December Fun: Itinerary for First Weekend in December

Friday, December 4: Wild Horses, Tree Lighting, and WinterLights

8:00 AM - Breakfast at Home or On the Go! If you're already in your rental, enjoy a quiet morning breakfast in your pajamas before a weekend full of adventures. If you'd rather someone else cook, grab a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee from Lighthouse Bagels or First Light. And for something unique, try Corolla Breakfast & Lunch Bowls.

10:00 AM - Corolla Wild Horse Tour! Spend the morning looking for the famous Corolla wild horses, the descendants of Colonial Spanish Mustangs that roam the 4x4 beaches north of Corolla. Guided tours run about two hours, and several local operators run tours year-round, including Corolla Outback Adventures and Kitty Hawk Kites. Seaside guests can save with our Kitty Hawk Kites discount. Winter schedules are lighter than summer, so book ahead, and bundle up: the open-air ride on the beach is chilly in December!

12:30 PM - Lunch and Holiday Shopping in Corolla! After the tour, head to the Timbuck II Shopping Village for lunch and some holiday shopping. Grab a pizza from Giant Slice, then browse the specialty stores and boutiques for gifts you won't find anywhere else. Leave Corolla by about 3:30 PM. Manteo is a little over an hour's drive south, and you'll want time for dinner before the tree lighting.

4:30 PM - Early Dinner in Nags Head or Manteo! Grab dinner on your way to Roanoke Island at Tortuga's Lie in Nags Head, or head straight to downtown Manteo and pick from the restaurants along the waterfront. Try to be downtown by 5:30 PM. Traffic is heavy coming into town, and you may need to park on a side street and walk.

6:00 PM - Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting! The Lighting of the Town Tree traditionally takes place on the first Friday night in December, in front of the historic Dare County Courthouse on Queen Elizabeth Avenue. Expect hot chocolate, holiday music sung by local children, and a visit from Santa. It also lines up with downtown Manteo's First Friday, so shops, galleries, and restaurants stay lively after the lights come on.

7:30 PM - WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens! The Annual WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens is the biggest light display on the Outer Banks, and it's just a few minutes' drive from downtown Manteo. Stroll more than a million lights across the 10-acre gardens, warm up by the open-air fire, and say hello to Santa. WinterLights runs from 6 to 9 PM, and tickets are $22 for adults, $14 for ages 2–17, free for children under 2, and $6 for dogs. Reserve a timed-entry ticket online ahead of time, because popular nights sell out. The event is weather-dependent, so check for updates that afternoon. Even if you've been in years past, this is a display worth seeing year after year!

Saturday, December 5: Manteo Parade, Festival Park, and Duck Yuletide

8:00 AM - Breakfast in Nags Head! Fuel up for a full day at one of Nags Head's local favorites. Stop by Waveriders Coffee, Deli & Market for a breakfast sandwich and a seasonal latte, or try their vegan cashew cream cheese! For a Southern sit-down breakfast, Grits Grill serves breakfast all day long.

10:30 AM - Manteo Christmas Parade! The Town of Manteo's annual Christmas Parade is traditionally held the Saturday morning after the tree lighting. The parade begins at Manteo High School and winds through town to the College of The Albemarle Dare campus, with floats, marching bands, and plenty of candy. Free parking is usually available at the College of The Albemarle and Manteo Elementary School.

12:00 PM - Lunch in Downtown Manteo! Stay on Roanoke Island for lunch. There are plenty of cafés and sandwich spots within walking distance of the waterfront, so pick a favorite and enjoy the holiday decorations around town.

12:45 PM - Roanoke Island Festival Park! Roanoke Island Festival Park sits right across from the Manteo waterfront. Climb aboard the Elizabeth II to get a feel for life on a 16th-century sailing ship, then explore the Settlement Site, American Indian Town, and the Roanoke Adventure Museum for hands-on history the whole family will enjoy. Plan about 90 minutes, and leave by 2:15 PM to make it to Duck.

3:00 PM - Duck Yuletide Celebration! Head north to Duck Town Park for the Duck Yuletide Celebration, traditionally held from 3 to 5 PM on the first Saturday in December. Enjoy live holiday music, family activities, treats from local businesses, the tree lighting, and Santa's arrival. Bring a donation for the Outer Banks SPCA or the Beach Food Pantry, and leave time to shop the boutiques in Duck Village. See the Town of Duck for this year's details.

5:00 PM - Dinner in Duck! Enjoy a relaxing dinner on the sound after the festivities. Try Red Sky Cafe, The Blue Point, or AQUA Restaurant for a special night out. If you're traveling with kiddos, The Village Table & Tavern is a great option. Make a reservation, since Yuletide weekend is a busy night in Duck.

Sunday, December 6: Dunes, Sea Turtles, and a Waterfront Sunset

8:00 AM - Easy Breakfast at a Local Favorite! Depending on where you're staying, there are plenty of cozy places to settle in for breakfast. Check out our list of local OBX breakfast favorites for sit-down spots and grab-and-go coffee and pastries.

10:00 AM - Morning at Jockey's Ridge! Jockey's Ridge State Park is home to the tallest living sand dune system on the East Coast, and it's wonderfully quiet on a December morning. Climb the dunes, enjoy the cool breeze and the views of the ocean and the sound, then cross the street to Jockey's Ridge Crossing for a little more holiday shopping.

12:00 PM - Lunch in Kill Devil Hills! Head a few minutes north for lunch. Mama Kwan's is a local favorite for fresh seafood, and Country Deli is perfect for a hearty sandwich in a laid-back setting.

1:30 PM - NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island! Spend the afternoon at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, which is open on Sundays. Explore the coastal habitats and wetlands of the Outer Banks, see the sharks in the massive ocean tank, try the touch tank, and learn the story of the USS Monitor. Don't miss the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center, where kids can follow a sea turtle's journey through rehabilitation.

4:15 PM - Sunset on the Manteo Waterfront! Wrap up the weekend with a stroll along the Manteo boardwalk to the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. The sun sets around 4:50 PM, and the view over Shallowbag Bay, with the town's holiday lights coming on, is a perfect way to end the trip.

5:30 PM - Farewell Dinner! Stay on Roanoke Island for dinner at Mahi Mahi's Island Grill or Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar, or head across the causeway to Miller's Waterfront Restaurant in Nags Head for a sunset-view dinner on the sound.

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