OBX Autumn: Itinerary for the Fourth Weekend in November

Thanksgiving Weekend 2026 at a Glance

Arriving for Thanksgiving? Start Your Weekend Early

If you're getting in before the holiday, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and a few local traditions are worth working into your week:

• Wednesday, Nov 25: The Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile at Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills.
• Thursday, Nov 26: Earn your pie at a Thanksgiving morning turkey trot, like the ADVICE 5K Turkey Trot in Duck, the Surfin' Turkey 5K on Hatteras Island, or the Wild Turkey 5K in Corolla.
• Skip the grocery line: Order your turkey and sides ahead with a grocery delivery service so everything is waiting when you arrive.

Most attractions, including the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, are closed on Thanksgiving Day itself, so plan Thursday around the feast, a football game, and a long beach walk at sunset. Looking for more ideas? Read our tips for celebrating Thanksgiving on the Outer Banks.

Friday, November 27: Black Friday on the Beach

8:00 AM – Leftovers Breakfast in Your Vacation Rental. Turkey hash, leftover pie, and a fresh pot of coffee. Enjoy a slow morning in your rental before the holiday fun begins. Many of our homes have multiple refrigerators and dishwashers, which comes in handy the morning after a big feast. Take your mug down to the beach and catch the sunrise with hardly another soul in sight.

10:00 AM – Hangin' With Santa at Kitty Hawk Kites. Santa is back at Kitty Hawk Kites at Jockey's Ridge Crossing in Nags Head for free visits and photos from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proudly sponsored by Seaside Vacations, Hangin' With Santa is one of our favorite ways to kick off the season. While you're there, get a head start on Black Friday shopping at the Jockey's Ridge Crossing shops.

11:30 AM – Climb Jockey's Ridge. Walk across the street to Jockey's Ridge State Park, home to the tallest living sand dune system on the East Coast. The sand is cool this time of year, the climb is easy, and the view over Roanoke Sound is worth every step. Bring a windbreaker. It's always breezier at the top.

12:30 PM – Lunch in Nags Head. Grab a casual lunch at Tortuga's Lie, a beach-road favorite for fresh seafood and laid-back vibes, then head across the causeway to Roanoke Island.

2:00 PM – NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a perfect indoor stop on a cool afternoon. Visit the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center, get hands-on at the touch tank, and take a breather in front of the giant shark tank. Black Friday can be busy, so arriving after lunch usually means smaller crowds.

4:30 PM – Sunset on the Manteo Waterfront. With sunset around 5 p.m., this is the perfect time to stroll the Manteo boardwalk out to the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse and watch the sky change over Shallowbag Bay. Downtown Manteo is already dressed for the holidays by this weekend.

5:30 PM – Dinner in Manteo. Stay on the island for dinner at Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar on the waterfront, or try Stripers Bar & Grille or Ortega'z Southwestern Grill & Wine Bar. Holiday weekend hours vary, so call ahead or make a reservation.

7:00 PM – WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens. More than a million lights transform the 10-acre Elizabethan Gardens into a winter wonderland on select nights from November 20 through December 29, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. Listed 2026 pricing is $22 for adults, $14 for youth ages 2 to 17, free for children under 2, and $6 for leashed dogs. Tickets are timed-entry and this is a popular weekend, so buy online in advance and check that your night is on the schedule. WinterLights is an outdoor, weather-dependent event. Read more on our WinterLights event page.

Saturday, November 28: Small Business Saturday

8:00 AM – Breakfast at Stack 'Em High. Let someone else do the cooking today. Stack 'Em High Pancakes & So Forth has been an Outer Banks breakfast staple for decades, with locations in Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. Order the pancakes. View the menu, and find more favorites in our guide to Outer Banks breakfast restaurants.

9:30 AM – Wright Brothers National Memorial. The timing couldn't be better. In late November 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright were right here at Kill Devil Hills, waiting out repairs and cold, windy weather just weeks before their first powered flight on December 17. Walk the flight line, climb Big Kill Devil Hill to the monument, and explore the visitor center exhibits at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Check current hours and the entrance fee on the National Park Service website before you go.

11:00 AM – Monument to a Century of Flight. Just up the road at Milepost 1 in Kitty Hawk, the Monument to a Century of Flight was built for the 2003 Centennial of Flight. Its 14 stainless steel pylons are arranged in a 120-foot arc, the length of that historic first flight, and 100 markers highlight major moments in aviation history from 1903 to 2003. It only takes a few minutes, and it's free.

