Outer Banks Kid Friendly Events - 2025 Schedule

Outer Banks Kid Friendly Events - 2025 Schedule
This Week
Friday, August 1st
Nags Head

Celebrate summer with Kitty Hawk Kites and support the Outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition at the annual OBX Watermelon Festival. This beloved local celebration that’s held at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head features a wealth of activities for visitors of all ages, and is the perfect way to toast the peak of the summer season on the Outer Banks.

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 4, 2025 - August 10, 2025
Wednesday, August 6th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 13th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 20th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 27th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Grandy

Join us on Wednesdays this summer for Mustang Mornings at the Farm. Beginning May 28, the Betsy Dowdy Equine Center will be open to the public from 10 am – 2 pm. Visit the farm on the mainland in Grandy and meet the rescued Banker horses currently in our care on the walking tour, where you can spend time with our staff. Attend a free movie screening of The Secret of Corolla, a 32-minute documentary on the Banker mustangs, the culture, and lifestyle of the island. There will be a Q&A directly after the screening with the CWHF staff.

Thursday, August 7th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 14th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 21st 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 28th 2:00 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 11, 2025 - August 17, 2025
Wednesday, August 13th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 6th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 20th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 27th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Grandy

Join us on Wednesdays this summer for Mustang Mornings at the Farm. Beginning May 28, the Betsy Dowdy Equine Center will be open to the public from 10 am – 2 pm. Visit the farm on the mainland in Grandy and meet the rescued Banker horses currently in our care on the walking tour, where you can spend time with our staff. Attend a free movie screening of The Secret of Corolla, a 32-minute documentary on the Banker mustangs, the culture, and lifestyle of the island. There will be a Q&A directly after the screening with the CWHF staff.

Thursday, 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 14th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 7th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 21st 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 28th 2:00 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.

Saturday, 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 18, 2025 - August 24, 2025
Monday, August 18th - Sunday, August 24th
Kill Devil Hills

Now celebrating its 47th year, the Wright Kite Festival is a celebration of aviation that takes place where flight began – the Wright Brothers Memorial. Walk through the sprawling grounds of the museum and gain a little knowledge of the birthplace of aviation and then put this knowledge to the test outside with Kitty Hawk Kites. Large kites will be on display throughout the weekend, joining in the sky with the Wright Memorial!

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.  

Tuesday, August 19th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Duck

Come meet a rescued, gentled Banker horse and learn more about the wild horses, the rescue farm, and what the Corolla Wild Horse Fund does to keep the horses safe and thriving.

Wednesday, August 20th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 6th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 13th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 27th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Grandy

Join us on Wednesdays this summer for Mustang Mornings at the Farm. Beginning May 28, the Betsy Dowdy Equine Center will be open to the public from 10 am – 2 pm. Visit the farm on the mainland in Grandy and meet the rescued Banker horses currently in our care on the walking tour, where you can spend time with our staff. Attend a free movie screening of The Secret of Corolla, a 32-minute documentary on the Banker mustangs, the culture, and lifestyle of the island. There will be a Q&A directly after the screening with the CWHF staff.

Thursday, August 21st 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 7th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 14th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 28th 2:00 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 25, 2025 - August 31, 2025
Wednesday, August 27th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 6th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 13th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, August 20th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Grandy

Join us on Wednesdays this summer for Mustang Mornings at the Farm. Beginning May 28, the Betsy Dowdy Equine Center will be open to the public from 10 am – 2 pm. Visit the farm on the mainland in Grandy and meet the rescued Banker horses currently in our care on the walking tour, where you can spend time with our staff. Attend a free movie screening of The Secret of Corolla, a 32-minute documentary on the Banker mustangs, the culture, and lifestyle of the island. There will be a Q&A directly after the screening with the CWHF staff.

Thursday, August 28th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 7th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 14th 2:00 PM
  • Thursday, August 21st 2:00 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 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 15, 2025 - September 21, 2025
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
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.

