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3 Oct 2023
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Events & Holidays

Updated for 2023!

It's hard to believe that December is right around the corner, but we've only got a few weeks before the holidays really begin in earnest. What better way to spend these colder, winter months than with a trip to the Outer Banks? We're booking RIGHT NOW for weekends in November and December, so be sure to look at our available rentals and book your next weekend retreat or weeklong stay.

So over the next few weeks, we're going to be publishing awesome and fun itineraries with suggestions for you to make the most of your Outer Banks stay in December! There is so much to do and you definitely don't want to miss out. So keep reading for an exciting itinerary to get the most of your stay in the Outer Banks during the first weekend in December!

Thursday, November 30:

8:00 AM - Easy Breakfast at a Local Favorite! For a tasty sit-down family breakfast, stop by Henry’s Restaurant at 3396 N. Croatan Hwy. in Kill Devil Hills between 7AM and 1PM. Open year-round, Henry’s has a menu selection that will satisfy even the pickiest palate. Try “The Captain” which offers 2 eggs cooked to your preference, grits or home fries, toast or biscuits, and your choice of protein (like country ham, pork chop, ham, sausage, and bacon!) You can also order breakfast sandwiches, omelettes, hot cakes and more! View full menu. Check out other recommended breakfast options here.

10:00 AM - Dowdy Park Holiday Farmer’s Market! Open on Thursday, December 1 from 9 AM to 12 PM, locals rave about the incredible homemade goods and fresh produce from Dowdy Park's usual farmer's markets. The holiday markets are an exceptional treat that will offer similar goods but with a wonderful holiday spin, making them much more special. Click here for more information. 

12:00 PM - Lunch at “The Broken Candy Cane!” Beginning on December 1, several eateries around the Outer Banks will be changing their names to become pop-up Christmas bars to get everyone in on the holiday season! Bonzer Shack becomes The Broken Candy Cane where you can stop by for some yummy food, pop-up fun, and a positive holiday atmosphere to get you in the holiday spirit! Other participating restaurants include Mama Kawn’s → Mama Klaus’s, Lucky 12 Tavern → Jingle 12, and Goombays → Goombrrs.

3:00 PM - Christmas on the North End! Beginning Thursday, December 1, Island Farm in Manteo will host “Christmas on the North End” celebrating Christmas the way that they would have in the mid-1800s. Come explore the different types of food, decorations, and events that were a part of the holiday season on the Outer Banks prior to the Civil War. Candle making, grapevine wreath making, and a visit from Saint Nicholas will all be a part of the festivities. For our itinerary, we’re suggesting going on Thursday, December 1, but feel free to fit this in anytime this weekend! The event runs from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on December 1, 2, and 3. Admission is $10 for guests 4 and up and free for children 3 and under.

5:00PM - Dinner in Manteo! There are plenty of delicious places to stop by for dinner in and around Manteo! Check out The Hungry Pelican for delicious sandwiches to satisfy everyone's cravings or Bluewater Grill and Raw Bar for fresh, local seafood, wonderful drinks, and an amazing atmosphere. Other options are Stripers Bar and Grille, Ortega'z Southwestern Grill & Wine Bar, and Darrell's.

7:00 PM - Winter Lights at Elizabethan Gardens! 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 $18 for adults, $14 for ages 6-17, and $8 for children 2 to 5. Infants under 2 get in free!  Dogs can come, too, for $6. 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.

Friday, December 1:

8:00 AM - Breakfast at Stack'Em High! Start off a day of sightseeing and exploring the best of the Outer Banks with a yummy breakfast of pancakes, waffles, fruit, or eggs at Stack'Em High Pancakes & So Forth! With 2 locations, one in Kitty Hawk and another in Kill Devil Hills, there's no reason not to head out and let someone else handle breakfast. Stack'Em High is an Outer Banks staple and a great place for singles, couples, and groups. View full menu.

10:00 AM - Wright Brothers National Memorial! Since you're already in the area, now is the best time to make a stop at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Come explore the exhibits and the monument to celebrate the "12 seconds that changed the world." This was the time of year that Orville and Wilbur were trying to get their flying machine up in the air, so come take a walk around the grounds and enjoy the brisk, refreshing winds of the Outer Banks in December!

