Believe it or not, it's that time of year again, which can only mean one thing: it's time to plan an awesome holiday vacation! There are plenty of amazing ways to celebrate the holiday season on the Outer Banks, from Christmas markets and candlelit history tours to parades, light shows, and oyster roasts. Book your Outer Banks vacation rental for a holiday getaway to remember!

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often. We update dates as organizers announce them.

2026 OBX Holiday Events Calendar

• October – Early December: Seaside Cares Holiday Drive Trifecta
• November 20 – December 29 (select nights): WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens
• November 20 – 21: Annual Holly Days Bazaar & Arts Festival
• November 22, November 29 & December 13 (Sundays): Soundside Holiday Market
• November 24 – 25: Garden to Hearth at Island Farm
• November 27: Annual Corolla Christmas Craft Village
• November 27 – 28: Corolla Village Holiday Market
• November 27 – 28: Hangin' with Santa, sponsored by Seaside Vacations
• November 27 – December 19 (Fridays & Saturdays): Whalehead's Candlelight Christmas Tours
• November 27 – December 31: 12 Bars of Christmas
• November 28: Kites with Lights, sponsored by Seaside Vacations
• December 4: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Manteo
• December 4 – 5: Christmas Past at Island Farm
• December 5: Annual Manteo Christmas Parade
• December 5: Annual Duck Yuletide Celebration
• December 12: Hatteras Village Annual Christmas Parade
• December 17: Wright Brothers Day Celebration
• December 31: Manteo New Year's Eve Celebration
• December 31: Outer Banks Brewing Station NYE Party
• December 31: New Year's Eve at the Jolly Roger

Dates pending (we'll update as soon as they're announced):

• First Flight Holiday Markets (Nov. & Dec.)
• Dowdy Park Holiday Farmers Market (Nov. & Dec.)
• Colington Harbour Holiday Boat Parade (December)
• Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival (mid-December)

*Events and dates are subject to change. Please confirm with each organizer before you go.

Local OBX Holiday Events 2026

Annual Seaside Cares Holiday Drive Trifecta

Dates: October – Early December 2026

Location: Seaside Vacations Offices, Kitty Hawk & Avon

About: As the holiday season approaches, there's no better time to spread the spirit of giving and make a meaningful impact on our local community. Our Annual Seaside Cares Holiday Drive Trifecta supports three local donation drives for neighbors in need. Learn more here.

Winter Lights at the Elizabethan Gardens

Dates: Select nights, November 20 – December 29, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Location: Elizabethan Gardens, 1411 National Park Dr., Manteo, NC 27954

About: WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens is the biggest light display on the Outer Banks! Kids and adults alike will love wandering through ten acres of gardens transformed into a winter wonderland of dazzling lights, holiday décor, light tunnels, and a crackling open-air fire. Seasonal plants and holiday gifts are available in the Gift Shop and Nursery, and select nights feature live entertainment and visits with Santa. Timed-entry tickets sell out quickly, so buy online in advance. Last season, tickets were $22 for adults, $14 for youth ages 2–17, free for children under 2, and $6 for dogs. This event is weather-dependent.

All Saints' Episcopal Annual Holly Days Bazaar & Arts Festival

Dates: Friday, November 20 – Saturday, November 21, 2026

Time: Traditionally 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Friday; 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Saturday

Location: All Saints' Episcopal Church, Southern Shores

About: Each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, All Saints' presents a beautiful Christmas bazaar inside the church buildings. Arts, crafts, jewelry, and food are showcased by local and visiting vendors. Holly Days is a community favorite brought to life entirely by church volunteers.

Soundside Holiday Market

Dates: Sundays, November 22, November 29 & December 13, 2026

Time: Traditionally 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location: Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Hwy, Nags Head

About: Share a little sun, a little shine, a little shopping, and a little Christmas spirit at this Sunday holiday market on the Roanoke Sound. While you're there, take a stroll on the site's new soundside boardwalk, which opened in spring 2026.

Garden to Hearth at Island Farm

Dates: Tuesday, November 24 – Wednesday, November 25, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location: Island Farm, 1140 N US Hwy 64, Manteo

About: Arriving early for Thanksgiving week? Step into the 1850s at Island Farm, where historic interpreters show how Roanoke Island families prepared for winter by cooking over the hearth, preserving vegetables, smoking fish, and making candles. Freshly harvested produce like sweet potatoes and fall greens is available for purchase. Admission is $11 for ages 4 and up; children 3 and under are free.

