12 Bars of Christmas on the Outer Banks

Your favorite Outer Banks restaurants are getting a holiday makeover—and this year, select Outer Banks Blue vacation homes are joining the celebration! The 12 Bars of Christmas brings festive pop-up bars, seasonal menus, and Christmas decorations to the OBX, creating plenty of reasons to plan a holiday getaway. With our participation in Homes for the Holidays, you can keep the Christmas spirit going when you return to your vacation rental.

What Are the 12 Bars of Christmas?

The 12 Bars of Christmas is a seasonal celebration featuring 12 local bars and restaurants transformed into Christmas-themed destinations. Each location has its own holiday identity, giving you something different to experience at every stop. Think Christmas Vacation Station at Outer Banks Brewing Station, Jingle 12 Tavern at Lucky 12, and Mama Klaus’s at Mama Kwan’s.

At Jingle 12 Tavern, for example, vintage Christmas decorations fill the restaurant, while holiday cocktails, festive appetizers, and drinks for kids add to the experience. Whether you stop in for lunch or make an evening of it, the decorations are part of the fun.

These 12 Outer Banks spots are getting a festive makeover, each with its own Christmas theme:

• Christmas Vacation Station — Outer Banks Brewing Station

• Deck the Hulls — Outer Banks Distilling

• Goombrrrs — Goombays Grille & Raw Bar

• Holly Jolly Christmas — Jolly Roger Restaurant

• Jack Frost’s — Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint

• Jingle 12 Tavern — Lucky 12 Tavern

• Mama Klaus’s — Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar & Grill

• McCallister’s Corner — Two Roads Tavern

• North Pole Yacht Club — Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar

• ’Ol Cedar Brown’s — Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café

• Poor Rudolph’s — Poor Richard’s Sandwich Shop

• The Broken Candy Cane — Bonzer Shack

Pick a few favorites or make plans to visit all 12! Check each location’s hours and holiday offerings before heading out.

How Does It Work?

You can explore the participating locations at your own pace. Choose a few favorites for a weekend getaway, spread your visits across a longer stay, or take on the optional Passport Challenge to visit all 12.

For the 2026 holiday season, the Passport Challenge runs from November 27 through January 3—giving you time to start the festivities on Black Friday and continue celebrating after Christmas.

Here’s how to participate:

1. Pick up a passport. Purchase an optional $10 passport at any participating pop-up bar. All passport sales benefit local nonprofit organizations.

2. Collect your stamps. Visit each of the 12 locations and collect one stamp from every stop. No additional purchase is required to receive a stamp.

3. Claim your keepsake. Show your completed passport at a participating location to receive a 2026 keepsake ornament, while supplies last.

4. Enter the charity raffle. Submit the entry form at a participating bar for a chance to win. Raffle entrants must be 18 or older.

The passport adds a little extra adventure to your trip while supporting the Outer Banks community.

Can Families Join the Fun?

Yes! The organizers describe 11 of the participating locations as family-friendly restaurants, with holiday activities such as cookie decorating, crafts, trivia, and character dining. Check the event schedule to see what’s happening during your visit.

Younger visitors can also participate in Kids Quest. A $5 Kids Quest passport supports local charities, and children can collect stamps by attending kids’ events, dining in, or stopping by to find Orville the Elf. Collecting three or more stamps completes the passport, which can then be submitted for a chance to win prizes.

Want Someone Else to Handle the Ride?

The OBX Party Sleigh, also known as the OBX Party Bus, offers VIP pub crawls with routes visiting three to four participating bars. It’s another way to enjoy the celebration with friends and take in several festive stops during one outing. 

Homes for the Holidays with Outer Banks Blue

The Christmas decorations don’t have to end when dinner does. Outer Banks Blue is participating in Homes for the Holidays by decorating select vacation homes, bringing the celebration into the place where you’ll gather, relax, and spend time together.

Homes for the Holidays is the 12 Bars of Christmas decorated rental home program, connecting visitors with festive places to stay during their holiday adventures. Our participating homes will offer a welcoming holiday setting for everything from morning coffee before exploring the OBX to a quiet night together after visiting the pop-ups.

Planning a friends’ getaway, a family trip, or a Christmas vacation at the beach? A decorated rental adds something special to your stay—and gives you a place to enjoy the season between outings.

Contact Outer Banks Blue to learn which homes are participating in Homes for the Holidays and find a stay that fits your holiday plans. Before heading out, visit the 12 Bars of Christmas website for participating locations, event details, and individual venue hours.