Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature Events - 2018 Schedule

This Week's Highlights

Week of September 24, 2018 - September 30, 2018

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Full Moon Climb

Monday, September 24th 9:30 PM - 10:15 PM

Buxton

Enjoy a special opportunity to see Hatteras Island after hours from a bird’s eye perspective with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Full Moon Climb. This one-night-only tour leads a small group of lighthouse visitors to the very top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse to enjoy unparalleled views of the island that extend from Avon to Buxton and beyond, and which includes miles of Atlantic Ocean.

Week of October 15, 2018 - October 21, 2018

Wings Over Water

Tuesday, October 16th - Sunday, October 21st

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 being 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.

Week of October 22, 2018 - October 28, 2018

Outer Banks Brewtag

Saturday, October 27th 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Nags Head

Flying kegs, a beer garden featuring more than 20 local and regional beers, a kids’ zone featuring arts and crafts, and a mechanical shark… what else do you need to have fun? OBX Brewtag is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated events of the fall, and with so many ways to celebrate, it’s easy to see why this event draws a crowd of visitors and locals of all ages.

Week of November 19, 2018 - November 25, 2018

Hangin' With Santa

Friday, November 23rd 10:00 AM

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.

Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens

Saturday, November 24th - Saturday, January 19th 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Manteo

The Elizabethan Gardens’ Winter Lights celebration is easily one of the biggest and most highly anticipated events of the holiday season. Featuring hundreds of thousands of lights that are dotted throughout the gardens, the ensuing sight is really something to behold, and will get any visitor into a holiday spirit.

Week of November 26, 2018 - December 2, 2018

Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens

Saturday, November 24th - Saturday, January 19th 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Manteo

Week of December 3, 2018 - December 9, 2018

Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens

Saturday, November 24th - Saturday, January 19th 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Manteo

Wings Over Water Encore

Friday, December 7th - Sunday, December 9th

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.