Visiting the Outer Banks is great any time of the year, but sometimes coming down for the holidays can be the best experience of all! With so many different things to do, it’s hard to keep it all in one place. But here’s our convenient Outer Banks Holiday Bucket List for you to take with you as you enjoy your Outer Banks holiday vacation! Whether you’re looking for an unforgettable Thanksgiving on the Outer Banks, the perfect Christmas present or those last-minute New Year’s Eve celebrations, you’ll find what you’re looking for on the Outer Banks! Be sure to stay up to date on holiday events taking place from November to January on the Outer Banks.
Visit the Elizabethan Gardens Winter Lights
Taking place the last weekend of November and all of December, the Annual Winter Lights at the Elizabethan Gardens is the biggest light display on the Outer Banks! Kids and adults of all ages will love wandering through this enchanted winter wonderland of dazzling lights and holiday decorations. Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for ages 6-17, and $8 for children 2 to 5. Infants under 2 get in free! Dogs can come, too, for $5. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. The final tickets of the night are sold at 8:15 PM and since this display is outside, it is subject to weather cancellations. Even if you’ve been in the past, this is a display that you should see year after year! Click here for more information.
Go Shopping at the Dowdy Park Holiday Farmers' Market
Locals rave about the incredible homemade goods and fresh produce from Dowdy Park's usual farmers' markets. The holiday markets held throughout November and December are an exceptional treat that will offer similar goods but with a wonderful holiday spin -- making them that much more special. These are some daily outings you don't want to miss! Click here for more information.
Attend the Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting
Visit Manteo Waterfront for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting that takes place on the 1st Friday in December! This event is free and fun for the whole family. Enjoy beautiful lights, hot cocoa by the fire pit, and holiday music! You might even spot Santa! Click here for more information.
Look for Sea Glass After a Storm
Like most places around the world, during winter, you can sometimes experience some rain or a winter thunderstorm - which is a bonus when you're looking to do some beachcombing and gather up some sea glass on your vacation! There are few things more magical than walking along the shore after a storm and seeing what the ocean left behind for you to enjoy. Check out our guide on "How to Find Sea Glass on the Outer Banks" and made some magical memories on Christmas morning as you look for sea glass that will look beautiful in a jar, as part of an art piece, or simply sitting on your desk back home and keeping the OBX vibes all year long!
See the Manteo Christmas Parade
Join the Town of Manteo, North Carolina for the annual Christmas parade the 1st Saturday in December! Beginning at Manteo High School, the parade winds through the streets and ends at the old College of Albemarle site. Click here for more information.
Tour the Whalehead Club by Candlelight
The Historic Whalehead Mansion hosts a candlelight Christmas tour throughout the month of December, with the embodiment of Corolla style and entertainment, circa 1920. The mansion will be decorated similar to what one would have experienced had they celebrated Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Collings Knight, when they built and occupied Whalehead. The tour will feature a new room exhibit and will include a live performance on the original Steinway piano in the home- custom-designed for Mrs. Knight! Click here for more information.
Run the Outer Banks Jingle Jog
The OBX Running Company hosts an oceanside run through the town of Southern Shores in the month of December. There’s nothing like being out in the elements beside a beautiful winter beach to get you in the Outer Banks holiday spirit. You can choose to participate in the 10k Loop or Out & Back 5k. Your kids may even want to join in on the shivering strides through the Little Elf ¼ Mile or Jingle Jog 1 Mile. Pre-registration is required. There will be trophies for winning participants, event t-shirts and medals for all participants, photo opportunities with Santa, and refreshments. For pricing and registration, see the OBX Running Company's website.
See the Colington Harbour Holiday Boat Parade
For a fun Christmas tradition, come out to Colington Harbour for the Holiday Boat Parade! The Colington Yacht Club hosts this annual parade of brightly decorated and festive boats as they circle the harbor for your viewing pleasure! At the dock, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies and a unique Christmas show on the water! Your applause will help pick the winner of the best-decorated boat! The date is tentative. Please check here for updates.
Celebrate Wright Brothers Day on December 17th!
Stop by the Wright Brothers National Memorial for the Anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ First Flight! Enjoy events all day from 9 AM to 5 PM celebrating the “12 seconds that changed the world.” Admission to the park is FREE on Wright Brothers Day. Be sure to get there early to see the morning ceremonies, usually held from 9 AM to 11 AM. December 17 is the Anniversary of the Wright Brothers' First Flight! The First Flight Society will also be honoring the annual Paul E. Garber Shrine inductees. Check here for more details.
