Manteo Festivals Events - 2026 Schedule

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Get your Outer Banks holiday off to a glittering start with this annual parade that is sure to delight visitors and locals alike. The Manteo Christmas Parade is a time-honored tradition that attracts both participants and spectators from all across the Outer Banks, and which is sure to entice anyone to get into the holiday spirit.