Welcome to Beaches of The Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Please download Adobe Flash Player.
The Outer Banks of North Carolina ®
Official Tourism Authority for Dare County’s Outer Banks - 877.629.4386


Outer Banks Make Two Top Travel Lists!

Just announced, The Outer Banks of North Carolina ranks #3 in TripAdvisor’s® list of Top Ten Spring Beach Destinations. According to the world’s largest travel community with 15 million unbiased opinions and 25 million monthly website visitors, once again The Outer Banks ranks as a premier vacation destination, accompanied by Punta Cana, Maui, Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas, Key West, Bermuda, Puerto Vallarta, Santa Monica, and Turks and Caicos. View Article Here

Also celebrated, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been named by USA Today as one of 10 Great National Parks That Will Engage Your Kids, and is one of the favorite sites by author Trefoni Rizzi of Teddy’s Travels: America’s National Parks. "This park is filled with the history of pirates, shipwrecks and lighthouses. Check out the many Especially for Kids programs at the visitor centers to learn more…Kids will love the ferry from Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island, and the best of all, it’s free.” View Article Here

“This is a fantastic way to start the season,” says Carolyn McCormick, Managing Director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. “The barrier islands experience is a truly beautiful dance with mother nature. The Outer Banks offer a safe, family-friendly place to vacation at a great value. Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is just 90 miles to our north. We are a few hours drive from most major cities on the eastern seaboard. The barrier islands offer the feeling of being a million miles away, but you can get here on less than a tank of gas for many families.”

Get the 2008 Outer Banks Travle Guide & Getaway Card Now!
Get your FREE 2008 Official Outer Banks Travel Guide which includes a FREE 2008 Getaway Card. Enjoy the captivating seasons of Winter, Spring and Fall even more with savings at local area businesses.

CAN'T WAIT? Check out our 2008 Virtual Guide and explore the Outer Banks from the comfort of your home computer screen.

Cape Hatteras National Park Service Beach Access Report for May 1, 2008.  ORV rules and regulations.

May 5 - 27
11th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show
Features an eclectic mix of local art. On display at the Art Gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Held in memory of Mollie Fearing, one of the founders of the root organization from which DCAC arose. In 1975 a group of Dare county residents met at the home of Mollie Fearing where they set about founding an organization that would introduce thousands of school children and adults to music, dance, theatre, painting, sculpture, poetry and literature. The organization would initially be called the Sea and Sounds Arts Council and later, the Dare County Arts Council. Mollie Fearing was elected president of the Arts Council in 1975 and was a vital supporter and advocate of the arts until the time of her death on September 3, 1997. Mollie's contributions to the community were numerous, from serving as mayor for the Town of Manteo, to serving on the board of the Roanoke Island Historical Association, to her dedication to the arts. Mollie's legacy in our community remains strong to this day. Open to members and residents. Cash awards. Drop off and pick up dates for artwork will be announced at a later date. Opening Reception: Sunday, May 4, 2008 4-6 p.m. Please log on to darearts.org or call 252-473-5558 for more information.

May 10
25th Annual Yuengling Nags Head Woods 5K footrace and Village Realty 1-Mile Family Fun Run
Nags Head Woods. Not your typical walk down the beach, the dirt trails of the preserve weave through one of the best remaining examples of mid-Atlantic maritime forest and deciduous hardwoods. Get details at outerbankskiwanisclub.org

May 14 - 17
Hatteras Village Offshore Open
For more information please call (252) 986-2579.

May 16 - 19
Kitty Hawk Kites 36th Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular
Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come see the best sport hang gliders from around the world compete on the dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park. During this competition there will also be activities for the whole family taking place across the street from Jockey's Ridge State Park at Kitty Hawk Kites. Activities include: climbing wall, face painting, kite making, etc. For more information call 1-888-FLY-THIS or visit kittyhawk.com

May 17
March of Dimes - Walk America 2008
Outdoor Pavilion at Roanoke Island Festival Park. The March of Dimes will sponsor this event. Registration at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. There will be music, team photos, food, and face-painting - a fun-filled family day! The five-mile walk takes participants through historic Manteo, followed by a picnic. For additional information call (757) 361-0000 or (800) 732-7097.

May 17
6th Annual Coastal Gardening Festival
The Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden, Kill Devil Hills. Vendors, speakers, educational booths, plant sales and much more! For more information please call (252) 473-4290.

