The barrier islands of North Carolina always have fun activities to do and to spice things up even more, we encourage you to attend some of the fun Outer Banks events and annual festivals. From food and wine festivals to fishing tournaments to fun runs, the OBX offers the perfect annual event for visitors of all ages!
For more incredible Outer Banks annual events and other attractions, check out our free Vacation Guide! It includes a list of the best things to do on the North Carolina coast, from top-notch dining to the best family-friendly activities to do outdoors.
Outer Banks Events You Need to Check Out
Taste of the Beach
Taste of the Beach Food and Wine Festival is an Outer Banks annual event in the spring that you don’t want to miss! Visitors and locals come together to enjoy delicious food and wine while supporting the local culinary and hospitality community.
Flying Pirate Half Marathon
Put on your best running shoes and pirate outfit. The Flying Pirate Half Marathon is just over 13 miles of pure beauty and scenery along the NC coast from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head. Run across narrow trails, flat land, rolling terrains, much, sand, and dirt, all while admiring the stunning Atlantic Ocean.
Put together a two-person team and make sure to participate in the costume contest for the ultimate experience. Overall and masters 1st, 2nd, and 3rd finisher medals are announced online once reported and sorted.
Duck & Wine Festival
Discover Duck Waterfront Shops and attend the Duck and Wine Festival in April. This one-day event features a cookoff for the best duck dish and wine pairing and highlights the incredible local businesses and restaurants of the Outer Banks.
Hang Gliding Spectacular & Air Festival
In May, you need to experience the family-friendly Hang-Gliding Spectacular and Air Festival. Pilots from all over the country join us on the Outer Banks to soar above Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, NC. See professional hang gliders do what they do best at the longest-running hang gliding competition in the world.
You can also take hang-gliding lessons throughout the year with Kitty Hawk Kites!
Anniversary of the Lost Colony
Immerse yourself in Outer Banks’ history and discover the Lost Colony. This Roanoke Island event is on the land that was once the home to the first English settlers, who quickly disappeared after inhabiting the land. Make sure to visit Manteo in the spring to see this musical theater annual event on the Outer Banks.
4th of July on the Outer Banks
Celebrate Independence Day from the site of the first attempted colonization in the New World. The Outer Banks is the best 4th of July destination because it’s the home of America’s first beach. Spend the day with your family, participating in watersports, or relaxing on the beach before heading to one of the many patriotic festivals for fireworks and live music. You can experience them at Roanoke Island Festival Park, Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head Fishing Pier, or the Avon Fishing Pier on Hatteras Island.
Fall Festivals on the Outer Banks
Celebrate music and local seafood at several of the awesome annual festivals in the fall. Some great ones to choose from are the Duck, NC, Jazz Festival, the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival, or the Outer Banks Seafood Festival! They are great ways to experience some of the best local musicians and locally-caught cuisine!
Lighthouse 5K Series
Explore the many iconic Outer Banks lighthouses when you run the Lighthouse 5K Series by OBX Running Company. See the pretty scenery as you jog past Corolla Light, Currituck Beach Lighthouse, and the beautiful Whalehead Club!
More Fun Outer Banks Events
- OBX Kites with Lights
- Outer Banks Marathon & Southern Fried Half Marathon 8K | 5K | Fun Run | Southern 6
- Duck Yuletide Celebration
- New Year in the New World
- Annual Wright Kite Festival
- Outer Banks Triathlon
- Mustang Music Festival
- Island Farm Events on the Outer Banks This Week
- Outer Banks Kayak Fishing Tournament
The Best Place to Stay Near Outer Banks Events
Make Paramount Destinations your official home away from home on the Outer Banks. Choose from our selection of the best vacation rentals throughout the Outer Banks so that you can be near all the action.
