Local Thanksgiving Week Events

Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile

Wednesday, November 25, 2026 · 11 AM · Outer Banks Brewing Station, 600 S. Croatan Hwy., Kill Devil Hills

Kick off the holiday the night-before-Thanksgiving way, just a little earlier in the day. The Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile is a 21+ mass-start race hosted with the OBX Running Company: drink a 12 oz. beer, run a quarter mile, and repeat until you've covered a full mile. Run, walk or crawl. It's clock-timed, but the real goal is to finish what you started. Prizes go to the fastest male and female, and holiday costumes are judged for most creative. Entry is $48 and includes a T-shirt. Register online in advance or sign up on-site during late registration and check-in from 10–10:45 AM.

17th Annual OBX Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026 · Southern Shores

Earn your second helping of pie! The OBX Turkey Trot is one of the Outer Banks' favorite Thanksgiving morning traditions, with a 5K ($40), a 1-mile run/walk, a virtual 5K option, and a quarter-mile fun run for kids ($20). Registered 5K runners receive a 2026 Turkey Trot shirt and finisher medal, and the top male and female 5K finishers take home Thanksgiving pies. Register by November 3 to guarantee your shirt size. Online registration closes at 5 AM on race day.

ADVICE 5K Turkey Trot in Duck

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026 · 9 AM · Duck

Staying on the northern beaches? This scenic 5K starts at Scarborough Lane and winds through Duck's wooded neighborhoods before finishing with a post-race party. Every registered runner gets a goodie bag of Thanksgiving treats and a commemorative tee, with prizes for the top adult and youth finishers. Run it, walk it, or trot it before you dig into your feast.

Hangin' with Santa at Kitty Hawk Kites

Friday, November 27 & Saturday, November 28, 2026 · Kitty Hawk Kites, Jockey's Ridge Crossing, Nags Head

Hangin' with Santa is the official start of the holiday season on the OBX. The weekend after Thanksgiving, bring the kids to Kitty Hawk Kites at Jockey's Ridge Crossing to share their Christmas wishes and get a photo with Santa. Little ones can hang out with Santa's elves and try out classic toys, and the grown-ups can get a jump on holiday shopping. Check Kitty Hawk Kites' events page for this year's Santa hours.

Kites with Lights at Jockey's Ridge State Park

Saturday, November 28, 2026 · 4–7 PM · Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head · Free

Don't miss this annual holiday light show over the tallest living sand dune system on the East Coast. At Kites with Lights, presented by Kitty Hawk Kites, huge 19- to 30-foot kites decked out for the season light up the evening sky. At 5 PM, gather for the lighting of the Jockey's Ridge State Park Solar Christmas Tree out on the dunes, directly across from Jockey's Ridge Crossing, where you can grab a warm drink. The event is free, and donations benefit the Friends of Jockey's Ridge. Local tip: park at Jockey's Ridge Crossing (3933 S. Croatan Hwy.) or the state park (300 W. Carolista Dr.), never on the roadside, and bundle up, because it gets cold and windy on top of the dunes. Leashed pets are welcome.

WinterLights at the Elizabethan Gardens

Select nights, November 20 – December 29, 2026 · 6–9 PM · 1411 National Park Dr., Manteo

For a little post-turkey magic, head to Roanoke Island for WinterLights. More than a million lights transform the 10-acre Elizabethan Gardens into a winter wonderland, with glowing garden paths, decorated trees, light tunnels and a crackling open-air fire. Timed-entry tickets are sold online at elizabethangardens.org, and popular nights sell out, so book early. Last year's prices were $22 for adults, $14 for ages 2–17, free for children under 2, and $6 for dogs. Good to know: the Gardens are closed on Thanksgiving Day itself, and because the event is outdoors, it can be canceled for bad weather or high winds.

Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner on the Outer Banks

Most local restaurants announce their Thanksgiving menus in early November. Until then, we've included last year's details so you know what to expect. We'll update each listing as 2026 menus and pricing are released.

Basnight's Lone Cedar Café (Nags Head)

Basnight's Lone Cedar Café on the Nags Head causeway hosts one of the area's longest-running Thanksgiving feasts, served with beautiful views of the Roanoke Sound. Expect oven-roasted turkey and whipped red potatoes alongside coastal favorites like shrimp & grits and bacon-wrapped scallops, plus desserts like banana pudding and pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations and walk-ins are welcome. 2025 details: 10:30 AM–7:30 PM; $45.95 adults, $20.95 under 12, free under 5. Call (252) 441-5405.

Captain George's Seafood Restaurant (Kill Devil Hills)

Feeding a big group with lots of different tastes? Captain George's adds traditional Thanksgiving dishes like turkey and ham to its famous seafood buffet, including crab legs, steamed shrimp and oysters, plus homemade sides, soups, salads and desserts. 2025 details: 11 AM–8 PM; $49.99 per person; limited reservations for groups of 15 or more. Call (252) 480-6677.

Jolly Roger (Kill Devil Hills)

Jolly Roger serves its legendary breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, then rolls out an all-you-can-eat feast with roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, she-crab soup, collards, homemade rolls, seasonal pies and more. 2025 details: feast from 1 PM until close; $35.95 per person; kids 12 and under pay their age plus $5, and toddlers eat free. Call (252) 441-6530 to reserve.

