We’ve compiled the best Hatteras Island activities, events and fun things to do on the Outer Banks for August 8 – August 13. Below you will find events just for the kids, family events, evening events and a lot of FREE activities to make your Hatteras Island vacation unforgettable!

FOR THE KIDS

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
National Park Service Program: Especially for Kids

Time: 11:00 am to 11:45 am. Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. This program offers hands-on activities that allow kids to have fun learning about the seashore. Check at the visitor center to learn the topic of the day. Free for all ages.

August 9-11
REAL Kids Camp

Time: 10am – 4pm. Location: REAL Watersports in Waves village

Get your son or daughter into the water in a safe and positive instructional environment with the REAL Kids Camp! Let the coaches at REAL show your kids the ropes in and around the water. Surfing, Kiteboarding, Standup Paddleboarding and more. Ages 7-12. Call for information: (866)REAL-548 | (252)987-6000 or visit: REALWatersports.com

Tuesday, August 9
Muster 1861: Children’s Civil War Programs

10:30am – 11:30am at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, located south of the ferry docks in Hatteras Village. Free admission. Call (252)986-2995 or visit graveyardoftheatlantic.com

Tuesday, August 9
Free Kid’s Day with Kitty Hawk Kites -Hatteras & Avon Villages

2 locations and times: 10am -12pm in Hatteras Village -at Hatteras Landing Shops, next to the ferry
4pm – 6pm in Avon village
Shoot water guns, get your face painted, and try out the newest toys and games. For more information, visit kittyhawk.com

Wednesday, August 10
Free Kid’s Day with Kitty Hawk Kites -Rodanthe Village

4pm -7pm at the Kitty Hawk Kites store in Rodanthe at Waves Village. Shoot water guns, get your face painted, and try out the newest toys and games. For more information, visit kittyhawk.com

Wednesday, August 10
Art Under the Oaks

2pm to 5pm at Blue Pelican Gallery in Hatteras village. Ages 4 to 12. This event is free, but please pre-register by calling (252) 986-2244. www.facebook.com/bluepelicangallery.

Thursday, August 11
Children’s Nautical Crafts (ages 3+)

10:30am – noon at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, located south of the ferry docks in Hatteras Village. Free admission. Call (252)986-2995 or visit graveyardoftheatlantic.com

Friday, August 12
Kid’s Painting Class

1pm-2pm at Indian Town Gallery – mile post 65 in Frisco.
This fun art class if for kids ages 6 and up. The cost is $15 and includes materials. What a great vacation memento to bring home from the beach! Please pre-register by calling (252)995-5181.

FOR THE FAMILY

SPECIAL EVENT: Saturday, August 13
Full Moon Tour of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Time: 8:15pm and 9:15pm. Location: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Enjoy a guided tour of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. ..at NIGHT!
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Full Moon Tour tickets must be purchased in advance at the lighthouse ticket booth, located at the lighthouse site in Buxton village. The ticket booth is open from 8:15 a.m. – 5:40 p.m. daily. Each program is limited to 30 participants and tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis. Tickets are non-refundable and children must be at least 42″ tall. Bring a flashlight!

Monday & Thursday nights

Waterfront Concerts at REAL Watersports
6-10pm The Kona Summer Concert Series featuring The Wilder Brothers Monday nights and MoJo Collins on Thursday nights! -This is a family friendly event! Enjoy the concert outside on the waterfront deck at the REAL Flagship Store in the Village of Waves. Dinner and drinks are available at all shows from MOJOs Sunset Café. Enjoying live music on the Bermuda grass lawn area on a beach blanket or chair is the best way to wrap up any day in Cape Hatteras with your family! For more information, call 252-987-6000.

Thursday, August 11 thru Saturday, August 13
Chain Saw Art Sculpting Demo
Time: 11am – 4pm Watch chain saw sculptor Nick Tucci sculpt amazing art with a chainsaw! Location: Indian Town Gallery – Mile post 65 in Frisco village. For more information, call (252)995-5181

Thursday, August 11
Sea Glass Wrapping Jewelry Class
Time: 10am – 1pm (Classes run 20-25 minutes and start on the ½ hour -reservations required!). Location: Indian Town Gallery – Mile post 65 in Frisco village. Learn to wrap a piece of sea glass into a necklace pendant with instructor Betty Kungle. Class size is limited to 8, so call early to make reservations! $10 per person plus a $5 kit fee which includes a piece of genuine sea glass! For more information call Indian Town Gallery at 252-995-5181.

