Nags Head Outdoor & Nature Events - 2026 Schedule

Nags Head Outdoor & Nature Events - 2026 Schedule
Week of March 30, 2026 - April 5, 2026
Friday, April 3rd - Saturday, April 4th 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Nags Head

Celebrate National Kite Month and the start of Spring with Kitty Hawk Kites! Experience the sights of our massive 30-to-100-foot kites flying high over Jockey’s Ridge State Park on Friday, April 3rd starting at 10:00 AM.

Saturday, April 4th
Nags Head

Come enjoy the spirit of the Easter holiday on the Outer Banks while taking advantage of National Kite Month at this fun and family-friendly event that joyfully combines these two celebrations. The Flying Into Spring And Easter EGGstravaganza festival is a great way to take in the fresh spring air along the coastline, while participating in a myriad of games, displays, and a little kite action at one of the best spots on the East Coast for high flying.

Saturday, April 4th 10:30 AM - 1:15 PM
Nags Head

Join us across the street from the dunes outside Kitty Hawk Kites on Saturday to take your picture with the Easter Bunny and let your kids join in the fun during our annual Jockey’s Ridge Crossing Easter Egg Hunt! We will be hosting small-scale Easter Egg Hunts on Saturday, April 4th starting at 10:30 AM. You can invite your friends and family to participate with special prizes included! Each Easter Egg Hunt will be 15 minutes with a $7 registration fee for each participant. We highly recommend registering ahead of time, as spots typically fill up before event day.

Week of April 13, 2026 - April 19, 2026
Sunday, April 19th 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Nags Head

Kitty Hawk Kites is partnering with Surfrider Foundation Outer Banks Chapter to host a series of beach cleanups this season. Participants will meet at the Soundside Rd. public sound access. Once volunteers have checked in, they will receive gloves and cleanup bags and will be free to clean up a stretch of beaches of their own choosing.

Week of May 11, 2026 - May 17, 2026
Thursday, May 14th - Sunday, May 17th
Nags Head

The Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular and Air Show is landing on the Outer Banks, and visitors are welcome to take flight on a new adventure and join in the fun. Renowned as the longest-running hang gliding competition in the world, the Hang Gliding Spectacular and Air Show is a multiple day event that combines a wealth of activities for professional hang gliders and spectators alike. The incredible air show is the cornerstone of the event, and visitors can head to the sky-high dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park to check out the action. Throughout the day, an incredible display of colorful gliders will fly overhead, and lots of fun will be had at ground level as well thanks to a host of activities for competitors and everyday sightseers alike.

Week of June 8, 2026 - June 14, 2026
Friday, June 12th - Saturday, June 13th
Nags Head

The Rogallo Kite Festival is a free and family-orientated event that features multiple days of kite flying to honor Francis Rogallo, NASA scientist and inventor of the flexible wing. His initial inventions started the sport of hang gliding, and his designs have carried over into the stunt kites, power kites and hang gliders that are flown today. To celebrate this innovator, visitors will be treated to a full day of kite-flying fun in one of the best destinations on the East Coast for high flyers, Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

Week of June 29, 2026 - July 5, 2026
Saturday, July 4th 9:00 PM
Nags Head

Head to the heart of Nags head for this special 4th of July fireworks display over the Atlantic Ocean that will leave all beach-goers breathless. The Town Of Nags Head Fireworks Spectacular will be held on the evening of Independence Day, and is sure to be a show-stopping aspect of any Outer Banks vacation.

Week of September 7, 2026 - September 13, 2026
Friday, September 11th - Saturday, September 12th 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Nags Head

Enjoy a thrilling scene along the towering sand dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park as giant kites and stunt kite pilots wow the crowd at the engaging and family-friendly Outer Banks Kite Festival. Hosted by Kitty Hawk Kites, this festival features both live demonstrations and interactive activities to ensure that everyone can have a ball enjoying the high flying lifestyle on the Outer Banks.

Week of September 14, 2026 - September 20, 2026
Saturday, September 19th - Sunday, September 20th
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 November 23, 2026 - November 29, 2026
Friday, November 27th - Saturday, November 28th
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.  

Saturday, November 28th 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.

Outer Banks Map
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Kiteboarding

Spring and fall visitors will notice the popularity of kiteboarding on the Outer Banks the moment they ride down a stretch of soundfront highway. In the off-season months, it's not unusual to spot dozens if not hundreds of multi-colored kites lining...

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...

LV 2 Kite

SOUNDFRONT Waves – Lela Ct. – Like a hard-core kite surfer, LV 2 KITE masters the ultimate balancing act, appealing to both thrill-seekers and young families who view its perch on the sandy beach and gentle waters of Pamlico Sound as the...

  • Waves
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4.5 Bathrooms
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...

251 | Pirate's Gold

Enjoy three levels of spacious living area when you choose this delightful family beach home for your Outer Banks vacation. Pirate’s Gold is beautifully decorated with a list of amenities that are sure to please every member of your family...

  • Nags Head
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 5.5 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
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...

Sea Sprite WHL-104

Step into the welcoming embrace of Sea Sprite, a stunning coastal haven perfectly situated for an unforgettable beach experience. Revel in panoramic ocean views from the upper sun deck and enjoy the convenience of a corner lot directly connected to...

  • Corolla
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
The Mystic Jewel

Walk into this shop and you’ll be delighted by all the glittering and sparkling from the way the mirrors and lighting show off jewelry from over 100 different designers and local artisans. Artfully-designed cases line the walls, filled with...

A Sound Retreat

Enjoy this refreshed “Sound Retreat” with your family at the top-rated resort in North Carolina for many years! It’s just under 300 feet by community sidewalk to get to the sound front walkway that runs all the way through Corolla Light up to...

  • Corolla
  • 6 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 13
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...

5414 - Sunbreak

Always Included, complimentary linens and made beds! NEW FOR 2025: Fortified roof and front decking in September 2025. Welcome to Sunbreak, a Nags Head oceanside retreat. This charming Outer Banks...

  • Nags Head
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 4.5 Bathrooms
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...

Down by the Sea

New for 2026 - Addition of a Private Bathroom to a Queen Bedroom! Located in Kitty Hawk / 3 Bedrooms / 2 Full BathroomsYour beach vacation doesn't get better than a stay at Down by the Sea! This newly refreshed bungalow has you looking out your...

  • Kitty Hawk
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 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...

Duck Refuge

Dreaming of a relaxing week at the beach, bonding with the kids and enjoying the beautiful natural setting of the Outer Banks? Look no more because you have found the ideal location for your Outer Banks beach vacation in ‘Duck Refuge’. Located...

  • Duck
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 12