Annual Events

Roanoke Island is the special events capital of the Outer Banks. No matter what time of year you visit, most likely you will find some kind of event or festival happening on Roanoke Island. The summer months are jam-packed with events; be sure to see our section called ALL SUMMER LONG - Manteo's Summer Events for a complete rundown of fun things to do here in the summer.

June

North Carolina Symphony
June 5
Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo
(252) 475-1500
What better way to enjoy the North Carolina Symphony than on a summer evening, gazing up at the stars? This event is free and open to the public. All seating is on the lawn, but you can bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnics. The Dare County Tourism Board funds the event. The symphony begins at 8 p.m.

Dare Day
June 7
Downtown Manteo/Waterfront
(252) 475-5629
Outer Banks locals and a ton of visitors gather on the Manteo waterfront for the annual Dare Day festival on the first Saturday in June. This wonderful, homespun festival features all-day entertainment, from dance troupes and cloggers to nationally known bands and barbershop quartets. Food vendors serve up festival treats like fried seafood and cotton candy, and arts and crafts booths are set up along the waterfront boardwalk. Children's activities provide for even more fun. It all begins at 9 a.m. and lasts well into the evening.

World Ocean Day
June 8
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
(252) 473-3494
Come to the Aquarium for ocean-related activities for all ages.

Hurricane Week
June 9-13
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
(252) 473-3494
Learn about hurricanes with special events at the Aquarium.

Into the Woods
June 29
Waterside Theatre
(252) 473-3414
The Lost Colony Company performs this Broadway musical in the outdoor setting of Waterside Theatre at 8:15 p.m. Don't miss it!

July

Independence Day Celebration
July 4
Downtown Manteo and Roanoke Island Festival Park
(252) 475-1500
The Town of Manteo really does it up for the Fourth of July. There's always a live show in front of the old courthouse, plus there are vendors of all sorts selling food and drinks. The Wacky Hat contest and decorated bike contest are winners with children and adults. Around 9:30 p.m., the town sponsors a professional fireworks show, set off at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Prior to the fireworks, at 8 p.m., music is provided by students from the North Carolina School of the Arts as part of the NCSA Summer Performance Festival.

Into the Woods
July 13
Waterside Theatre
(252) 473-3414
The Lost Colony Company performs the Broadway classic Into the Woods in Waterside Theatre at 8:15 p.m.

6th Annual One Design Regatta
July 26
North Carolina Maritime Museum, Manteo Waterfront
(252) 475-1750
Whether you want to participate or watch, this is a fun summer event. Sailboat races are held for adults and youth.

August

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
August 3 & 10
Waterside Theatre
(252) 473-3414
The Lost Colony Company will perform this Broadway classic in Waterside Theatre at 8:15 p.m. Amphibian Week August 4-8 North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island Special events related to frogs and amphibians will be held at the aquarium this week.

Herbert Hoover's Birthday Celebration
August 11
Manteo Booksellers, 101 Sir Walter Raleigh Street, Manteo
(252) 473-1221
Manteo Booksellers has celebrated Herbert Hoover's August 10 birthday for more than 20 years. The party for the 31st president's birthday includes book signings, music, trivia contests, birthday cake and punch.

Annual Roanoke Island American Indian Cultural Festival & Powwow
August 9 & 10
Airport Pavilion Lawn, Airport Road, across from N.C. Aquarium
(757) 477-3589
Come and enjoy this wonderful native experience as tribes gather on ancestral grounds to celebrate and share our culture on the west side of Roanoke Island along the tranquil waters of the Croatan Sound. This is a wholesome family activity that features a gathering of American Indian tribes from across the nation dressed in tribal regalia, traditional and contemporary American Indian music, dance, visual arts, storytelling and much more. Educational displays exhibit artifacts used and items traded by the American Indians. American Indian foods as well as other festival foods are available for purchase.

Reaching for the Stars: A Spectacle of Song and Dance
August 16
Waterside Theatre
(252) 473-3414
Enjoy a showcase of original dance and live music performed by The Lost Colony Company in Waterside Theatre at 8:15 p.m.

New World Festival of the Arts
August 13 & 14
Manteo Waterfront
(252) 473-2838
More than 80 artists show and sell work at this wonderful waterfront art show. It's always held mid-week, on a Wednesday and Thursday, in mid-August. Park the car and stroll amongst the booths in historic Manteo to see a variety of art works for sale.

Virginia Dare Faire
August 18
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Elizabethan Gardens, The Lost Colony
(252) 473-2127
Virginia Dare was the first child born in America to English parents. A member of the 1587 "Lost Colony," Virginia was born on August 18, 1587, right here on Roanoke Island. You can celebrate her 421st birthday with special events at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. The Lost Colony commemorates the event by featuring cameos by local infant actors in its performance that night. There are also free activities with music, fun and games for the whole family during the day. Labor Day Concert August 31 Roanoke Island Festival Park Outdoor Pavilion Enjoy live music on the lawn from noon to 7 p.m. This event is fun for the whole family.

September

Paint Out in The Gardens
September 20 & 21
The Elizabethan Gardens
(252) 473-3234
Paint Out is a non-juried en plein air event open to amateur and professional painters of all ages, followed by a wet sale of artwork.

Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony Celebration
September 26
Cartwright Park
(252) 473-2753
This celebration honors the memory of the Freedmen's Colony, a colony of escaped and former slaves that formed on Roanoke Island during and following the Civil War. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

October

Elizabethan Tymes: A Country Faire
October 4 and 5
Roanoke Island Festival Park
The faire is held 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and features many Elizabethan-style events and festivities.

Wildfest
October 18
College of the Albemarle, Manteo
(252) 987-1118
Wildfest is a family-oriented event with wildlife exhibitors, live animal shows, plenty of activities and wildlife-related vendors. It's a MUST for families with elementary and middle school-aged children! It's held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Harvest Heyday
October 26
The Elizabethan Gardens
(252) 473-3234
You'll enjoy this fun-filled family event with square dancing, games and a hayride. It's the perfect autumn activity.

Trick or Treat Under the Sea
October 30
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
(252) 473-3494
Celebrate Halloween at the Aquarium. Kids can trick or treat at booths set up by local businesses. Tickets are $5.

November

OBX® Marathon Gateway Bank Half-marathon & Kelly Hospitality Group Fun Run
November 8 and 9
If you're a runner or walker, you don't want to miss this event on a flat course with awesome scenery and the spirited residents of the Outer Banks cheering for you all along the way. On Sunday, November 9, 2008, you can participate in the third annual OBX Marathon, the Gateway Bank Half-Marathon. The Kelly's Hospitality Group Fun Run is held on November 8. The course for the marathon begins in Kitty Hawk, travels on through Kill Devil Hills and around the Wright Memorial, goes through Nags Head and ends on Roanoke Island. The Gateway Bank Half-Marathon in Nags Head and ends on Roanoke Island. Walkers are welcome, so there's no excuse not to be involved. The finish line and marathon village are located in Manteo. For information and to register, go to: www.obxmarathon.com, but register early because this event will sell out.

Wings Over Water Festival
November 4-9
Various Outer Banks locations
Celebrate Outer Banks flora and fauna during this fun and educational week-long event. The program includes nature-oriented field trips, seminars and programs including kayak excursions, red wolf howlings, bear watching and Gulf Stream treks. There is a very full schedule of events in this early November program.

December

Holiday Open House
December 3
The Elizabethan Gardens, The Lost Colony and Fort Raleigh Enjoy good food and good spirits at Fort Raleigh's attractions and find special deals and great decorations in The Gardens' gift shop.

Manteo Rockfish Rodeo
December 5 and 6
(252) 473-6644
This fishing tournament is sponsored by the Manteo Rotary Club. Fishing is in the sounds, and the registration and awards ceremonies are held at Roanoke Island Festival Park's Outdoor Pavilion.

Town of Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities
December 5 and 6
Downtown Manteo
(252) 473-2133
The lighting of the town tree is a special event in Manteo. There are Christmas carols and other music, a pageant that recounts tales through the years on Roanoke Island plus a Yule log and hot beverages for all. The event starts about 6 p.m. in front of the historic courthouse on Queen Elizabeth Avenue.

Town of Manteo's Annual Christmas Parade with Santa
December 6
Downtown Manteo
(252) 473-2133
The parade begins at 11 a.m., starting at the Manteo High School and winding its way along the waterfront and through downtown. This is an event that has people from all over Dare County lining the streets, with the children exuberantly scrambling for the candy that gets tossed from lots of the floats.

Manteo Preservation Trust's Holiday Tour of Homes
December 14
Downtown Manteo
(252) 473-5548
This annual event, held the second Sunday of December, is your chance to see inside some of the wonderful island homes, which are decorated beautifully for the holiday season, and to enjoy hors d'oeuvres and festive goodies. The tour is held from 2 to 7 p.m. Tickets usually cost $15, and proceeds benefit the Manteo Preservation Trust.

Elizabethan Christmas
December 27
Roanoke Island Festival Park
Visitors to the park can get a taste of 16th-century holiday traditions from 2 to 5 p.m. as they make decorations, learn dances, sing songs, discover food and drink of the season and indulge in merriment. It's held on Saturday, Dec 27 from noon to 5 p.m.

February

The Elizabethan Rendezvous
Penguin Isle Restaurant, Nags Head
(252) 473-1061
Produced by Elizabeth R and Company and The Lost Colony, this popular annual event is a fun-filled gala of evening and feasting, Elizabethan style. It re-creates the atmosphere of an Elizabethan feast that would have been held for Queen Elizabeth I. Professional revelers are on hand. Reservations are required.

March

The Vagina Monologues
Various locations
These local productions of Eve Ensler's popular and moving play are performed by local actors every other March on Roanoke Island. Look for ads giving details of locations and tickets.

Annual Priceless Pieces Quilt Show
Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo
(252) 475-1500
A popular quilt show Priceless Pieces features old and new quilts with some kind of connection to Dare County. There are quilt-related activities and demonstrations planned throughout the month. Call for details.

Roanoke Island 1682 - A Civil War Living History Weekend
Roanoke Island Festival Park
(252) 475-1500
The annual Civil War Living History Weekend commemorates the anniversary of The Battle of Roanoke Island. The event features many interactive opportunities for both children and adults including a recruiting station, gun drills, blacksmithing, a 19th-century toy display, crafts, boat history, soap carving, capture the flag games, woodworking, music, a living history encampment with 19th-century cooking, a drawing table interpreting the use of art as a communication tool during the Civil War, lectures and more.