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 20, 2025 - October 26, 2025
Saturday, October 25th
Manteo

Enjoy a day at the Manteo waterfront and see wooden boats displayed in the water and on the grounds of the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum at this special event that pays homage to the region’s deep ties to maritime history and culture.

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.

Saturday, November 29th 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Nags Head

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.

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.

Week of December 15, 2025 - December 21, 2025
Wednesday, 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.

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...

Joe Lamb Realty

Since 1968, our family owned and operated company has specialized in Outer Banks Real Estate with a full service Real Estate Sales office. We offer real estate services for buyers and sellers on the Outer Banks. As part of our Vacation Rental...

ONCE UPON A TIDE

Once Upon a Tide is a five bedroom vacation home in the Chicahauk subdivision of Southern Shores. The private pool, hot tub, and quiet, low-traffic streets, make this the perfect location to relax and unwind while enjoying the ocean view from the...

  • Southern Shores
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3.5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Duck Town Park & Boardwalk

Duck Town Park provides a playground for all seasons and more. Its 11 acres consist of a mix of Maritime Forest, willow swamp, open lawn with amphitheatre and picnic shelters, all sitting next to the lovely shallow waters of scenic Currituck Sound...

Island Time Avon 910

NEW bathrooms featuring tiled showers will be available for the 2025 season.If you're looking for an ocean view for your small family or small group of friends, then this sandcastle is for you. Island Time in Avon is a charming beach home with a...

  • Avon
  • 3 Bedrooms
Coastal Smoothie Cafe

At Coastal Smoothie Cafe, we have created a menu and atmosphere that is designed to be as unique as the northern shores of the Outer Banks. Our creations utilize fresh local produce when possible. There is nothing better than local NC strawberries...

359 | Pirates Retreat

This Splendid vacation home is Loaded w/Amenities that are Sure to Please your Entire Family. It Offers areas for Everyone to Relax & Enjoy, a Spacious Living/Dining Area, Cozy Den, & a Rec. Room w/Foosball Table & Wet Bar. Take a Dip...

  • Kill Devil Hills
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 7 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12
Gray's

Gray’s Outer Banks Lifestyle Clothing Company offers the absolute best in Outer Banks T-shirts and Sweatshirts including Champion, Under Armour with "Outer Banks” and Gear! We carry quality fashions and accessories for the whole family...

Sunset Cottage

BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION IN 2024! Now accepting Flex Stays year round (with the exception of July and August) with a 3-nighttime minimum!Located in Corolla / 6 Bedrooms / 5 Full Bathrooms/ 1 Half Bathroom Be the first to stay in this brand-new LAKE...

  • Corolla
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 5 Bathrooms
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...

Corolla Coastin

If your family mantra is "the family that plays together, stays together," "Corolla Coastin" is for you! This home's outside is as grand as the inside. The outdoor space includes a large private refreshing pool and offers heating for a fee. The...

  • Corolla
  • 8 Bedrooms
  • 6.5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 22
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...

A Little Piece of Paradise, Unit #1F

This romantic coastal getaway is perfect for your next trip to North Carolina! Located in the heart of it all, this modern retreat is close to the nearby Outer Banks Kayak Adventures, Jockey's Ridge State Park, Jennette's Pier, the North Carolina...

  • Kill Devil Hills
  • 1 Bedrooms
Paradise Dolphin Cruises

With the best views around and the quickest access to dolphins, Paradise Dolphin Cruises is committed to offering you one of the most amazing experiences of your life! Climb aboard the Kokomo, our 40-passenger catarmaran and the area’s newest...

328 | Pooling Our Funs

This Outstanding Kitty Hawk Semi-Oceanfront Vacation Home features Endless Ocean Views & is only 50 feet from the Beach!! Your Family will Love the Bright, Beachy Décor, & will Always be Comfortable in the Private Heated Swimming Pool...

  • Kitty Hawk
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4.5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10