Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature Events - 2020 Schedule

The 48^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.