Outer Banks History Events - 2026 Schedule

Outer Banks History Events - 2026 Schedule
Week of July 27, 2026 - August 2, 2026
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 August 3, 2026 - August 9, 2026
Thursday, August 6th 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 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 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 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 29

July 29, 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...

Firehouse Boil Delivery

DIY Seafood Boil Don’t Just Make Dinner, Make An Experience! We Deliver on the Outer Banks! Same Day Delivery! Make lasting memories by doing something new with friends and family. Why wait in line at a grocery store or restaurant? Our Low...

The Sunny B

OCEANFRONT Avon — Tigrone Blvd. — Get a sunny dose of vitamin D from THE SUNNY B, a five-bedroom/four- and-one-half-bath home located in the heart of Avon and next to the boardwalk that leads the way to the beach just a short walk away. Bring...

  • Avon
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4.5 Bathrooms
Henry's Restaurant

Henry's Restaurant offers down home, simple food done Outer Banks style. Henry's Restaurant has been serving the Outer Banks of North Carolina since the summer of 1989. They are pleased to be considered one of the most popular restaurants in Dare...

WHISPERING WAVES

“Whispering Waves ” is an escape to coastal bliss located in the charming town of Duck, North Carolina. This spacious 5-Bedroom Home with Private Pool and Easy Beach Access is your perfect vacation getaway! It offers the ideal blend of comfort...

  • Duck
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 5.5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
8/30 - 9/6
$2,886  $3,494
$608 off
9/6 - 9/13
$2,788  $3,226
$438 off
9/13 - 9/20
$2,490  $2,867
$377 off
9/20 - 9/27
$2,455  $2,867
$412 off
9/27 - 10/4
$2,507  $2,867
$360 off
10/4 - 10/11
$2,507  $2,867
$360 off
10/11 - 10/18
$2,507  $2,867
$360 off
10/18 - 10/25
$2,111  $2,338
$227 off
10/25 - 11/1
$2,244  $2,338
$94 off
11/1 - 11/8
$2,094  $2,187
$93 off
11/8 - 11/15
$2,094  $2,187
$93 off
11/15 - 11/22
$2,134  $2,187
$53 off
Nor'Banks Sailing & Watersports

Nor'Banks Sailing & Watersports beautiful location and top-of-the-line equipment, together with a friendly and professional staff make it one of the premier water sports centers on the Outer Banks. Nor'Banks' sound front location has a huge...

Gypsea Rose

Tucked into the Dunes of Southern Shores, Gypsea Rose offers the best of everything!  Step out and taste the salty air while you walk towards the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean on your private boardwalk to the beach. On those cooler nights, bring along a...

  • Southern Shores
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
Big Buck's Homemade Ice Cream

Serving our customers on the Outer Banks since 1994, Big Buck's ice Cream is dedicated serving you “The Best.” We offer a full line of super-premium ice cream products, smoothies, chocolates, and custom-made ice cream cakes! 2 locations...

Dream Catcher CV-45

Offering all of the best amenities for the perfect Outer Banks vacation, Dream Catcher is a beautifully furnished rental home in the 4x4 beaches of Carova. Guests will love the private 14x32 pool and hot tub, as well as the views from the top level...

  • Carova
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4.5 Bathrooms
8/14 - 8/21
$4,364  $4,764
$400 off
Miller's Waterfront Restaurant

MILLER’S OFFERS ONE OF THE FEW TRULY WATERFRONT DINING EXPERIENCES ON THE OUTER BANKS. Enjoy casual dining in our downstairs family-friendly seafood restaurant, or our signature drinks and grill menu in our upstairs deck bar while watching...

Hatteras Comfort

OCEANFRONT Hatteras – NC Hwy 12 – Ocean or Sound? Why not both! With its perch on one of the narrowest stretches of Hatteras Island, HATTERAS COMFORT eliminates the need to narrow your choices as to how you want to spend your vacation. The...

  • Hatteras
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 5.5 Bathrooms
Cosmo's Pizzeria Southern Shores

If you're searching for great pizza on the Outer Banks, look no further than Cosmo's Pizzeria at The Marketplace in Southern Shores! We offer authentic New York-style pizza made fresh and just the way you like, using only the highest quality...

2381 - Peaceable Kingdom by the Sea

Always Included, complimentary linens and made beds! Unmatched panoramic views of the Ocean and Currituck Sound from this charming Outer Banks townhome located in Sanderling next door to the...

  • Duck
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2.5 Bathrooms
Southern Shores Realty

Southern Shores Realty offers over 350 Outer Banks rentals from Corolla to S. Nags Head.  We've been an Outer Banks tradition since 1947, providing families just like yours with memories that last a lifetime.  Take a moment to search...

Celtic Tides

Located in Corolla / 6 Bedrooms / 6 Full Bathrooms / 1 Half BathroomPacked with amenities, your family will appreciate this unique vacation home in the Corolla Light Resort Community. Offering a huge pool that will accommodate the whole family even...

  • Corolla
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 6 Bathrooms