Mulligan's Grille (Nags Head)

A local favorite in historic Cottage Row, Mulligan's Grille serves a turkey dinner with all the fixings for dine-in or carry-out. 2025 details: open regular hours, 11 AM–9 PM; $34.99 adults, $15.99 kids 12 and under. Call (252) 480-2000 to reserve.

NC Coast Grill & Bar (Duck)

From Chef Wes Stepp, the team behind Duck's Red Sky Café, NC Coast Grill & Bar serves a Thanksgiving spread of traditional favorites and creative coastal cuisine on the Duck soundfront. 2025 details: 3:30–8 PM; $60 per person. Text (252) 455-1791 to reserve.

The Lifesaving Station at the Sanderling Resort (Duck)

For a more refined holiday meal, the Lifesaving Station serves a four-course Thanksgiving dinner with sound views, featuring dishes like sage-cornbread stuffed turkey breast and bourbon pecan pie. 2025 details: 11 AM–8 PM. Reserve on OpenTable.

Jimmy's Seafood Buffet (Kitty Hawk)

One of our favorite OBX traditions: Jimmy's Seafood Buffet hosts a free community Thanksgiving buffet with turkey, ham and homemade sides, open to everyone, with donations collected for local charities. 2026 will be its 9th year. 2025 details: 1–3 PM. Call (252) 261-4973 and leave a message to reserve.

Salt & Cypress Kitchen and Cocktails (Manteo)

This waterfront Manteo restaurant offers a Thanksgiving dine-in buffet and pre-ordered takeout meals for four. 2025 details: 10 AM–4 PM; $46 adults, $17 children; reservations through Toast.

Café Pamlico (Buxton, Hatteras Island)

Staying on Hatteras Island? Café Pamlico's Thanksgiving feast blends traditional staples with coastal cuisine, and it sells out every year, so book early. 2025 details: 1–7 PM. Call (252) 995-7030.

The Froggy Dog (Avon, Hatteras Island)

Build your own Thanksgiving plate at The Froggy Dog with an entrée, three sides and dessert, or order to-go from their holiday catering menu. 2025 details: $29.99 adults, $15.99 under 12. Call (252) 995-5550.

Cooking at Your Rental? Pre-Order the Essentials

Want a home-cooked holiday without all the work? On Hatteras Island, Waves Market & Deli takes pre-orders for turkey, rolls, sides and desserts to pick up on Thanksgiving Day (252-987-2352). Local bakeries like Tullio's, Proof Bakery and Northern Lights Bakery in Corolla also offer holiday pies and treats. You can also have your groceries waiting when you arrive with our grocery delivery options.

Other Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

Here are other OBX restaurants that have been open on Thanksgiving Day in past years. (Note: holiday hours and menus change, so check with each restaurant before you go.)

Duck

• Cravings Steak & Seafood
• Duck Donuts
• Fishbones Raw Bar & Restaurant
• Lifesaving Station Restaurant
• NC Coast Grill & Bar
• The Paper Canoe
• Red Sky Café
• Roadside Bar & Grill
• Sweet T's Coffee, Beer & Wine
• Tullio's Bakery

Southern Shores

• Crumbl Cookies
• Jersey Mike's Subs
• Starbucks Coffee

Kitty Hawk

• Big Buck's Homemade Ice Cream
• Jimmy's Seafood Buffet (free community Thanksgiving buffet)
• Shipwreck's Taphouse & Grill
• The Spot
• Stack 'em High Pancakes and So Forth
• Vilai Thai Kitchen

Kill Devil Hills

• Beachside Bistro
• Captain George's Seafood Restaurant
• China King
• Duck Donuts
• Dunkin'
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries
• Front Porch Cafe
• Fuji Japanese Steakhouse
• Goombay's Grille & Raw Bar
• Higher Grounds Coffee & Ice Cream Co.
• Jolly Roger
• Khan's Mongolian Grill
• New York Bagels
• OBX Tortilleria Y Panaderia
• Proof Bakery
• Starbucks Coffee
• Subway

Nags Head

• Basnight's Lone Cedar Café
• Benny Tesoro's
• Dirty Dick's Crabhouse
• Duck Donuts
• Dunkin'
• Freshfit Cafe
• Front Porch Cafe
• Grits Grill
• Mulligan's Grille in Historic Cottage Row
• New China Buffet
• Player's Grille at Nags Head Golf Links
• Sugar Shack Seafood Market
• Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Manteo

• Dunkin'
• Front Porch Cafe
• Poor Richard's Sandwich Shop & Pub
• Salt & Cypress Kitchen and Cocktails
• T.L.'s Family Restaurant

Hatteras Island

• Buxton Munch Company
• Café Pamlico
• Chinatown
• Diamond Shoals Restaurant & Sushi Bar
• Dirty Dick's Crabhouse
• Duck Donuts
• Frisco Bay Coastal Grill
• The Froggy Dog Restaurant & Bar
• Good Winds Restaurant
• Muffins & Scones
• Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe
• Waves Market & Deli (Thanksgiving pre-orders)

Enjoy a Fresh Seafood Feast in Your Rental: Outer Banks Clambake

Don't want to get the whole family dressed and out the door? Let the feast come to you. Outer Banks Clambake comes right to your rental home, brings the ingredients, cooks the meal and cleans up afterward. Seaside Vacations guests are eligible for discounts through Club Seaside. Contact Outer Banks Clambake directly to plan your menu, confirm your guest count and arrange the details.