Have Breakfast with Santa @ The Lifesaving Station
On Christmas Eve, head up to The Lifesaving Station in the Sanderling Resort for breakfast and photos with Santa! Enjoy a delicious breakfast, warm up with some hot chocolate, and enjoy an easy, breezy morning with St. Nick himself. Reservations are suggested, so be sure to book your table for memories your kiddos won't soon forget!
Hunt for Ghost Crabs on the Beach
This is a fun one - especially if you want to stay up and try to catch a glimpse of Santa or need something to do while waiting for midnight on New Years' Eve! Ghost crabs are tiny little crabs that hop in and out of the sand looking for food. Ghost crabbing is the art of looking for these little guys with a flashlight and snapping a picture before they go back into hiding. For tips, tricks, and more info on the best way to experience Outer Banks ghost crabbing, take a look at our guide here.
Read (and Gift!) Your Favorite Outer Banks Book
Did you know that on Christmas Eve in Iceland, citizens celebrate a charming tradition called Jloabokaflod, during which they give each other a new book and a cozy pair of pajamas to enjoy that evening? Why not adopt this tradition and give it a little bit of local OBX flair? Pick a book (or books!) set in the Outer Banks and pair it with some warm pajamas or a cozy Outer Banks sweatshirt from Gray’s or Kitty Hawk Kites. Check out our list of Outer Banks Books, which has a little bit of something for everyone, and be sure to pick up your fun read for Christmas Eve from one of our local Bookstores on the Outer Banks! Many of them will even ship your book to wherever you are, so there’s no reason NOT to shop local. Start your own family tradition of a beachy book and cozy sweatshirt on Christmas Eve as you celebrate the warmth of your loved ones while dreaming of a day at the beach!
Go Stargazing
The Outer Banks is known around the world for its notable lack of light pollution and position that makes it ideal for catching meteor showers, shooting starts, and constellations against an unfathomable stretch of night sky. The winter is also PERFECT for stargazing in our hemisphere, meaning that your next holiday getaway is a dream for stargazing! Whether you're looking for something to do after Thanksgiving dinner that gets the blood pumping or you're looking to relax as a family after lighting the menorah, stepping out onto the beach or even the deck of your Outer Banks vacation rental is the perfect end to an amazing day at the OBX. Here are some of the best spots, methods, and reasons why stargazing is an OBX holiday must!
Fly a Kite at Jockey's Ridge State Park - And See Kites with Lights!
No trip to the Outer Banks is complete without a visit to Jockey's Ridge State Park to fly a kite! Even better is the chance to catch this annual holiday light show that lights up the dunes like a Christmas tree! Come out to see huge kites completely decked out in lights for the season and watch the lighting of the Jockey's Ridge State Park Solar Christmas Tree! Sponsored by Seaside Vacations, this event is the highlight of the season and is guaranteed to make valuable memories for your family to cherish all year long.
Celebrate the New Year at the Manteo New Year in the New World Celebration
Manteo is the best place for a brilliant fireworks display on New Year's Eve! The celebration begins at 6 PM with tons of fun activities and Iive music for the entire family. If you don't want to keep the kids out late, you won't have to- they have a kid's countdown at 8 PM! In addition to fireworks and music, there will also be plenty of kids' games, activities, and vendors to keep you in the best spirits going into the New Year. Click here for more information.
BOOK YOUR HASSLE-FREE Bucketlist VACATION TODAY
Get ready to make holiday memories here on the Outer Banks! Whether you're looking for a quiet place to spend the holidays with your other half or want to get the family together for a memorable tradition that is sure to make winter special each year, we've got exactly what you're looking for. There really is no bad place to stay on the Outer Banks, so why not plan a yearly trip and maybe stay in a different town each time? You're sure to find your perfect spot.
Book your stay today in one of our cozy vacation rentals and explore all the best and brightest that the Outer Banks has to offer. Give our wonderful Guest Services Team a call today at (866) 884-0267 or take a look at our available rentals to get started planning your next unforgettable adventure to the Outer Banks. There so much to do and see. With amazing food and drinks, exciting excursions, and plenty of sand for everyone to relax, there's something for everyone here on the Outer Banks.
And don't forget about our layaway plan, which makes booking your dream vacation easier than ever. So don't wait. We're booking Outer Banks vacation rentals year-round and we're excited to help you create memories to last a lifetime. We're here to help make your OBX vacation fun, exciting, and hassle-free. Give us a call today! Be sure to provide accurate information and make any necessary payments.
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About the Author: Lauren is an Outer Banks local, mom, history professor, and travel enthusiast. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with her nose in a book or cuddling with her cats.