Annual Corolla Christmas Craft Village

Date: Friday, November 27, 2026

Time: Traditionally 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Location: Whalehead in Historic Corolla Park

About: Skip the Black Friday crowds and get a head start on holiday shopping on the beautiful grounds of Whalehead. This free, one-day outdoor show features arts and crafts, fine art, handmade cosmetics, baked goods, and other unique gifts from local creators, plus food vendors and plenty of holiday spirit. For the full Corolla lineup, see our Christmas in Corolla guide.

Corolla Village Holiday Market

Dates: Friday, November 27 – Saturday, November 28, 2026

Time: Evenings (2025's market ran 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

Location: Historic Corolla Village

About: Historic Corolla Village transforms into a twinkling winter wonderland the weekend after Thanksgiving. Stroll the village to shop local artisans and craft vendors, enjoy live and Christmas music at the Corolla Village Inn, hear carols from Water's Edge Village School students, and keep an eye out for Santa. This free event is perfect for families.

Hangin' with Santa, Sponsored by Seaside Vacations

Dates: Friday, November 27 (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) & Saturday, November 28 (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM), 2026

Location: Kitty Hawk Kites at Jockey's Ridge Crossing, Nags Head

About: Kick off the season with free visits and photos with Santa at Kitty Hawk Kites! Kids can share their Christmas wishes, play with Santa's elves, and try out classic toys from the "workshop." Best of all, this event is dog-friendly, so bring the whole family, furry members included.

Whalehead's Candlelight Christmas Tours

Dates: Fridays & Saturdays, November 27 – December 19, 2026 (Nov. 27–28; Dec. 4–5, 11–12, 18–19)

Time: Early evening; confirm your tour time when you reserve

Location: Whalehead, 1100 Club Rd., Corolla, NC 27927

About: Step back to the 1920s inside the beautifully restored Whalehead mansion, decorated just as it might have been when Edward Collings Knight Jr. and his wife, Marie Louise, celebrated Christmas here. The candlelit tour features traditional greenery and Christmas trees, a live performance on the mansion's original custom-designed Steinway piano, carols, and a holiday treat at the end. Advance reservations are required, and tours sell out fast. Call 252-453-9040 to book. Click here for more information.

12 Bars of Christmas

Dates: November 27 – December 31, 2026

Location: Participating restaurants and bars across the Outer Banks

About: Grown-ups, this one's for you! Local favorites transform into holiday-themed pop-up bars with festive décor and seasonal cocktails. See our full 12 Bars of Christmas guide. Please drink responsibly and plan a designated driver.

Kites with Lights, Sponsored by Seaside Vacations

Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026

Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head

About: Watch giant 19- to 30-foot kites decked out in holiday lights soar over the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast! At 5:00 PM, catch the lighting of the Jockey's Ridge State Park Solar Christmas Tree on the dunes across from Jockey's Ridge Crossing, then warm up with hot drinks across the street. This free event benefits the Friends of Jockey's Ridge. Park at Jockey's Ridge Crossing Shopping Center (3933 S. Croatan Hwy); roadside parking is not allowed.

Annual Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting

Date: Friday, December 4, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Downtown Manteo Waterfront

About: Manteo lights its town Christmas tree on the first Friday in December, alongside the town's First Friday festivities. This free, family-friendly event features holiday music, hot cocoa, and a special appearance from Santa. Arrive early, as parking downtown fills up fast. Click here for more information.

Christmas Past at Island Farm

Dates: Friday, December 4 – Saturday, December 5, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: Island Farm, 1140 N US Hwy 64, Manteo

About: Costumed interpreters share how Roanoke Island families celebrated Christmas in the mid-1800s at this candlelit living-history homeplace. Visit with St. Nicholas, sip fresh cider, enjoy sugar cookies by the bonfire, watch a musket firing, and try candle making, ornament crafting, and grapevine wreath making. Admission is $11 for ages 4 and up; children 3 and under are free. Click here for more information.

Annual Manteo Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026

Time: 10:30 AM

Location: Downtown Manteo

About: One of the most charming small-town parades on the coast! Starting at Manteo High School, the parade winds through downtown and ends at the College of The Albemarle–Dare campus, with school bands, floats, and Santa himself. Free parking is typically available at the College of The Albemarle and Manteo Elementary School. Click here for more information.