Thursday, August 11
Meet local artist Linda Browning
Time: 6pm – 8pm Enjoy a fun reception and meet local artist Linda Browning. Browse her collection of work and have a good time at the gallery! Location: Indian Town Gallery – Mile post 65 in Frisco village. For more information, call (252)995-5181

Friday, August 12
Advanced Sea Glass Jewelry

Time: 2 classes to choose from: 2:30pm and 4:30pm Location: Indian Town Gallery – Mile post 65 in Frisco village

Advanced sea glass necklace class lasts about 1.5 hours and costs $30. In this class, students will make a complete sea glass necklace using beading and wrapping techniques. Please call and pre-register for all classes. For more information call Indian Town Gallery at 252-995-5181.

More fun FAMILY activities:

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum offers weekly events throughout the summer. Admission is free and the museum is fun for all ages!
The museum is located south of the ferry docks in Hatteras Village and is open Monday – Saturday 10am to 4pm.
Monday: Maritime Movies showing at 11am and 2pm

Tuesday:“Tuesdays@2:00 Speaker’s Series-The Oldest Shipwreck in North Carolina-Joe Schwarzer 2pm-2:45pm

Wednesday: Island Quilting Traditions 10am to noon; Civil War Mini-talks with Drew Pullen 2pm -2:30pm and 3pm-3:30pm.

Thursday: Canvasback Decoys with Sam Green 12:30pm – 4pm

Friday: Maritime Movies showing at 11am and 2pm.

Saturday: Special 2nd Saturday Event: PIRATES!! 10am – 4pm
For more information about the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, call (252) 986-2995 or visit graveyardoftheatlantic.com

SUMMER PROGRAMS

The Chicamacomico U.S. Lifesaving Station and the National Park Service offer Daily Summer Programs. Below are some fun events for you to check out during your Hatteras Island vacation!

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN… Evening events on Hatteras Island offered by the Park Service

Wednesday, August 10
Night Lights

Time: 8:30pm to 9:30pm. Location: Pre-register at Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -Join a ranger for a short walk to search the tide line for glowing marine plankton and the sky for planets and constellations. Find out why protecting the dark is valuable to both people and wildlife.

Thursday, August 11
Night Climb
Time: 8pm and 9pm. Location: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -Enjoy a guided tour of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. ..at NIGHT!
You will need to pre-purchase Night Climb tickets in person between 8:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the lighthouse ticket booth Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday on the week you intend to climb. Each program is limited to 30 participants and tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis. Tickets are non-refundable and children must be at least 42″ tall. Bring a flashlight!

The Chicamacomico U.S. Lifesaving Station Summer Programs
Time: All programs are at 2pm
Location: Chicamacomico U.S. Lifesaving Station – 23645 NC Highway 12, or Milepost 39 ½ (Programs are outdoors and thus weather dependent. Programs are free with Regular Site Admission Fee)



Monday, August 8
Nights in Rodanthe the Movie — Behind the Scenes

Nearly all exterior scenes were actually filmed right here in Rodanthe, where Chicamacomico is located. Site Operations Manager, Linda Molloy, was cast as Jill Torrelson opposite Richard Gere in a brief but pivotal role. Come get the scoop! Linda will autograph and personalize your book and DVD purchases here for a truly unique vacation souvenir. Chicamacomico U.S. Lifesaving Station

Tuesday, August 9
America’s Forgotten Heroes

Discover the forgotten yet fascinating history of the United States Life-Saving Service, the original “Storm Warriors” who were the predecessors of today’s U.S. Coast Guard… Absorb the unbelievable details of actual rescues done here, especially the dramatic SS Mirlo story- the most highly awarded maritime rescue in U.S. history, right here! Chicamacomico U.S. Lifesaving Station

Wednesday, August 10
The Real Taffy Of Torpedo Junction

This fictional novel tells the daring antics of an independent young teenager living on Hatteras Island during World War II. ‘Taffy” was based on the real-life Carol Dillon, Hatteras Island native. She will enthrall you with her stories of what was fiction and what was not.Chicamacomico U.S. Lifesaving Station

Thursday, August 11
Beach Apparatus Drill

The U.S. Life-Saving Service required all stations to practice this rescue method weekly. Chicamacomico is now one of only two places in the country– and the ONLY one to be performed by active-duty US Coast Guard personnel–that performs the complete Drill. It is recommended to arrive by 1:30. Chicamacomico U.S. Lifesaving Station

Friday, August 12
What Really Happened to “The Lost Colony”?