May 22 - 23
Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Center Demo Days
MP 15.5, Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Center, Nags Head. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out all the newest kiteboarding gear for 2008! Kitty Hawk Kites professionals will be on hand as well as industry reps and professional kite boarders to answer all your questions. This is a great opportunity to compare new equipment side-by-side. As always, Kitty Hawk Kites professionals will be doing power kite demos. For more information visit kittyhawk.com or call 1-877-FLY-THIS.

May 25
Outer Banks Beach Music Festival
11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Ready for some fun in the sun? Our annual festival celebrating beach music and the coming summer season. Big crowds gather on the spacious lawn of the pavilion. The best beach music bands take the stage and play all day long. This year we have performing: The Band of Oz, The Craig Woolard Band, The Coastline Band and Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. Kick off your shoes and dance on the lawn. Bring plenty of sunscreen and blankets or folding chairs. Food and beverages, including beer, are available. Tickets can be purchased in advance or the day of the event, held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. For more event information and to Save money on your tickets, visit outerbanksbeachmusicfestival.com

May 29 - August 28
Pawgaritaville at Puparazzi
2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Tropical themed party for pampered pets and their people. Costume contests party games, refreshments and free "pawgaritas" for the dogs. For more information call (252) 473-20994 or visit puparazzi.tripod.com

May 29
The Lost Colony Preview Night
Waterside Theatre. Witness this final dress rehearsal before the opening night of the production. Tickets sold at a special price for this pre-season opening event. For tickets or information, call (252) 473-3414 or visit thelostcolony.org

May 30 - June 30
Megan Rubino: Recent Watercolors
Art Gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Megan Rubino is a Kill Devil Hills watercolorist who will be showcasing original work that focuses on uplifting subjects with vibrant, island colors. Rubino’s subjects traditionally include island landscapes complete with beach umbrellas, old cars, surfboards, sandals, palm trees, dunes and sea. Her touch with the paintbrush is as light as her spirit, which generates uplifting sayings that she creates for her line of greeting cards and prints. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, June 1, from 4- 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public. The show may be seen Monday- Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (252) 475-1500 or visit roanokeisland.com

May 30 - August 18
71st Anniversary Season of The Lost Colony
Waterside Theatre, Roanoke Island. See an American original drama found only on Roanoke Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks. Experience a 423 year-old mystery performed under a canopy of stars. Performances are nightly at 8:30 p.m., Sunday - Friday (no performance on July 4th). For tickets: (252) 473-3414 or thelostcolony.org

May 30 - August 18
Backstage Tours - The Lost Colony
Waterside Theatre, Roanoke Island. The ultimate insider treat! Perfect for groups or individuals. The 45-minute walking tour includes exclusive views of the theatre, costume shop and props. Tours are nightly at 6:30 p.m. and limited to the first 50 guests. Reservations required. Tickets are $5 per person. For tickets: (252) 473-3414 or thelostcolony.org

May 31
Kitty Hawk Fire Department Golf Tournament
Click here for more detailed information and registration form.

May 31
Golden Dragon Acrobats from China Present CIRQUE D’OR
8 p.m. Outdoor Pavilion at Roanoke Island Festival Park. The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time honored tradition that began more than twenty-five centuries ago. The Golden Dragons are recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today. The reputation of the company is solidly rooted in a commitment to the highest of production values and an attention to artistic details that is unparalleled in the art form. World renowned impresario Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang combine award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music and theatrical techniques to present a show of breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty. 2008 will mark the highlight of the Golden Dragons' touring career with their 30th anniversary United States tour. The year will also see the company's home nation of China host the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing with the theme slogan "One World One Dream". The reflection of that slogan epitomizes the essence and the universal values of what all of us who love the arts hope to foster -- Unity, Friendship, Progress, Harmony, Participation and Dreams. The Golden Dragons remind us that we belong to the same world and we share the same aspirations and dreams. Call for more information at (252) 475-1500.

Last week in May - First 2 weeks in August
OBX Daredevils Baseball
(252) 202-1842. obxdaredevils.com

View Larger Map

The Outer Banks of North Carolina® is a chain of barrier islands midway on the Atlantic Seaboard, 90 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia and 321 miles north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. From Virginia, we're accessible by Highways 168 and 158 and in North Carolina by Highway 64. Surrounded by 900 square miles of water, we have the third largest estuary system in the world, wildlife refuges, maritime forests, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the highest sand dunes on the East Coast at Jockey's Ridge State Park.

The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, a public authority, is the lead marketing and promotional agency for The Outer Banks of North Carolina® and is funded by 1% occupancy and 1% prepared meals tax, collected in Dare County.

©1998- 2008 Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.  Privacy Statement