The Outer Banks truly shines during the holidays—not just with twinkling lights and cozy coastal charm, but with the help of several incredible Santas who bring joy to families from Corolla to Columbia and everywhere in between. Each Santa has their own flair, whether they’re strolling through WinterLights, popping into local restaurants, or leading small-town parades.
To make your holiday planning a breeze, we’ve gathered a full schedule of when and where you can meet these beloved Santas throughout the season. Bookmark this guide and check back often—we’ll be updating regularly as new appearances are announced!
And if you know of an event that should be included, or you're hosting one yourself, please reach out. We’re always excited to help spread a little extra cheer.
Santa Sightings on the OBX & Beyond
Below is the full schedule, organized by date to help you map out your holiday fun.
November
November 21 (Fri)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
November 22 (Sat)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
November 23 (Sun)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Dougie — Soundside Holiday Market, Nags Head — 1–3 PM
November 26 (Wed)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
November 28 (Fri)
- Hangin' with Santa — Jockey's Ridge Crossing — 10AM-2PM
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Le — Whalehead Club Christmas Market, Corolla — 12–3:30 PM
November 29 (Sat)
- Hangin' with Santa — Jockey's Ridge Crossing — 1PM-4PM
Dougie — Nags Head Outlet Mall — 1–4 PM
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Dougie — Wanchese Christmas — 8:30–10 AM
November 30 (Sun)
Dougie — Soundside Holiday Market, Nags Head — 1–3 PM
Le — Blue Moon Restaurant — 12–2 PM
December
December 3 (Wed)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 4 (Thu)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Le — Blue Moon Restaurant — 5:30–7:30 PM
December 5 (Fri)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Eric — Tree Lighting, Courthouse Square, Columbia — 6 PM
December 6 (Sat)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Le — Pearl Hotel Rooftop — 5–7 PM
Eric — Breakfast with Santa, Tyrrell VFD — 9 AM (ticketed)
Eric — Columbia Christmas Parade — 2 PM
Eric — Santa visits at Brickhouse Garage — until 3:30 PM
December 7 (Sun)
Dougie — Lucky 12 Tavern, Nags Head — 1–3 PM
Le — Blue Moon Restaurant — 12–2 PM
Le — First Flight Christmas Lights, KDH — 4–7 PM
December 10 (Wed)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Le — Blue Water Grill — 6–8 PM
December 11 (Thu)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 12 (Fri)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Le — Back Porch Café, Manteo — 4–5 PM
Eric — Christmas Bingo, Inner Banks Mercantile, Columbia — 6 PM
December 13 (Sat)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Dougie — Nags Head Outlet Mall — 12–3 PM
Le — Duck Woods Country Club — Breakfast Event
Eric — Breakfast with Santa, Rotarian Building, Creswell — 9–11 AM
Eric — Creswell Christmas Parade — 11 AM
Eric — Santa visits afterward at Creswell VFD
December 14 (Sun)
Dougie — Soundside Holiday Market, Nags Head — 1–3 PM
Le — Blue Water Grill — 12–2 PM
December 16 (Tue)
Eric — Story Time with Santa, Tyrrell County Public Library — 10:30 AM
December 17 (Wed)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 18 (Thu)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 19 (Fri)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Le — Blue Moon Restaurant — 5:30–7:30 PM
Le — NouVines — 7:30 PM
December 20 (Sat)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Le — Shore Coffee — 10 AM–2 PM
Le — Blue Water Grill — 4–6 PM
December 21 (Sun)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Le — Blue Moon Restaurant — 12–2 PM
Le — Columbia Visit — 3–5 PM
December 22 (Mon)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 23 (Tue)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 26 (Fri)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 27 (Sat)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 28 (Sun)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 29 (Mon)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
December 30 (Tue)
Dougie — Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights — 6–8 PM
Plan Your Perfect Santa Stop
Whether your family loves the magic of WinterLights, prefers a cozy brunch with Santa, or enjoys popping into local markets and parades, the Outer Banks offers endless opportunities to make holiday memories.
Save this guide, share it with friends, and check back as more events are added. And be sure to check out our Annual Outer Banks Holiday Events Guide for more events that the whole family will love. Here’s to a season filled with sparkle, joy, and plenty of Santa smiles!
Book your stay today in one of our cozy vacation rentals and explore all the best and brightest that the Outer Banks has to offer. Give our wonderful Guest Services Team a call today at (866) 884-0267 or take a look at our available rentals to get started planning your next historic adventure to the Outer Banks.
And don't forget about our layaway plan, which makes booking your dream vacation easier than ever. So don't wait. We're booking Outer Banks vacation rentals year round and we're excited to help you create memories to last a lifetime. We're here to help make your OBX vacation fun, exciting, and hassle-free.
Credit to LocalOBX for compiling this master list of schedules!
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