Annual Duck Yuletide Celebration

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026

Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Duck Town Park

About: Gather at Duck Town Park for live holiday music, family activities, sweet treats, the town tree lighting, and the arrival of Santa! The town collects donations for the Outer Banks SPCA and the Beach Food Pantry during the celebration, so bring something to give. Before or after, stroll the shops of Duck Village to check off your holiday list. Click here for more information.

Hatteras Village Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: NC Highway 12, Hatteras Village

About: The Hatteras Village Christmas Parade is a decades-long island tradition. Volunteer fire departments, the U.S. Coast Guard, local businesses, and nonprofits roll through the village, with Santa arriving at the end on the fire truck. Afterward, gather for cookies and hot chocolate. The Hatteras Village Civic Association also hosts a tree lighting, Breakfast with Santa, and a holiday light trail throughout December; check their Facebook page for the full schedule. Click here for more information.

Wright Brothers Day: Celebration of the First Flight

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2026

Time: Morning ceremony; park open until 5:00 PM

Location: Wright Brothers National Memorial, 1000 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

About: Celebrate the 123rd anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright's first powered flight on the very ground where it happened! The National Park Service, the First Flight Society, and Outer Banks Forever host a morning ceremony that traditionally includes a First Flight Shrine induction and a wreath-laying by descendants of the 1903 witnesses, timed to the exact moment of the first flight. Park entrance fees are traditionally waived for the day. Click here for more information.

Manteo New Year's Eve Celebration

Date: Thursday, December 31, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Downtown Manteo Waterfront

About: Ring in 2027 family-style on the Manteo waterfront! This free, safe celebration traditionally features live music, a kids' zone with games and activities, giveaways, and a colorful fireworks display over Shallowbag Bay. Stay tuned for this year's entertainment lineup. Click here for more information.

Outer Banks Brewing Station's NYE Party

Date: Thursday, December 31, 2026

Location: Outer Banks Brewing Station, 600 S Croatan Hwy (Milepost 8.5), Kill Devil Hills

About: Ask anyone around the OBX and they'll tell you one of the best New Year's Eve parties is always at Outer Banks Brewing Station. Expect delicious food, live music, a themed celebration, and one of the best house-made craft beer selections in town. Check their website for this year's theme and tickets.

Holiday Markets & Events with Dates Coming Soon

First Flight Holiday Markets

Dates: November & December (2026 dates pending)

Location: Aviation Park, 103 Veterans Dr., Kill Devil Hills

About: The Town of Kill Devil Hills' First Flight Holiday Markets showcase local vendors with one-of-a-kind goods that are homegrown, hand-baked, and homemade. Stick around after dark to stroll through the town's Wright Lights Illumination at Aviation Park. Click here for more information.

Dowdy Park Holiday Farmers Market

Dates: November & December (2026 dates pending)

Location: Dowdy Park, 3005 S. Croatan Hwy, Nags Head

About: Locals rave about the homemade goods and fresh produce at Dowdy Park's farmers markets, and the holiday editions add a festive spin, making them extra special. Click here for more information.

Colington Harbour Holiday Boat Parade

Date: December (2026 date pending)

Location: Colington Harbour, Kill Devil Hills

About: For a uniquely coastal Christmas tradition, head to Colington Harbour! The Colington Yacht Club hosts this annual parade of brightly decorated boats circling the harbor. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies at the dock, and your applause helps pick the best-decorated boat. Check here for updates.

Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival

Date: Mid-December (2026 date pending)

Location: Cape Hatteras KOA Resort, 25099 NC Hwy 12, Rodanthe, NC 27968

About: Hatteras Island's favorite off-season gathering returns! Shuck Hatteras traditionally features free live music, local art vendors, kids' activities, and an Oyster Cook-Off Challenge, capped by a ticketed all-you-can-eat oyster roast. Proceeds have supported the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site. Follow the festival's Facebook page for this year's dates.

Spend the Holidays on the Outer Banks

As you can see, the Outer Banks isn't just a top choice for summer vacations. There's plenty to see and do around the holidays, too! Stroll through the lights at the Elizabethan Gardens, cheer on the boats in Colington Harbour, or simply enjoy our beautiful beaches without the summer crowds. Need more ideas? Check out our Outer Banks Christmas Week Itinerary and Celebrating Hanukkah on the Outer Banks.

Browse our available rentals and make this holiday season an unforgettable one at an unforgettable location!