Holiday Celebrations and Signature Events on the Outer Banks

OBXmas

Spend the Holiday Season on the Outer Banks

Make the Outer Banks your destination for the holidays. From Thanksgiving through Olde Christmas (January 7), each weekend brings over a month of family-friendly activities and seasonal fun.

Highlights include WinterLights at the historic Elizabethan Gardens, soaring Kites with Lights at Jockey's Ridge, the 12 Bars of Christmas, the Misfits holiday bar tour, several holiday markets, NewYear's on the Banks music festival, Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival, the Town of Manteo New Years Eve event, and the Duck Yuletide Celebration. A winter restaurant hours and openings list is also available.

The events below feature signature holidays events happening this season. The full events page includes upcoming celebrations, and the Holiday Edition: OBX Daydream playlist offers another way to experience the season.

Featured Holiday Events

WinterLights

• Date: Nov 20
• Schedule: Recurring daily until December 29, 2026
• Location: Elizabethan Gardens

Soundside Holiday Market

• Date: Nov 22
• Location: The Soundside Event Site

The 12 Bars of Christmas

• Date: Nov 27
• Schedule: Recurring daily until January 3, 2027

Soundside Holiday Market

• Date: Nov 29
• Location: The Soundside Event Site

Christmas Past

• Date: Dec 04
• Schedule: Recurring daily until December 5, 2026
• Location: Island Farm

Soundside Holiday Market

• Date: Dec 13
• Location: The Soundside Event Site

Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival

• Date: Dec 18
• Schedule: Recurring daily until December 19, 2026
• Location: Cape Hatteras KOA

Additional Events

House on Haunted Hill - Theatre of Dare

• Date: Nov 06
• Location: Theatre of Dare

Holiday Chefs' Challenge

• Date: Nov 14
• Location: Pirate's Cove Marina

Garden to Hearth

• Date: Nov 24
• Schedule: Recurring daily until November 25, 2026
• Location: Island Farm

Duck Turkey Trot 5K

• Date: Nov 26
• Location: Duck NC

Hangin' with Santa

• Date: Nov 27
• Schedule: Recurring daily until November 28, 2026
• Location: Kitty Hawk Kites - Nags Head - Kayak, SUP, Surf Board, and Bike Rentals

Kites with Lights

• Date: Nov 28
• Location: Kitty Hawk Kites - Nags Head - Kayak, SUP, Surf Board, and Bike Rentals

Manteo Preservation Trust Holiday Tour

• Date: Dec 05
• Location: 108 Budleigh

Good Shot Judy’s “A Crooner’s Christmas”

• Date: Dec 11
• Location: Pioneer Theater

The calendar displays 1 - 15 of 18 events.

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