Fall Calendar of Events 2023

The second season of the Outer Banks is here. Fall is Festival time. There’s the Duck Jazz Festival, and Bluegrass Island Festival. There’s also the Seafood Festival at Soundside Event Site in Nags Head with great food and great music. And we can’t forget Wings over Water, one of the oldest birdwatching gatherings in the nation.

But the Outer Banks is much more than festivals—there’s great music, a shrimp cookoff, oyster roasts and so much more.

Duck Jazz Festival (Photo above by Kip Tabb)
Great jazz in a beautiful outdoor setting with two stages, so the music is never ending…what not to love? This event in many ways is the parent of all the Outer Banks music festivals. Before that first festival in 2007 nobody was putting together all-day music events. And best of all, it has never disappointed. Hope you can make it, October 7th and 8th!

Big Currishuck
The oysters are plump and ready for steaming, but it’s not just oysters—there’s steamed crabs and local barbecue with all the fixings. Local breweries are on hand and some great wine from Sanctuary Vineyards. Hayrides are available for the kids with lots of room to run and play. Plus, live music from when the doors open until it’s time to go home. The perfect way to wrap up Thanksgiving weekend!

OCTOBER EVENTS

5-8 Outer Banks Home Builders Association’s Parade of Homes
Gain exclusive access to some of the most innovative and exciting homes on the Outer Banks. obhomebuilders.org/2023-parade-of-homes

6 First Friday
Downtown Manteo. Food, music, and art on the waterfront in Manteo. darearts.org/firstfriday

6-7 OBX Corvette Festival
Soundside Event Site, Nags Head. Beautiful Corvettes will be on display. Information: 2023 OBX Corvette Festival Facebook

7-8 Duck Jazz Festival
Town of Duck. Live music from a variety of performers. Event is free. townofduck.com/recreation-special-events/special-events/duck-jazz-festival/

7 First Flight Rotary Club Oink & Oyster Roast
Longboards Restaurant, Kitty Hawk
All-you-can-eat barbecue pork and oysters, plus the fixin’s! firstflightrotary.org/oink-oyster-roast/

7 Crabdaddy Seafood & Wine Festival
Sanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg
A celebration of fresh seafood, local wines, and beers. sanctuaryvineyards.com

14 Outer Banks Forum presents Rockland Road
First Flight High School, Kill Devil Hills
High-energy, live performance featuring an impeccable blend of soaring harmonies. outerbanksforum.org

14 Casey Logan Fall Throw Down
Casey R Logan Disc Golf Course, Kill Devil Hills
Email: claytonscarborough@gmail.com

16-18 NC Lions VIP Fishing Tournament
Three-day event benefitting 350 visually impaired persons, held at multiple OBX fishing venues with the involvement of 130 sighted guests and 350 volunteers. ncvipfishing.org/

17-22 Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival
Annual Wildlife Refuge event for novice and experience birdwatchers. wingsoverwater.org

18-21 12th Annual Bluegrass Island Festival
Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo
Music lovers from all over the world flock the OBX for this tradition, featuring a roster of acclaimed bands. bluegrassisland.com/12thannual

21 Outer Banks Seafood Festival
Soundside Event Site, Nags Head
Honoring and celebrating the Outer Banks seafood heritage and community, featuring live music and entertainment. outerbanksseafoodfestival.org/

28 Night of 1587 Pumpkins
Elizabethan Gardens, Roanoke Island
Join in the fun as Elizabethan Gardens attempts to light 1587 Jack-o-lanterns. elizabethangardens.org

28-29 Red Drum Fishing Tournament
Sixty hours of continuous fishing on the beaches of Hatteras Island. ncbba.org/

28 Outer Banks BrewTag
Soundside Event Site, Nags Head
Annual festival featuring a unique keg flying competition. kittyhawk.com/event/outer-banks-brewtag/

28-Nov. 4 OBX Wind 2023
OceanAir Sports 39450 Hwy. 12, Avon
One of the biggest windsurfing events in the country. oceanairsports.com

NOVEMBER EVENTS

2-4 Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival
Educating about the importance of caring for the environment. A Peace Garden Project. peacegardenproject.net/

3 First Friday–Downtown Manteo
Food, music, and art on the Manteo waterfront on Roanoke Island. darearts.org/firstfriday

4 Outer Banks Forum presents Take Me Home: Music of John Denver
An evening of the music of America’s most beloved singer songwriter. outerbanksforum.org

5 14th Annual Outer Banks Shrimp Cookoff
Venue TBA.
Chefs vie for top honors in the area’s original shrimp cookoff. 100% of the proceeds go to Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research. obshrimp.com

10-12 Outer Banks Marathon
In addition to the marathon the weekend will include a Half Marathon and the Surf Pediatrics Surf & Soar 5K, 8K and Fun Run. obxse.com/

10-19 Outer Banks Veterans Week
Various Locations
Annual event celebrating Veterans and their families through the arts. darearts.org/veterans

16-19 The Wall That Heals Exhibit
Soundside Event Site, Nags Head
Hosted by The Dare County Veterans Advisory Council, this traveling three-quarter scale replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will offer reflection, pause and peace to help veterans feel a sense of healing.
vvmf.org/The-Wall-That-Heals

17-Dec. 30 Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens
Stroll along illuminated garden walks and discover the joy of the holiday season. elizabethangardens.org/winterlights/

18 The Outer Banks Fur Ball
Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head
Party at the beach for a good cause, featuring an Italian-themed dinner, dancing, cash bar and silent auction. obxcoastalhumanesociety.org

22 Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile
Outer Banks Brewing Station, Kill Devil Hills
Join the Brewing Station crew for a Thanksgiving themed beer mile. theobxrunningcompany.com/

24-25 32nd Annual Kites with Lights and Hangin’ with Santa
Jockey’s Ridge State Park & Kitty Hawk Kites, Nags Head
This holiday events include a visit and photo opportunity with Santa Claus, and an illuminating kite show that will light up the sky over the dunes at Jockey’s Ridge. kittyhawk.com/events

25 Big Currishuck
Sanctuary Vineyards, Jarvisburg
AYCE steamed oysters, crabs, barbecue, beer and wine, hayrides, live music. sanctuaryvineyards.com

29-Dec. 2 Good Guys vs Cancer Basketball Showcase
First Flight High School, Kill Devil Hills
Local high school programs will face off against nationally ranked players. hoopstatenetwork.wixsite.com/

DECEMBER EVENTS

1 Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting
Manteo Waterfront
Small town Christmas celebration. Local choirs, Santa, tree lighting and more.

1-30 Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens
Stroll along illuminated garden walks and discover the joy of the holiday season. elizabethangardens.org/winterlights/

2 Manteo Preservation Trust Holiday Tour of Homes
Historic places open their doors to encourage the appreciation of Manteo, both architecturally and culturally. manteopreservationtrust.com

2 Twelfth Annual Duck Yuletide Celebration
Duck Town Hall, Duck
Join Santa to welcome the Christmas season as Duck’s merchants are open for the holidays.
townofduck.com/recreation-special-events/yuletide-celebration/

3 Elizabeth City State University Concert Choir
St. Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church, Nags Head
A Christmas Celebration. bryanculturalseries.org

8-10 Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival Encore
Various locations. Learn from the experts about migratory waterfowl. wingsoverwater.org

8-10, 13-15 The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical
Theater of Dare, Kitty Hawk. theatreofdareobx.com

15-16 Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival
Cape Hatteras KOA, Rodanthe
The newest Outer Banks food festival. koa.com/campgrounds/cape-hatteras/

17 Wright Brothers Day
Wright Brothers National Memorial and the Outer Banks community celebrate the 120th anniversary
of the first flight. wrightbrothersday.org

Author: Kip Tabb