Outer Banks History Events - 2026 Schedule

Outer Banks History Events - 2026 Schedule
This Week
Thursday, August 13th - Friday, August 14th
Nags Head

Get ready for a pirate invasion on the Outer Banks, courtesy of the two-day Outer Banks Pirate Festival. This festival that will be held next to Jockey’s Ridge State Park in the central Outer Banks town of Nags Head promises plenty of swashbuckling good times and activities, and will be a memorable event for young and old salty visitors alike.

Thursday, August 13th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 20th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 27th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Rodanthe

Visitors can take a step back in time and learn how the heroes of the original US Life-Saving Service performed their daring rescues and everyday duties through this special live demonstration that’s held on the grounds of the oceanside Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station.

Sunday, August 16th
Rodanthe

Come celebrate one of the most important events in Life-Saving local history with this special day at the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site in the heart of Rodanthe. The rescue of the Mirlo was one of the most legendary rescues that was ever conducted by the US Life-Saving Service, and during this special day, visitors will dive deeper into this story courtesy of a wealth of activities that will fascinate visitors of all ages.

Week of August 17, 2026 - August 23, 2026
Wednesday, 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.  

Thursday, August 20th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 13th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 27th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Rodanthe

Visitors can take a step back in time and learn how the heroes of the original US Life-Saving Service performed their daring rescues and everyday duties through this special live demonstration that’s held on the grounds of the oceanside Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station.

Week of August 24, 2026 - August 30, 2026
Thursday, August 27th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 13th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 20th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Rodanthe

Visitors can take a step back in time and learn how the heroes of the original US Life-Saving Service performed their daring rescues and everyday duties through this special live demonstration that’s held on the grounds of the oceanside Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station.

Week of October 5, 2026 - October 11, 2026
Saturday, October 10th
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 26, 2026 - November 1, 2026
Friday, October 30th - Saturday, October 31st
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 December 14, 2026 - December 20, 2026
Thursday, December 17th
Kill Devil Hills

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.

Week of April 26, 2027 - May 2, 2027
Friday, April 30th - Saturday, May 1st
Kill Devil Hills

Automobile enthusiasts can meet and greet with fellow aficionados while exploring some of the most stunning coastlines that North Carolina has to offer at this two-day festival that features a wide array of ways to have fun. The OBX Rod And Custom Festival is a special celebration of vintage and antique cars that will boast a host of family-friendly activities, from local food, to cruise-ins, to displays that will impress car fans of all tastes and ages.

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
Outer Banks Seafood Festival
Oct 17

October 17, 2026

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...

Wild Horse Adventure Tours

Wild Horse Adventure Tours has been voted the #1 tour company in the USA by TripAdvisor. Feel the ocean breeze and taste the salty beach air as you cruise the Outer Banks beaches in our exclusive OPEN AIR, 13-passenger Hummers with one of...

SALTY SURFER

Discover SALTY SURFER in Nags Head, a Carolina Designs OBX vacation rental set directly behind the dunes in the Village at Nags Head. This six-bedroom oceanfront home offers panoramic Atlantic views from nearly every room, a private 14 x 30...

  • Nags Head
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 4.5 Bathrooms
Salt Coast Outfitters

We offer one of a kind SALT COAST OUTFITTERS brand name tees, long sleeves, performance gear, Yeti tumblers, caps, eyeglasses, and more! Browse the fullest collection of coastal lifestyle clothing on the beach. Featuring a sizable selection of brand...

SUNRISE

This unique home offers views up and down the coast! Very large decks for sunning and relaxing or take a soak in the large hot tub while taking in the sunset. Two living areas offer plenty of room for family togetherness. This comfortable...

  • Southern Shores
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
8/23 - 8/30
$3,939  $4,931
$992 off
8/30 - 9/6
$3,738  $4,293
$555 off
9/6 - 9/13
$3,708  $4,228
$520 off
Jolly Roger

When you first catch sight of The Jolly Roger, you might be unsure exactly what to think of it. Since its conversion from a gas station/grocery store to a restaurant in 1972, The Jolly Roger has been anything but your ordinary Outer Banks...

Lore Lynn By The Sea

Lore Lynn by the Sea is more than a beach cottage — it’s a welcoming retreat where ocean breezes, juniper wood, and relaxed coastal living come together. Located in the intimate Ocean Sands Section E, this home offers a peaceful setting perfect...

  • Corolla
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
Surf or Sound Realty

Surf or Sound Realty invites you to explore our collection of over 600 premier vacation rental homes on Hatteras Island, featuring the largest selection of oceanfront accommodations. Nestled within the breathtaking Cape Hatteras National Seashore...

Shore Sounds Good

SOUNDSIDE Avon — Kinnakeet Shores — A Hatteras Island vacation SHORE SOUNDS GOOD - especially at this gorgeously maintained home on a lake in the heart of Avon. Two docks for fishing, crabbing or launching kayaks to paddle in the lake offer a...

  • Avon
  • 7 Bedrooms
  • 7 Bathrooms
Brew Thru

No trip to the Outer Banks is complete without cruising through Brew Thru, the Outer Banks’ original drive thru convenience store. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing cold beverage of Coke, Pepsi and other soft drinks on the go...

420 | Ocean Wings

With panoramic views of the Ocean & Beach from all levels, this lovely Oceanfront home offers everything your family will need for a memorable Outer Banks Vacation. Perfect for any season, this spacious home is over 4,300 Sq. Ft. With three...

  • Nags Head
  • 7 Bedrooms
  • 6 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 16
8/16 - 8/22
$6,995  $8,495
$1,500 off
8/30 - 9/5
$4,595  $5,495
$900 off
Back Country Safari Tours

Discover wild Spanish Mustangs and our unique Barrier Island ecology on the Wild Horse Safari. Explore over 30 miles of "off road" beach, dune and sand trail and ride with a professional naturalist guide in a custom 4x4 open-air Safari Cruiser, or...

SOL MATE

Discover SOL MATE in Corolla, a Carolina Designs OBX vacation rental where 10 oceanfront bedrooms, a 36-foot pool, and a private beach walkway set the stage for an unforgettable Outer Banks getaway. Just steps from the sand in Whalehead, this...

  • Corolla
  • 10 Bedrooms
  • 11 Bathrooms
Brindley Beach Vacations

Brindley Beach Vacations offers premier Real Estate and Property Management services across the entire Outer Banks. Representing more than 450 vacation rental homes, we proudly serve every region—from the southern beaches of Hatteras Island...

SOUND OF TRANQUILITY

Discover SOUND OF TRANQUILITY in Corolla, a Carolina Designs OBX vacation rental where brand new construction meets soundfront living. This 8 bedroom Outer Banks home centers on a 38'x18' infinity pool with an in-pool hot tub, swim-up bar...

  • Corolla
  • 8 Bedrooms
  • 9.5 Bathrooms