live music, a live auction and silent auction, and plenty of fresh seafood, the late summer festival is a great way for Ocracoke newcomers and visitors to discover what the great flavors of this island are all about.

Week of September 1, 2025 - September 7, 2025
Friday, September 5th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Friday, August 1st 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Manteo

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.

Week of September 8, 2025 - September 14, 2025
Friday, September 12th - Sunday, September 14th
Manteo

Head to the cool and relaxed Outer Banks in late September to join in the fun of one of the region’s most distinctive and popular area festivals. Pridefest is a three-day gay pride festival that is full of activities, food, music, and ample beach time, and which is open to all LGBTQ folks and their supporters and friends.

Week of September 15, 2025 - September 21, 2025
Monday, September 15th - Wednesday, September 17th
Manteo

Surfers, filmmakers, movie buffs, nature fans, and curious visitors alike can all come together for an incredible film festival that celebrates all things aquatic. Presented by Cucalorus and the Dare County Arts Council, this three-day celebration of coastal North Carolina marine culture is sure to impress movie fans of all varieties, with an array of local and regional films that highlight life by the coastal waters.

Friday, September 19th - Sunday, September 21st
Nags Head

Jeep lovers are welcome to attend this annual festival that takes advantage of the beautiful fall weather of the Outer Banks, as well as the off-roading opportunities that are abundant along the miles of coastal North Carolina shoreline. The OBX Jeep Invasion is a fun and adventure-filled event that gives Jeep lovers an opportunity to get together and have a blast at one of the East Coat’s favorite destinations for four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Week of October 6, 2025 - October 12, 2025
Thursday, October 9th - Sunday, October 12th
Duck
Duck Jazz Festival

This year, the Duck Jazz Festival proudly reaches its 16th anniversary, and with it, we unveil our artistic vision:“Duck Grooves: The Sound of Jazz,” is an electrifying celebration of jazz’s dynamic, ever-evolving nature, set against the stunning backdrop of the Currituck Sound. It’s a fusion of past, present, and future, where the timeless traditions of jazz intersect with the vibrancy of new, innovative sounds. Just as the sound of jazz flows and adapts, so too does the landscape of Duck where the rhythm of the music harmonizes with the natural beauty of the water and the surrounding environment.

Saturday, October 11th 8:00 AM
Avon

Enjoy a breezy fall outing that starts with a light run or jog and ends with plenty of food, fun, and live music at this annual event that goes to benefit a very worthy local cause, the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation. The HICF 5K is a great outing that’s open to visitors and locals of all ages, and which shows just how fun the Outer Banks can be in the fall when everyone comes together to help out a favorite community organization.

Week of October 13, 2025 - October 19, 2025
Tuesday, October 14th - Sunday, October 19th
Rodanthe

The Outer Banks, and the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in particular, is known as one of the best bird watching destinations in the world, and the annual Wings Over Water celebrates this distinction like no other local festival. The weeklong event, which is held each October, features a wide range of educational programs, lectures, and opportunities to meet and greet with fellow birders. During this year's festival, attendees will also have the opportunity to go on guided birding trips, attend art and photography workshops, take a tram or kayak tour of National Wildlife Refuge, visit an ancient maritime forest, and much, much more. A complete schedule can be found online at the organization's website, and attendees should note that some programs do cost a small fee to participate.

Thursday, October 16th - Saturday, October 18th
Manteo

Head to Roanoke Island in the scenic month of October to enjoy some of the best music of the year at the popular Bluegrass Island Festival. This annual festival has rapidly blossomed into one of the most anticipated music events along the Outer Banks, and attendees will be treated to a wealth of acclaimed bands, from legendary national acts, to homegrown bluegrass performers who will have everyone’s toes tapping.

Saturday, October 18th 10:19 AM - 6:00 PM
Nags Head
Outer Banks Seafood Festival

The Outer Banks Seafood Festival is rapidly becoming one of the highlights of the fall season, with plenty of fresh seafood, storytelling, and activities to keep everyone fully entertained. This all-day event takes place at the waterfront Event Site in Nags Head, and is a family-friendly outing that will make anyone fall in love with this staple of the Outer Banks’ culinary cuisine.

Saturday, October 18th
ocracoke

Join the Ocracoke Preservation Society in celebrating Ocracoke heritage with its rich history and continuing tradition of working on the water with this unique festival that made its grand debut in 2023. Held on the grounds of the Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum, this festival will celebrate these traditions with booths and exhibits with the watermen themselves, as well as plenty of food and fun to go around.

Week of October 27, 2025 - November 2, 2025
Friday, October 31st - Saturday, November 1st
Ocracoke

Come to Ocracoke Island for a Pirate Halloween! The Ocracoke Pirate Jamboree is an annual and multiple-day event that is highlighted by a family-friendly Pirate Encampment by Blackbeard's Pirate Crew on Ocracoke Island, and an ensuing world of fun on the southern Outer Banks.

Week of November 3, 2025 - November 9, 2025
Friday, November 7th - Thursday, November 13th
Manteo

Through arts, music, and miles of fun, the Outer Banks celebrates visiting and local veterans alike through this special event that has a wealth of ways to stay entertained while discovering the heart of the islands’ cultural scene. OBX Veterans Week is an annual event which honors veterans and their families through live concerts, cool activities and arts in downtown Manteo, and so much more.

Week of November 10, 2025 - November 16, 2025
Friday, November 7th - Thursday, November 13th
Manteo

Through arts, music, and miles of fun, the Outer Banks celebrates visiting and local veterans alike through this special event that has a wealth of ways to stay entertained while discovering the heart of the islands’ cultural scene. OBX Veterans Week is an annual event which honors veterans and their families through live concerts, cool activities and arts in downtown Manteo, and so much more.

Week of November 24, 2025 - November 30, 2025
Friday, November 28th - Saturday, November 29th
Nags Head

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.  

Friday, November 28th
Ocracoke

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.

Week of December 1, 2025 - December 7, 2025
Friday, December 5th - Sunday, December 7th
Manteo

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.

Week of December 8, 2025 - December 14, 2025
Saturday, December 13th 2:00 PM
Hatteras

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.

Outer Banks Map
Carova Corolla Duck Southern Shores Kitty Hawk Kill Devil Hills Manteo Nags Head Wanchese Rodanthe Waves Salvo Avon Buxton Frisco Hatteras Ocracoke
Duck Jazz Festival
Oct 9

October 9, 2025

This year, the Duck Jazz Festival proudly reaches its 16th anniversary, and with it, we unveil our artistic vision:“Duck Grooves: The Sound of Jazz,” is an electrifying celebration of jazz’s dynamic, ever-evolving nature, set...

Kitty Hawk Surf Co.

Experience more adventure, fun, and style with Kitty Hawk Surf Company. As the trusted Outer Banks retailer for all top surf and lifestyle brands, including, Hurley, Billabong, RVCA, The North Face, Patagonia, Salt Life, Salty Crew, Volcom...

Sea-N-Blue

SEMI-OCEANFRONT Avon - Sailfish Court -On a peaceful oceanside court on a generously landscaped corner lot, just one lot from the ocean, this traditional cedar-shake home with all-weather under home entry offers the best of the vacation amenities to...

  • Avon
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
Kitty Hawk Kites

Looking to fly a kite on the beach or atop the spectacular dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park? Kitty Hawk Kites offers the largest selection of kites, wind art, flags, games, and toys on the Outer Banks, with experts on staff to get you flying...

SECOND WIND

For a memorable vacation with family and friends let 'Second Wind' become your home away from home. Spend time floating your troubles away in the large pool and hot tub, or head to the ocean just a short stroll away. When night falls, savor...

  • Duck
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Captain Johnny's Dolphin Tours

Join Captain Stuart Wescott aboard The Captain Johnny boat for a Guaranteed Dolphin Watch cruise in protected waters off the Outer Banks, NC. This two hour cruise is ideal for all ages. Enjoy breathtaking views as you listen to a...

Bayside Sunset

Upgrades in 2024 supplied new beds. Located in Corolla/ 6 Bedrooms/ 4 Full Bathrooms/ 1 Half BathroomTucked into the trees, your family will appreciate this generously furnished vacation home with your own private pool and decks to watch the...

  • Corolla
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
Mike Dianna's Grill Room

Welcome to Mike Dianna's Grill Room, home to the finest seafood, USDA prime beef, amazing live entertainment and more! Come have brunch or dinner with us in Corolla on the beautiful Outer Banks. Celebrating over 20 years in the Timbuck II Shopping...

K9064 Jurmala 4 Bedroom Home at Carolina...

Welcome to Jurmala by KEES Vacations This charming 4-bedroom, pet-friendly - and kid-friendly - vacation home situated up on a high dune is located in the heart of the desirable town of Duck, NC in the Carolina Dunes community. Its amenities are...

  • Kitty Hawk
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
Resort Realty

For more than 30 years, Resort Realty has been providing unforgettable Outer Banks vacations. From Corolla to Hatteras Island, Resort Realty offers nearly 550 Outer Banks vacation homes that range from cozy 1-bedroom condos to exquisite...

My Three Gulls KIN-824

Comfortable cottage located in the beautiful Kinnakeet Shores Subdivision. Guests will enjoy use of an Olympic-sized community pool and tennis courts at the Kinnakeet Shores facility located behind our Avon office. Fishing enthusiasts will...

  • Avon
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2.5 Bathrooms
Poke Box

PokeBox offers fresh, quick, simple, healthy poke bowls in Nags Head. Choose your items and build your bowl. Tuna, salmon, chicken, steak, shrimp and tofu options available. Mix in your favorite veggies, sauces and toppings for the perfect poke...

Carolina Moon

Great ocean view. Well-equipped, well-appointed and Spacious 5 Bedroom home. Great location. Walk to grocery store and shopping.  A stone's throw to the Atlantic! Short walk to grocery store, restaurants and shopping! A hammock swing awaits your...

  • Corolla
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
Sundogs

Sundogs is a happening spot open year round in Corolla. Along with good food, they feature a nightlife that includes live music, karaoke and a DJ dance party. They have a full bar and a menu suited to a host of tastes. Starters include nachos, crab...

Better Together CP02

Situated in a prime location directly behind a beach access, the design of this classic home maximizes your ocean views. It is only 30 feet from the beach walkway! Relax in the hot tub, enjoy the community pool and tennis, or take in the shopping...

  • Corolla
  • 5 Bedrooms