Some holiday traditions begin with a recipe passed down through the family. Others start with a trip everyone wants to take again. On the Outer Banks, that first holiday visit might turn into an annual dinner at a favorite restaurant, an evening watching the Christmas tree light up, or a beach house your family looks forward to returning to each year.
You can bring the traditions you already love and leave room for a few new ones. Here are some ways to make the Outer Banks part of your family’s holiday story.
Imagine arriving at a beach house with groceries for your favorite holiday breakfast, a bag of presents, and a few days set aside for being together. There’s room to cook, gather around the table, and let the evening stretch into another round of cards.
Booking an Outer Banks vacation home gives your family a place to celebrate in your own way. Choose a layout with space for grandparents, cousins, and the kids, and look for the amenities your group will enjoy. Over time, the house itself can become part of the tradition: the kitchen where everyone helps with dinner, the table where you exchange gifts, and the spot where you take your annual family photo.
Make a Favorite Restaurant Your Holiday Stop
Gathering around the table is one of the best parts of the holidays—and on the Outer Banks, you can leave some of the cooking to someone else. Make arrival-night dinner, Christmas breakfast, or a New Year’s Eve seafood feast part of your family’s annual visit.
During the season, some familiar restaurants also transform into Christmas-themed destinations through celebrations like the 12 Bars of Christmas, giving your holiday meal an extra festive setting.
Planning to dine out? Explore the restaurants below by town to find options for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Holiday hours, menus, and availability can change, so contact restaurants directly to confirm service and make reservations where available.
Outer Banks Restaurants open for the holidays
Corolla
Christmas Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Duck
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Southern Shores
Christmas Eve
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Kitty Hawk
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Kill Devil Hills
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Nags Head
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Spend an Evening at Corolla Village Christmas
Historic Corolla Village offers a setting for an annual holiday outing, with lights, local shopping, and festive activities during Corolla Village Christmas.
Make an evening of browsing for gifts, finding something warm to drink, and taking a family photo together. Let everyone pick out a little keepsake or choose an ornament to remind you of this year’s trip. As the collection grows, so do the stories behind it.
Gather for a Tree Lighting or the Manteo Christmas Parade
Choose a community celebration that becomes your family’s reason to return. You might plan a weekend around Manteo’s Christmas tree lighting and annual Christmas parade, making time for a meal together before or after the festivities.
The tradition can be as simple as finding your spot along the parade route and watching the floats go by. After a few visits, the kids may start asking about parade day long before it’s time to pack.
Bring the matching pajamas, the cookie recipe, and the holiday movie everyone quotes. Put on your favorite playlist while preparing dinner, or let each person choose a game for the evening.
Spending the holidays somewhere new doesn’t mean starting over. It gives familiar celebrations a new setting—and your family another place to make memories together.
Find an Outer Banks Blue vacation rental that fits your family and make room for a holiday visit you’ll want to repeat. For dates and details on seasonal celebrations, explore our holiday events guide and choose the outing that could become your next annual tradition.
This holiday season, you can find a home with a fireplace to create cozy & festive memories.
Don't leave your bathing suit at home this winter! Find your perfect home with a hot tub.
