Fall is such a fun time to be on the beach! The crowds are smaller, the vibe is cozier, and the decorations are spookier? Here is our list of ways to celebrate Halloween in OBX!
Looking for the best trick-or-treating spot on the OBX? There's plenty of options!
- Trick or Treat on 1st street in Kill Devil Hills. Be sure to park at Food Lion or Publix
- Trunk or Treat at Historic Corolla Park
- Trick or Treat experience at Backwoods Haunt (treat bag before entering haunt)
- Trick or Treat on Halloween Island(Manteo)
Manteo becomes Halloween Island for 13 days throughout October! Starting at sunset on October 3, the town's First Friday party kicks off a weekly series of pop-up bars across the island. Thursday to Saturday, every week, 13 local restaurants transform into pop-up Halloween bars.
Halloween Island is made up of:
- The Gortegaz Zombie Apocalypse Bar (Ortega'z Southwestern Grill)
- The Dead Sailors Society (Kill Devil Rum)
- Mimi’s Murder Hut (Mimi's Tiki Hut)
- The Pioneer Monster Cinema Bar (The Pioneer Theater)
- NouVeins (NouVines)
- Poor Witchard’s (Poor Richard's Sandwich Shop)
- Madame Olive’s Haunted Mansion Bar (Olives)
- Frankentender Mad Scientist Bar (Firetender)
- PhanTom's Haunted Opera Bar (Old Tom's Beer, Wine & Provisions)
- Vicki B’s Beetlejuice Bar (Vicki B’s)
- Witches on the Scuppernong (Vineyards on the Scuppernong)
- Platform 1587 Harry Potter Bar (1587 Restaurant & Lounge)
There is also a kid's quest with it's own passport that allows children to collect stamps from the 13 Spooky Shops and redeemed for their very own reward.
Beer, wine, seltzers, and snacks are allowed, and costumes are encouraged.
Pumpkin patches are a great way to kick off fall! For the first four Saturdays in October, visit the Island Farm in Manteo, NC, to play historic games; eat food like popcorn, corn cakes, and apple cider; participate in candle making, wagon rides, doll crafting, and more! There are even blacksmith shop giveaways!
With an admission price of $11 per person (and admission free for children ages 3 and under), why not take the entire family down to experience the historic farm? There will even be local artists and locally-grown produce on site to purchase, so you can get your early Christmas shopping AND dinner prep done, too!
The Halloween pop-up bars are here! From Spooky 12 (Lucky 12 Tavern), to Gloombays (Goombays Grille & Raw Bar), to the Shack of Shadows (Bonzer Shack), to Monster Kwans (Mama Kawn's Tiki Bar & Grill), enjoy spooktacular events all across the Northern Beaches!
The OBX Party Bus already has a schedule released, so if you don't want to drive yourself - or enjoy a fun nightlife experience - slots are waiting to be filled with you and your friends.
Don't want to leave the kids behind? The pop-up bars offer mocktails for the kids and Sunday, October 26, Mama Kwan's will host a "Trunk or Treat" from 4:30pm - 6:30pm
With family friendly Halloween costume parties, live music, trunk or treat, brunch, and spine-tingling sips and frightfully good bites, stop by one of the gallies for good food and better spooks!
7:30 pm to 11pm
7:00 pm to 11pm
Saturday, October 4
Not ready to give up the waves just yet? Which Craft Surf Gathering is touted as "a celebration of surf culture, community, and giving back!"
Head on down to the beach in Nags Head on October 4 to enter the surf contest, participate in the raffles and surf board silent auction, view the art show, or enjoy the live music. All proceeds are set to benefit the Outer Banks Relief Fund.
Afterwards, head over to Swells'a Brewing for an after party! It's brewing up to be a wicked time.
In 1587, British colonists first arrived on Roanoke Island. Now, the Elizabethan Gardens offers you to help them try to light 1,587 jack-o-lanterns! Stop by the Gardens on Thursday or Friday to carve a free pumpkin (or bring your own to add!), then on Saturday the fun really begins.
After dropping off your remaining pumpkins at 5pm and getting some trick-or-treating in, contests will begin in earnest at 6:30pm, with the event wrapping up at 8pm - plenty of time to get your kids to bed at a reasonable time. With trick-or-treating; glow sticks, hot chocolate, apple cider and s’more packs for the bonfire for sale; contests; and more, there's plenty of activities for the whole family! You'll even get to take your pumpkin home on Saturday night.
One of a few events set to give you and your little ones some of that trick-or-treating fun, the Outer Banks Halloween Parade of Costumes kicks off in Aviation Park inside Kill Devil Hills, NC, with candy provided by local nonprofit organizations and area businesses. There will be decorated vehicles and props for photo opportunities scattered around the park!
At 3pm, the parade will commence. There will even be a costume contest for ages 12 and under, ages 13 and up, and groups, with group photo ops available after the final judging.
This family-friendly parade is free to attend, and all comers - even those not in the parade - are encouraged to dress up in the spirit of the parade! The only rule is that there are no politically themed costumes allowed. Make sure to register online in mid-October, or register on the day of.
Parking is available at the nearby First Flight schools. This event will take place, rain or shine!
One final trick-or-treating event to mention is Ships and Sweets in Nags Head! The Oregon Inlet Fishing Center offers fun games, live music and refreshments to all the ghouls who dare to brave the dark waters for a spooky awesome time.
As you plan your Halloween getaway, consider staying in a comfortable Outer Banks vacation rental to fully experience all the region has to offer. With Outer Banks Blue Realty, you'll find the perfect home-away-from-home to make your trip even more memorable. Don't miss out on the chance to explore the beauty and excitement of the Outer Banks this Halloween season!
