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Hatteras Annual Events

It seems like there’s always something happening on Hatteras Island. All year long, the Hatteras community hosts charity fun runs, special bike rides, parades, art shows, and holiday celebrations. Special events like these are scattered throughout the year, even during the quieter months. And once summer hits and the beaches and houses fill up, there are weekly events like fish fries, live music, and more that you must take advantage of. From weekly activities for the kids to fundraisers and events honoring our maritime history, there is something for everyone during nearly every month of the year on Hatteras. If you’re planning your Hatteras Island vacation, read through the list of annual events below to help decide when you’d like to visit. Visit our events calendar for more detailed information on everything happening in Cape Hatteras.

Weekly Summer Events

Kona Summer Concert Series, Begins May 15 - Sponsored by REAL Watersports and Carolina Brewery, the Kona Summer Concert Series offers a summer of live, waterfront music performances. Hosted on the deck of the REAL Watersports Flagship store in Waves Village, people can enjoy music from local bands, stunning sunsets and kiteboarding action, drinks, and food in a family-friendly atmosphere each week. All shows are free and run from 6-10pm. Guests can sit on the deck or in the grass on lawn chairs and blankets. More info

Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting in June, Kitty Hawk Kites Kids’ Days - Every Tuesday in Hatteras Village and Avon, and every Wednesday in Waves. Kids will get the opportunity to try out Kitty Hawk Kites newest toys and games, tackle the climbing wall, get their faces painted, and shoot water guns, all for FREE. This fun outing is a must for anyone visiting Hatteras Island with children! More info

Saturdays starting in June, Hatteras Village Fish Fry & Kinakeet Fish Fry - These wonderful weekend events are a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Head out to the Hatteras Fire Station every Saturday from 5-7pm to feast on locally-caught fried fish, as well as hush puppies, cole slaw, and potato salad. The fish try benefits the Hatteras Ladies Auxilliary, the Hatteras United Methodist Church, and the Hatteras Village Civic Association. Hatteras Village has been hosting this fun fish fry on Saturdays for the last 60 years, so come take part in this great local tradition. The Avon Fire Station also hosts the Kinakeet Fish Fry every Saturday from 5-7pm.

Hatteras Island Events

April 2013

April 1 - The Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station in Rodanthe opens for the season at the beginning of April each year. Stop by Monday-Friday between 10am and 5pm throughout the season and take a self-guided tour of this historic complex which is one of the few U.S. lifesaving stations with all its buildings still intact. More info

April 19 - The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse opens on the third Friday in April each year through Columbus Day in October. This iconic black and white lighthouse protects one of the most hazardous sections of the Atlantic Coast. Climbing tours are offered every day throughout the season, and tickets are sold in person on a first-come/first-served basis. The iron, spiral staircase is comprised of 248 stairs, which is equivalent to climbing a 12-story building. The views of the Cape Hatteras Seashore cannot be beat, but the climb to the top can be a challenge, so make sure you’re up for it! More info

April 19-20 - The REAL Watersports Spring Swap Meet is the place to go to buy or sell kite boarding, surfing, or stand-up paddle board gear. Browse a huge selection of new or used gear, or sell your own gear to interested parties and people just getting into the sport. This annual swap meet is the perfect place to get ready for a great summer on Hatteras Island. Located at REAL Watersports in Waves Village. More info

May 2013

May 3-5 - Hatteras Storytelling Festival - This 3-day festival is a celebration of storytelling and music. The event features a wide range of storytellers, as well as music, food, and much more. Connie Regan-Blake, one of America’s most celebrated storytellers, will headline the festival, along with well-known novelists, authors, and musicians. More info

May 27 - Shorebreak 5k and Tide Pool Fun Run - Head to Avon, NC over Memorial Weekend and run for a good cause. Proceeds from this 1-mile fun run and 5k race benefit the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund and the OBX GO FAR (Go Out for a Run). The race covers beautiful terrain as it winds through Kinakeet Shores, boardwalks, beach walkways, and even sand dunes. More info

June 2013

See ongoing events that start in June above, including Hatteras fish fries, Kona Summer Concert Series, and Kitty Hawk Kites Free Kids Days

July 2013

July 4 - Independence Day Celebration - Celebrate the 4th of July in style in Hatteras Village. The festivities start in the afternoon of the 4th, with art vendors, food vendors, a beer truck, and live music. A new addition to the celebration in 2012 was the Golf Cart Parade, which was a big hit! This celebration is sponsored by Hatteras Village Civic Association and Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation.

July 20-21 - Kitty Hawk Kites Wright Kite Festival - Located at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, this festival features an incredible kite show put on by Larger Than Life kites and members of the Wings over Washington kite club. Visitors can also enjoy stunt kite demos, games and kite making for kids, and a variety of contests. Head to the location where flight first began, and enjoy a day of fascinating kite and flight displays. More info

August 2013


August 3
- American Heroes Day at the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station in Rodanthe - American Heroes Day is a wonderful celebration of the brave men and women of the coast guard, water rescue, EMS, fire fighters, and law enforcement, dedicated to keeping the Outer Banks safe. Meet these fine folks and view the equipment and vehicles used for rescues and more. Watch a military flyover, a jet ski ocean rescue demo, Coast Guard Honor Guard and Color Guard demos, and more. This $5 event is exciting for people of all ages.

September 2013

September 19-22 - Day at the Docks - This special celebration started after Hatteras Island was hit by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The village recovered, and the “Spirit of Hatteras” confirmed the strength of this close-knit community. The Day at the Docks includes exhibitions, demonstrations, and competitions. Enjoy children’s crab races, t-shirt making, a chowder cook-off, live music, readings, and much more. The day caps off with a parade of working boards into the harbor, and a special dinner. More info

October 2013

TBD - 10th Annual Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation Fun Run - Come out wearing pink and walk or run this 5k to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The fun run starts in Avon, and participants will enjoy music, food, and plenty of festivities afterwards.

TBD - 5th Annual Bike the Light - This fun-filled bike ride goes from the Cape Hatteras Secondary School in Buxton to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and back. Come dressed in your craziest costume, and prizes will be awarded to the best-dressed child, teen, adult, and team! Proceeds raised from the ride go the Kiwanis Club of Hatteras Island.

TBD
- Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree - This celebration of Hatteras Island’s maritime history takes place on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. Enjoy family-friendly parties, entertainment, a living history exhibit, tavern games, skits, and more. This Ocracoke and Hatteras festival is loaded with fun, and you’ll probably learn a few things too!

TBD - Halloween Parade and Party - Hatteras Island natives love to celebrate Halloween, and visitors and locals of all ages will love this annual parade and Halloween celebration! This event takes place at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Building, and children are invited to wear costumes for the parade. 

November 2013


November 28
- Surfin Turkey 5k and Drumstick Dash - This charity race held on Thanksgiving morning benefits the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund and GO FAR. There’s nothing better than getting up early on Thanksgiving and running for a good cause in beautiful Hatteras Village. Then you can enjoy your Thanksgiving feast guilt-free! Local Hatteras businesses donate items and gift certificates that are given away by raffle at the end of the race. Come out for this great cause and get some exercise on Thanksgiving morning.

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