Where did they go? Right here on Hatteras Island, where they actually first started. Scott Dawson’s compelling delivery will have you spellbound. Documentation & evidence abound. Chicamacomico U.S. Lifesaving Station

FREE Park Service Events:

The Cape Hatteras National Park offers FREE Hatteras Island events for the family and kids of all ages.

Daily in the Summer:
Sentinel of the Shore

Time: Daily 12:00pm to 12:30pm and 2:00pm to 2:30pm. Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -Learn about the rich history of, and future plans for, the park’s majestic lighthouses.

Daily in the Summer
Hatteras Island – Pirates!

Time: Daily from 4:00pm to 4:30pm. Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -In the 1700’s, pirates frequently visited the Outer Banks. Find out why the area was so attractive to pirates and how the golden age of piracy dramatically ended.

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Hatteras Island – Soundside Snorkeling

Time: 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Location: Pre-register at Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -It’s not the Caribbean, but the shallow waters of the Pamlico Sound are home to an array of small fish, shrimp, and crabs. Limited to 20 participants.

Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Civil War on the Outer Banks

Time: 5:00pm to 5:30pm. Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -Join a ranger for a view of the Outer Banks’ role in the Civil War!

Tuesday
Old Days at the Weather Station

Time: 3:30pm to 4:15pm. Location: Hatteras U.S. Weather Bureau Station, in the heart of Hatteras Village.
Join this tour of the restored Hatteras Weather Bureau Station and hear about the villagers who worked there during both tranquil and stormy times.

Tuesday & Thursday
Graveyard of the Atlantic

Time: 5:00pm to 5:30pm. Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -Countless ships have met their end off the Outer Banks. Learn how storms, shoals, war, and commerce have contributed to the wreckage, and hear stories of those who risked their lives to save the victims.

Wednesday Events:
Explore the Shore: Beach Walk

Time: 8:00am to 9:00am. Location: Old Lighthouse site parking lot
Enjoy an early morning ranger-led walk across the undeveloped ocean beaches of Hatteras Island. Learn about this changing shoreline and the plants and animals that make this dynamic environment their home.

Cast Netting

Time: 9:30am. Location: Pre-register at the Hatteras Island Museum at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -Casting a net from shore is one of the oldest methods of fishing. Give it a try or just come to observe the action. You’re welcome to bring your own cast net. Wear wading shoes. Limited to 25 participants.

Seashore Arts

Time: 11:00am to 11:30am. Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -Get in touch with your artistic side and create a lasting memory of the seashore! Bring a cotton t-shirt or pillow case to create a seashore-inspired masterpiece. Limited to 16 participants.

Thursday
Coast Guard Station Tour

Time: 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Location: Pre-register at Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. -The U.S. Coast Guard and its predecessor, the U.S. Life-Saving Service, have a long and heroic history on the Outer Banks. Sign up today and enjoy a unique tour of an active U.S. Coast Guard Station. Limited to 20 participants.

Outer Banks Events and Activities for the Family -North of Hatteras Island

Thursday August 11
Watermelon Festival


Join Kitty Hawk Kites and the Wright Flight Foundation for the 5th Annual Watermelon Festival. On Thursday, August 11, come to the Kitty Hawk Kite store in Nags Head (mile post 12.5) for a big outdoor summer bash with a homegrown backyard feel.
The Watermelon Festival is so much more than fun. It is one of the most unique festivals on the Outer Banks! We’ll have tons of fun activities for kids and parents like: the dunk tank, moon bounce, inflatable obstacle course, watermelon seed spitting distance contests, pie eating contests, t-shirt tye dying, face painting, and of course, tons of watermelon! For more information, visit Kitty Hawk Kites or call (252) 441-1719, ext. 206.

Monday through Saturday
74th Anniversary Season of The Lost Colony



Time: 8:30pm. Location: Waterside Theatre, Roanoke Island. -Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paul Green, The Lost Colony tells the story of 117 men, women and children who vanished without a trace more than 400 years ago. Featuring lavish costumes designed by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long and directed by Robert Richmond, the story comes to life summer nights at the open air Waterside Theatre. Children 12 and under $10.00, Group rates for 10 or more. Complete the experience with a Waterside Sunset Picnic and pre-show Backstage Tour at 7 p.m. Reservations required. Call (252) 473-3414 or visit thelostcolony.org