Outer Banks History Events - 2026 Schedule

Outer Banks History Events - 2026 Schedule
Week of July 20, 2026 - July 26, 2026
Thursday, July 23rd 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, July 30th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 6th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • 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.

Week of July 27, 2026 - August 2, 2026
Thursday, July 30th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, July 23rd 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 6th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • 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.

Week of August 3, 2026 - August 9, 2026
Thursday, August 6th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, July 23rd 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, July 30th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • 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.

Friday, August 7th - Saturday, August 8th
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 10, 2026 - August 16, 2026
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, July 23rd 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, July 30th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 6th 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, July 23rd 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, July 30th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 6th 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, July 23rd 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, July 30th 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Thursday, August 6th 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
Lighthouse 5K Series
Jul 22

July 22, 2026

(+ more dates)

Lace up your running shoes and see the sights. Add the fun of a run and fitness to your vacation joining us for a Summer morning 5k run/walk through the Historic Village of Corolla Light. Enjoy the sights of the Northern Outer Banks. The WhaleHead...

Just for the Beach Rentals

Just for the Beach Rentals (not to be confused with the similarly-named "Just for the Beach") offers rentals to accommodate your stay. Equipment includes linens, baby gates, cribs, monitors, seats, joggers, bikes, kayaks, skim boards, surf boards...

252 | Just Beachy

5/3/26: For the 2026 season, this luxuriously appointed home has been updated with all new living room furnishings, new kitchen, new tile flooring throughout, all new tiled baths (some have walk-in showers), and a new ground level recreation room...

  • Southern Shores
  • 8 Bedrooms
  • 9 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 16
8/23 - 8/29
$3,995  $4,995
$1,000 off
8/30 - 9/5
$3,795  $4,495
$700 off
Fish Heads Bar and Grill

Rustic waterfront pub at a fishing pier with a large deck for seafood eats, draft beer & live music. Fish Heads Bar and Grill is THE tiki bar of the Outer Banks. Located at Mile Post 18.5 in Nags Head, we offer a view that is second to none...

Aqua Holic

Located in Corolla / 5 Bedrooms / 4 Full Bathrooms / 1 Half BathroomArrive early and savor a Currituck Club pre-arrival experience at the main pool between 10 am and 4 pm! Games, trolley service to and from the beach, music, wine, food & cold...

  • Corolla
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
Nags Head Dolphin Watch

Scientists run these dolphin tours as part of their research on these beloved aquatic animals, so you know this will be an interesting trip. Passengers will be able to see how researchers with the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research, a nonprofit...

BACI DEL SOLE

Overview Aptly named "Kisses of the Sun", this delightful 7-bedroom semi-oceanfront beach house has been refined with thoughtful details. Located in a tranquil oceanside neighborhood, just north of central Duck, Sea Tern is the ideal...

  • Duck
  • 7 Bedrooms
  • 7.5 Bathrooms
Black Pelican

Black Pelican oceanfront restaurant is one of the Outer Banks’ premier restaurants serving lunch and dinner daily. Black Pelican is where you can enjoy fresh seafood, steaks, vegetarian dishes, sandwiches and some of the barrier island’s...

MARTY'S MANOR

Overview Marty's Manor is sure to be the perfect fit for your next family vacation! Offering an ideal layout and spacious bedrooms, this home is a relaxation haven with a stellar location. This five bedroom home is centrally situated in...

  • Duck
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4.5 Bathrooms
Twiddy & Company

Twiddy & Company is here to provide all the help and southern hospitality you've come to anticipate when planning your beach vacation. We invite you to let us share our unique understanding of this coastal landscape; unlike any place in the...

AV-2A | Dolphin Cove

07/2/26: Beach Nourishment has been completed in this area. Come and enjoy the refreshed beach! Take in the sunrise and ocean views from the second-floor porch of "Dolphin Cove." The idyllic Nags Head retreat for you and your family. Hang out by...

  • Nags Head
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
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...

SHORE TO PLEASE

Overview Plan your seaside escape to Shore To Please, an oceanfront mansion on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Kill Devil Hills. Featuring four levels of living space with 23 bedroom suites (21 in the main house, two in the private...

  • Kill Devil Hills
  • 23 Bedrooms
  • 26.5 Bathrooms
Donutz on a Stick

Stay, Play and Eat- Donuts, Ice Cream & Coffee Treats! Located on the Duck Boardwalk, behind Dockside Seafood, this breakfast & Dessert-Shop features treats you've never tasted before! Try the hot, made to order, donutz...

Top Shelf CSC-4J

Top Shelf is a gorgeous 3 bedroom/3 bathroom one-level oceanfront condo with stunning ocean views. This property has beautiful hardwood floors throughout the main living and dining areas. The living area features a 55" Samsung smart TV along with a...

  • Kill Devil Hills
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms