Spring/Summer Calendar of Events 2023

As the milder temps of spring are upon us, the Outer Banks community is gearing up for the approaching high-season. After a brief winter respite, locals seek activities of all kinds to remedy cabin fever. We encourage all to take part in the festivities across the region, from Corolla to Hatteras Island. To assist in planning, we’ve listed several events to help kickstart this season of blooming.

Photo provided by Holly Carter. 2022 VusicOBX Concert, featuring Rebelution with Steel Pulse, DENM and DJ Mackle from last summer’s event at Roanoke Island Festival Park.

First Fridays
A fun-filled, family-oriented street fair and art show with some live music thrown in, Manteo’s First Friday is a perfect celebration of small-town life.

Happening the first Friday of the month from 6pm to 8pm, First Friday is a great way to spend a spring or summer evening strolling along the Manteo waterfront.

Activities are spread out across a four or five block area but are centered on the Dare Arts Gallery at what was once the Dare County Courthouse. On the steps of the gallery musicians perform, and inside you’ll find monthly art shows in addition to the creative works of local artists.

Photo provided by Kip Tabb.

Artrageous Kids Art Festival
Celebrating kids and creativity, Artrageous is free, fun and a fantastic family day. The theme is kids and art, but there is so much more.

Held at Dowdy Park in Nags Head from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, May 13th around the edge of the grassy field, local artists offer jewelry, paintings, pottery and much more. Food trucks are on hand for a quick meal. Live performances take place on the stage.

Ultimately, though, it’s all about the kids, and that’s what makes this such a great event, with face painting, silly paper bag hats, and so many other ways to channel the creativity of children.

41st Annual Rogallo Kite Festival
Kitty Hawk Kites brings out the big ones for this amazing celebration of everything kite for this event, held annually at Jockey’s Ridge State Park both Friday and Saturday, June 16-17.

Huge kites paint the sky during this festival, named after longtime Southern Shores resident Francis Rogallo, the inventor of the Rogallo Wing, used for hang gliding, parasailing and more. On the dune there are kite lessons, teaching two line and quad line kites and a chance to try out power kites with enough lift to drag an adult across the sand.

Across the bypass from the dune, inside Kitty Hawk Kites there will be lots to do, with kite making workshops for kids and more.

MAY EVENTS CALENDAR

May 5
First Friday
Celebration of food, music, art and small-town life on the waterfront in Manteo. DareArts.org/firstfriday

May 5-6
OBX Rod And Custom Festival
A celebration of vintage and antique cars.
OBXRodAndCustomFestival.com

May 5-7
The Wizard of Wonderland
A meeting of two of literature’s most famous young ladies. Theater of Dare, Kitty Hawk. TheatreOfDareOBX.com

May 7
James Hill Ukulele
Ground-breaking approach to an underestimated instrument. St. Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church, Nags Head.
BryanCulturalSeries.org

May 7-27
Mollie Fewaring Memorial
Art Show Features an eclectic mix of artwork. Dare Arts Gallery, Manteo.
DareArts.org

May 9-13
Hatteras Village Offshore Open
The opening event of the NC Billfish Series. Hatteras Village.
HVOO.org

May 12
KidsFest
Children, ages five and under. Arts and crafts, bubble play, snowballs, music, and more. Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo. DareKids.org/kidsfest

May 13
Couture By the Shore
Newest & brightest fashions on display, all to raise funds for those in need. Duck Woods Country Club, Southern Shores. OBRF.org/couture-by-the-shore

May 13
Nags Head Woods 5K Run
Run a race through Nags Head Woods Preserve. Nags Head Woods, Kill Devil Hills. RaceEntry.com/yuengling-nags-head-woods-5k1m/race-information

May 13
Artrageous Kids Art Festival
Free, family-friendly kids art activities, music, local artisans, local restaurants selling lunch and snack items. Dowdy Park, Nags Head. DareArts.org/artrageous

May 18-21
Hang Gliding Spectacular
Longest-running hang gliding competition in the world. Kitty Hawk Kites, Nags Head and The Cotton Gin, Jarvisburg. KittyHawk.com/event/hang-gliding-spectacular

June 1
Rock the Cape
Waves Village Watersports Resort, Rodanthe.
DareArts.org/rockthecape

June 2
First Friday
Celebration of food, music, art and small town life on the waterfront in Manteo. Manteo. DareArts.org/firstfriday

June 2
2023 Season of The Lost Colony
Opening night. Longest running outdoor drama in North America. Through August 26. Waterside Theater, Roanoke Island. TheLostColony.org

June 14
Fritz Boyden Memorial Youth Fishing Tournament
Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head. NCAquariums.com/calendar/event/2907306?locale=en

June 16 – Jun 17
41st Annual Rogallo Kite Festival
Kite Displays. Kite making workshops and more. Kitty Hawk Kites, Nags Head. KittyHawk.com/event/rogallo-kite-festival

June 20
Lettuce & Steel Pulse with Makua Rothman
VUSIC OBX concert at Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo. VusicFest.com

June 20-21
Under the Oaks Arts Festival
Artworks and crafts at the Whalehead Club in Corolla. VisitCurrituck.com/events/under-the-oaks-2020

June 22
Rebelution w/Iration,
The Expendables, Passafire & DJ Mackle
VUSIC OBX concert at Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo. VusicFest.com

July 2
The Independence
1 Mile Beer Run
Drink, Run, Drink, Run. Easy, mile-long walk or run around Kill Devil Hills. Outer Banks Brewing Station, Kill Devil Hills. TheOBXRunningCompany.com/outer-banks-beer-mile.html

July 2
Beach Clean Up with Kitty Hawk Kites and Surf Rider Foundation
Soundside Beach Access, Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head. (252) 305-5561
KittyHawk.com/event/surfrider-beach-cleanup-kitty-hawk.

Independence Day 4th of July Activities
Freedom 5K
8:00 a.m. Kill Devil Hills
TheOBXRunningCompany.com/5k-run-july-4th-outer-banks.html

Town of Duck Parade
9:00 a.m. TownOfDuck.com/recreation-special-events/4th-of-july

Manteo 4th of July Celebration
2:30-5:30 p.m. StreetFair,

Evening Fireworks
ManteoNC.gov/departments/community-and-economic-development/special-events/town-sponsored-events/fourth-of-july-celebration

Kill Devil Hills
Evening fireworks, Avalon Pier. OuterBanks.org/outer-banks-fourth-of-july

Nags Head
Evening Fireworks, Nags Head Fishing Pier. OuterBanks.org/outer-banks-fourth-of-july

Avon
Evening fireworks, Avon Pier. OuterBanks.org/outer-banks-fourth-of-july

Corolla
5:00 p.m. Celebration begins. Evening fireworks. Historic Corolla Park. VisitCurrituck.com/events/independence-day-celebration

July 13
Sunrise 5k/1 Mile Beach Race Series
Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head.
TheOBXRunningCompany.com/sunrise-run-5k-outer-banks.html

July 15-16
45th Annual Wright Kite Festival
Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills.
KittyHawk.com/event/wright-kite-festival

July 22
Jake Owen with Niko Moon Concert
VUSIC OBX concert at Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo. VusicFest.com/

July 27
Travis Tritt with Special Guest Chase Matthew
VUSIC OBX concert at Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo. VusicFest.com

Author: Kip Tabb