12:00 PM – Lunch in Kill Devil Hills. Head to Mama Kwan's for island-inspired seafood or Country Deli for a big sandwich and a laid-back lunch.

1:30 PM – Roanoke Island Festival Park. Step back into the 1500s at Roanoke Island Festival Park in downtown Manteo. Climb aboard the Elizabeth II, a representation of a 16th-century sailing ship, then explore the Settlement Site, American Indian Town, and the Roanoke Adventure Museum. In the off-season, the park is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which makes Saturday your best day to visit this weekend.

3:30 PM – Small Business Saturday in Downtown Manteo. Walk across the street and shop local. Downtown Manteo is full of galleries, bookstores, and boutiques where you'll find one-of-a-kind gifts you won't see anywhere else. Every purchase supports a local family business.

5:00 PM – Dinner With a Sound View. Head back across the causeway for dinner at Miller's Waterfront Restaurant in Nags Head, where the dining room overlooks Roanoke Sound. Ask for a table by the window.

6:00 PM – Kites With Lights at Jockey's Ridge Crossing. End the day under a sky full of glowing kites. Kites With Lights, also sponsored by Seaside Vacations, lights up the evening at Kitty Hawk Kites at Jockey's Ridge Crossing on Saturday, November 28. Check the event page for the exact start time. Missed Santa on Friday? He's back at Kitty Hawk Kites on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Grown-ups only: The 12 Bars of Christmas pop-up bars open across the Outer Banks on November 27, the holiday cousin of October's Halloween Island. It's a festive nightcap after the kids are tucked in.

Sunday, November 29: Lighthouses, Birds, and a Bonfire

8:00 AM – Breakfast at Henry's. For a classic sit-down breakfast, stop by Henry's Restaurant on N. Croatan Hwy in Kill Devil Hills, open year-round. Try "The Captain" with eggs your way, grits or home fries, toast or a biscuit, and your choice of breakfast meat. View the breakfast menu.

10:00 AM – Bodie Island Lighthouse. Drive south to the black-and-white-striped Bodie Island Lighthouse. Tower climbs are seasonal, but the grounds and the marsh boardwalk are open, and the morning light on the lighthouse is gorgeous this time of year. Learn more in our guide to Outer Banks lighthouses.

11:00 AM – Winter Birding at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Cross the bridge over Oregon Inlet to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Late November is when tundra swans, snow geese, and wintering ducks arrive by the thousands. The trails around North Pond are an easy walk, and you don't need to be a birder to be wowed. Bring binoculars and a warm hat.

12:30 PM – Lunch on Hatteras Island. Keep going to Rodanthe for lunch and a little island time. Check out our Rodanthe guide for local favorites. While you're nearby, the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station tells the story of the surfmen who became part of the Coast Guard. Check its off-season schedule before you go.

4:30 PM – Sunset Bonfire on the Beach. Few things beat a bonfire on the beach on a cool fall evening. Rules vary by town, and in Nags Head you'll need a permit from the town. For a no-fuss option, Outer Banks Beach Fires will build and tear down your fire for you. Mention Club Seaside when you book.

6:00 PM – Pizza Night at Your Rental. Pick up a pie from one of the best pizza places on the OBX and settle in for board games, a holiday movie, and maybe one last slice of pie. If your rental has a hot tub, this is the night to use it.

Tips for Thanksgiving Weekend on the Outer Banks

• Book WinterLights early. Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest stretches of the season, and timed-entry tickets go fast.
• Call ahead for hours. Many restaurants and shops run shorter off-season or holiday hours, and some close for a few days after Thanksgiving.
• Plan around the early sunset. The sun sets around 5 p.m., so schedule outdoor stops in the morning and early afternoon.
• Pack layers. Highs are usually in the upper 50s, but the wind off the ocean feels colder. Check our Outer Banks weather page before you pack.
• Bring the pups. Off-season beach rules are more relaxed in most towns, and WinterLights welcomes leashed dogs. Browse our dog-friendly rentals.
• Stay a little longer. Many homes offer partial-week stays, perfect for a Wednesday-to-Sunday Thanksgiving trip.

More OBX Autumn Itineraries

• Itinerary for the First Weekend in November
• Itinerary for the Second Weekend in November
• Itinerary for the Third Weekend in November
• Outer Banks Holiday Events Guide

Frequently Asked Questions About Thanksgiving Weekend on the Outer Banks