Your Guide to Holidays on the Outer Banks

We all know that the Outer Banks in the summer is fantastic! Thousands of families flock to our sandbar year after year, June ‒ August. While we never want to detract from the splendor of summer, celebrating the holidays on the Outer Banks is something you do not want to miss! Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years – there is no shortage of fun to be had in the “off-season.”

Although all of our vacation rentals have a well-stocked kitchen, perfect for cooking an amazing OBX Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, many of our local restaurants are offering dine-in or dine-out options. Take a break from cooking this year, call in your order or make reservations somewhere and spend Thanksgiving or Christmas day with your family beachcombing or just relaxing instead of being stuck in the kitchen all day. Enjoy a delicious meal created by our talented OBX chefs. Many restaurants create a holiday menu that is a beautiful mix of traditional holiday dishes and local delicious seafood.

DU910: Mom’s View | Located in Duck, NC 

Part of enjoying a fabulous Outer Banks vacation is finding the perfect vacation rental for your family to enjoy. We recommend finding a home with a hot tub and enjoying a nice evening underneath the stars with your favorite drink in hand, it’ll be just the rejuvenation you need after such a tiring year. For the kids, several of our homes have fun game rooms that are equipped with foosball tables, pool tables, and more! Another fun amenity some of our homes have is the theater room. Grab your favorite snacks and enjoy your favorite holiday movie in the comforts of your private vacation rental.

Some of my favorite things to do in the off-season on the Outer Banks is to explore the different nature preserves and walking trails to capture gorgeous photos. If hiking through the woods isn’t your thing, we have over 200 miles of shore here in the Outer Banks, you could spend days exploring. There are shipwrecks to see, shells, and sea glass to find. Perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of a dolphin pod feeding just offshore. Fishing is another wonderful off-season activity, piers are still open and the shore is just ready for you to cast your line! 

Shop with a view at the Waterfront Shops in Duck! 

Head out for some holiday shopping! We have several shopping centers on the Outer Banks that are full of local shops whose proprietors would be very grateful to see you this holiday season. Some of our favorite locations are Timbuck II (Corolla), Waterfront Shops (Duck) and if you like name brands and discounts, check out the Outlets Nags Head!  

Listed below are a few fun upcoming holiday events:

• Every Friday in November, Roanoke Island Festival Park hosts a park-wide scavenger hunt. Explore local historic installations like the American Indian Town, the Elizabeth II, and Adventure Museum. The kids will love this! Find out more information about this event here. 

• Explore wonderful art exhibits at the Dare County Art Council. In the month of November, they will feature Watercolors of Rural and Coastal Places by local Bobby Wiltshire and in the month of December, they’ll feature the work of Vickie Jo Franks. Her repurposed art creations are so fun to see! Check out more events from the Dare County Arts Council here.

• Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe is offering their 13th Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast! Located on the Nags Head-Manteo causeway, they offer an amazing Outer Banks Thanksgiving buffet that will surely have something for everyone in the family. Shrimp and grits, scallops, fried oysters, prime rib, just to name a few. Reservations are encouraged, find out more info here.

• Red Sky Cafe in Duck is another great choice for a Thanksgiving Day meal! Enjoy a delicious OBX Thanksgiving buffet that offers fire-roasted turkey, wagyu sirloin, lump crab-stuffed flounder, and more! Reservations are encouraged, found out more info here.

• For the sports fans, the Bonzer Shack located in Kill Devil Hills offers Thursday and Sunday night football underneath the stars. Weather permitting, they’ll have TVs set up in the yard with the game on, order a cold beverage and enjoy your game at the beach!

• Stroll through the enchanted garden paths and discover the joy of the season with holiday lights. Winter Lights at the Elizabethan Gardens takes place November 30th through January 19th, learn more here.

• Head on over to the Duck Town Park on December 5th for an afternoon full of live holiday music, holiday treats from local businesses, Crab Pot tree lighting, and tons of other holiday fun. Learn more about the 10th Annual Duck Yuletide Celebration.

Now is the time to start planning for the holidays! If you’re interested in enjoying an OBX Thanksgiving, check out our available homes here.

Ready to enjoy an OBX Christmas? View our vacation rentals available the week of Christmas here.

If you have questions or need assistance with finding the perfect holiday home, always feel free to give us a call at 855-585-8811. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is standing by and would be happy to assist you!