December Fun: Itinerary for the Second Weekend in December!

Friday, December 11: First Flight, Holiday Pop-Ups, and Candlelight in Corolla

8:00 AM - Easy Breakfast at a Local Favorite! For a sit-down family breakfast, stop by Henry's Restaurant at 3396 N. Croatan Hwy. in Kill Devil Hills. Open year-round, Henry's has something for even the pickiest eaters. Try "The Captain," with two eggs, grits or home fries, toast or biscuits, and your choice of country ham, sausage, bacon, and more. View full menu. Check out other local OBX breakfast favorites, too.

9:30 AM - Wright Brothers National Memorial! Since you're already in Kill Devil Hills, make a stop at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Explore the exhibits, walk the first-flight markers, and climb Big Kill Devil Hill to the monument celebrating the "12 seconds that changed the world." Orville and Wilbur made their famous flight on December 17, 1903, so you'll be visiting almost exactly on the anniversary. Bundle up and enjoy the same brisk December winds they flew in!

11:30 AM - Lunch at a 12 Bars of Christmas Pop-Up! From Black Friday through New Year's Eve, local restaurants transform into themed 12 Bars of Christmas pop-ups, with holiday décor, festive menus, and specialty drinks. In past years, Bonzer Shack has become The Broken Candy Cane, Lucky 12 Tavern has become Jingle 12, and Mama Kwan's has become Mama Klaus's. Pick up a passport, and each stop supports a local nonprofit. Check the website for this year's lineup.

2:00 PM - Find Your Way Out at OB-Xscape Rooms! Spend the afternoon indoors with some family fun at OB-Xscape Rooms in Southern Shores. Pick a themed room and see who can crack the clues the fastest. It's a great bonding activity on a chilly December afternoon, and it's on your way north to Corolla.

5:00 PM - Whalehead Candlelight Christmas Tour! Step back in time to the 1920s at Whalehead in Historic Corolla. The mansion is decorated in the holiday tradition of Edward and Marie Louise Knight's time, with greenery, Christmas trees, music, and treats. The tour features a live performance on Mrs. Knight's one-of-a-kind Steinway piano, a few traditional carols, and a holiday treat at the end. Candlelight tours run on Fridays and Saturdays from Nov 27 to Dec 19, 2026. They sell out, so reserve ahead by calling Whalehead at 252-453-9040. Find out more here.

7:00 PM - Pizza Night! On the way back to your vacation rental, stop by one of the best pizza places on the OBX and pick up a pie to take home. Enjoy a relaxing evening of pizza, board games, and your favorite holiday movie. Most of our homes have spacious living areas with plenty of room for family movie night, so rest up for tomorrow's adventure!

Saturday, December 12: Holiday Market, Hatteras Christmas Parade, and WinterLights

8:00 AM - Breakfast at Stack'Em High! Start your day with pancakes, waffles, fruit, or eggs at Stack'Em High Pancakes & So Forth, an Outer Banks staple with locations in Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. View full menu.

9:00 AM - Dowdy Park Holiday Market! The Town of Nags Head's Dowdy Park Holiday Market is traditionally held on a Saturday morning in mid-December from 9 AM to noon. Shop handmade gifts, baked goods, and local treats from Outer Banks makers while the kids enjoy the playground. Plan to leave by about 10:30 AM to head south.

10:30 AM - Scenic Drive Down Hatteras Island! Head south on N.C. 12 through the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, where winter brings thousands of migrating ducks, geese, and swans to the ponds along the road. Stop for lunch in Avon or Buxton on your way to Hatteras Village.

2:00 PM - Hatteras Village Christmas Parade! The Hatteras Village Christmas Parade is traditionally held on the second Saturday in December at 2 PM, and it's one of the most charming small-town traditions on the Outer Banks. Line N.C. 12 to watch floats, decorated golf carts and boats, fire trucks from every island fire department, and the Cape Hatteras school marching band. Santa always closes out the parade on the back of the Hatteras Village fire truck! The parade is quick, so arrive early and stick around for the community celebration and winners' announcement afterward.

4:00 PM - Early Dinner on Hatteras Island! Settle in for an early dinner in Hatteras Village before the drive north. For seafood with waterfront views, try Hatteras Sol Waterside Grill or Breakwater Restaurant, where you can catch the sunset over the harbor. Many island restaurants keep limited winter hours, so call ahead.

7:15 PM - WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens! Still have some holiday energy? Make the drive back to Roanoke Island for WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens, the biggest light display on the Outer Banks. 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.

Sunday, December 13: Dunes, Christmas Shopping, and the Soundside

8:00 AM - Breakfast in Your Vacation Rental! After a big Saturday, enjoy a slow, quiet breakfast at home. Many of our vacation rentals offer multiple refrigerators and dishwashers, so breakfast prep and cleanup are a breeze. Take your coffee out to the beach or enjoy a peaceful morning stroll by the ocean before the day begins.

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 views of the ocean and the sound, and have some fun in the sand.

11:30 AM - The Christmas Shop & General Store! Cross the causeway to Manteo and visit The Christmas Shop & General Store, an Outer Banks holiday tradition for more than 50 years. Wander room after room of ornaments, décor, and gifts, and pick out a keepsake to take home. Then grab lunch in downtown Manteo.

2:00 PM - Soundside Holiday Market and Boardwalk! Head back to Nags Head for the Soundside Holiday Market at the Soundside Event Site (6800 S. Croatan Hwy.), which has traditionally run on select Sundays from noon to 4 PM. Shop local vendors and artists, grab hot cocoa from a food truck, and look for Santa. Then take a walk on the new Soundside Boardwalk, which opened in 2026, and stay to watch the sun set over the Roanoke Sound around 4:50 PM.

5:15 PM - Farewell Dinner! End the weekend with dinner in Nags Head or Manteo. Watch the last of the light over the sound at Miller's Waterfront Restaurant, or head to Roanoke Island for Mahi Mahi's Island Grill or Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar.

Celebrating Hanukkah? Friday, December 11 is the eighth and final night of Hanukkah in 2026. Check out our guide to Celebrating Hanukkah on the Outer Banks!

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