12:00 PM - Lunch in Kill Devil Hills! There are so many great restaurants in Kill Devil Hills to enjoy a delicious meal. Head on over to Mama Kwans for a fantastic lunch of fresh seafood or Country Deli for fresh meats and cheeses and a laid-back atmosphere.

2:00 PM - Afternoon at Jockey's Ridge! As we're making our way down the island, the next stop is Jockey's Ridge State Park where you can run around on the dunes, have some fun in the sand, or head on across the street to Jockey's Ridge Crossing to get some holiday shopping in!

4:30 PM - Dinner in Nags Head or Manteo! Grab an early dinner before heading down to the Manteo Waterfront for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event. There are plenty of amazing options for dinner in Nags Head, including Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe or Tortuga's Lie. If you'd rather not rush, or want something light to snack on, there are lots of delicious options for light and heavy meals in downtown Manteo. Walk around the waterfront and you'll see that there's a little bit of something for everyone!

6:00 PM - 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.

Saturday, December 2:

8:00 AM - Breakfast in your Vacation Rental! Enjoy a calm, quiet breakfast in your beautiful vacation rental before heading down to Manteo. Many of our vacation rental properties offer multiple refrigerators and/or dishwashers, so breakfast prep and cleanup can be a breeze! Take your cup of coffee out onto the beach or find pleasure in a peaceful morning stroll by the ocean before the fun of the day begins!

10:30 AM - Manteo Christmas Parade! Join the Town of Manteo, North Carolina for the annual Christmas parade! 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.

12:00 PM - Lunch on the Manteo Waterfront! Enjoy a quiet lunch near the Manteo Waterfront at one of the wonderful restaurants that line the water. Stop by Poor Richard’s Sandwich Shop or the Lost Colony Tavern for a delicious taste of fresh, local seafood and some wonderful Outer Banks favorites like The Virginia Dare Burger or the English Breakfast Burger!

1:00 PM - 16th Annual Holiday Tour of Homes! Join the Manteo Preservation Trust (MPT) for a tour of historic homes and new constructions in the style of historic Manteo. Enjoy brilliant lights and beautiful decorations as part of your epic holiday weekend! Visit the Manteo Preservation Trust's website for more information.

3:00 PM - 13th Annual Duck Yuletide Celebration! Stop in Duck Town Park on December 3th between 3-5 pm to watch the lighting of the crab pot tree! Santa will also be reading books to children from his workshop. If your kids have a letter for Santa, you can drop them off in the Town Hall lobby or email them to events@townofduck.com by December 1st! If you visit the town of Duck for your Christmas shopping, don't forget to stop by a special photo area under the gazebo at the Town Hall to help you get a special and unique holiday photo during your outing! Click here for more information. 

5:00 PM - Dinner in Duck! Enjoy a relaxing dinner in Duck after enjoying the fun of the holidays. Stop by the Red Sky Cafe, The Blue Point, or AQUA Restaurant for the finer tastes of the beach. If you're traveling with kiddos, The Village Table & Tavern and Coastal Cravings are also great options.

7:30 PM - A Night at the Theatre! If an evening at the theater is in the cards, make your way up to the Theatre of Dare's new Kitty Hawk location and enjoy a local production. Support your local thespians and enjoy a fantastic end to a Saturday evening. Find out more here.

BOOK YOUR NEXT STAY NOW!

Looking for a last-minute deal on an Outer Banks vacation rental home? Click here! We're booking RIGHT NOW for the rest of the year and 2024!

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 historic adventure to 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. 

Explore our website and give us a call to help kick-start your unforgettable Outer Banks vacation today.  Be sure to follow us on FacebookInstagramYouTubePinterest, and TikTok to stay up to date on all of our specials, new & featured homes, and tips & tricks for making the most of your next Outer Banks vacation.

We’ll see you at the beach.

About the Author: Lauren is an Outer Banks local, mom, trained historian, 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.