Dates are subject to change. Telephone area code is (252) unless otherwise specified.

Early December
Holiday Tour of Homes
Historic Manteo. Call for further details and date. (252) 473-3476

Early December
22nd Annual Hotlines Festival of Trees
Outer Banks Brewing Station. Noon to 9 p.m. Fundraiser of donated Christmas Trees, holiday items, seasonal musical performances, a Santa visit and bazaar, including an auction to benefit crisis intervention programs of the Outer Banks. (252) 473-5121 or obhotline.org

December 1
Christmas Sights and Sounds
Fort Raleigh, Roanoke Island. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy holiday sights and sounds with The Lost Colony. This seasonal celebration is complete with horse and carriage rides, Santa Claus, holiday music performances, hot chocolate and other Christmas-tide events.  Visit the upside down Christmas tree at the Lost Colony Office Building for hors d’oeuvres and more fun. (252) 473-3414 or thelostcolony.org

December 3
First Friday
Downtown Manteo Waterfront. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. First Friday is a fun-filled, family-oriented street festival. The sidewalks pulse with live music, magic, artisans, period-dressed actors, a rock climbing wall and much more. firstfriday-roanokeisland.com

December 3
Santa at the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Come visit with Santa! Free. (252) 475-1750 or roanokeisland.com

December 3 - 4
Town of Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade
Tree Lighting will be December 3rd at 6 p.m. with Santa visiting with the children afterwards at the Maritime Museum at the Creef Davis Boathouse. The parade will be December 4th at 11 a.m. in downtown Manteo. manteo.govoffice.com

December 3 - 4
13th Annual Manteo Rotary Rockfish Rodeo
Outdoor Pavilion at Roanoke Island Festival Park. A fishing tournament sponsored by the Manteo Rotary. (252) 473-6644 or rockfishrodeo.com

December 3 - 31
Holiday Show
Dare County Arts Council Gallery, Manteo. Over 500 works of art to fit every budget, including original paintings, pottery, glass, jewelry, fiber, metal, mixed media and wood. darearts.org

December 5 - 29
Kitty Dough Botanical Drawings and Nature Art, Jim Fineman- Clay Vases and Basketry
Art Gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Mon-Fri) 10 a.m. 4 p.m. (Sat) Enjoy botanical drawings and nature art by this certified botanical illustrator, Kitty Dough and stoneware vases and basketry by Jim Fineman. Fineman gathers vines on Roanoke Island and combines them with reeds and sea grass to make the baskets. Reception: Dec. 5, 2-4 p.m. During 2010 the gallery at Roanoke Island Festival Park will feature a group of exhibitions that give voice to the Earth. Earth Speaks will feature earth friendly mini quilts, beach glass art, nature and weather photography, watercolor collages of whimsical landscapes and wildlife, realistic wildlife paintings and prints, and bird and floral photography, natural material baskets, clay vases and more. (252) 475-1500 or roanokeisland.com

December 17
107th Annual Celebration of the Wright Brothers First Flight
Wright Brothers National Memorial. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gather at the exact site at the exact time as the historic flight to remember, reflect and celebrate this milestone. The daylong anniversary tribute will be held at the site of Wright’s first flight. Visitors to the site experience a replica of the Wright Brothers’ 1903 encampment and majestic, 60-foot tall granite monument perched atop a 90-foot hill that serves a striking and lasting reminder of the important historical achievement that happened on this site a century ago. outerbanks.org