By Emmy Benton, Staff Writer
Many events and activities were canceled or postponed last year due to COVID-19, but this year, as more people are being vaccinated and the curve seems to be flattening, there is hope on the horizon for summer events.
Lee Nettles, the Executive Director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, is excited for people to be able to experience these events and is hopeful that it will give them some sense of normalcy.
“I think it’s another step towards getting things back to normal. The events and people coming together is a fun thing to do and something we haven’t been able to do,” Nettles said. “We’re social by nature, so having people be able to reconnect is important for society and it’s something we do well on the Outer Banks.”
There are many events planned for this summer that are coming back after being canceled in 2020. With Gov. Roy Cooper’s decision to ease restrictions, more events are able to be planned and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Nettles thinks that because of the record number of people visiting the Outer Banks already this year, there is an even higher demand for getting back to doing the events that people love.
“The best way to get back to what we’re used to is to provide a safe environment, so we have to continue being responsible and following instructions,” Nettles said.
To find out details about even more events happening this summer, visit www.outerbanks.org/events, but in the meantime, here is a sampling of just some of the events people can look forward to this year:
One exciting event that will be coming back in 2021 is The Lost Colony drama on Roanoke Island. The company is in its 84th season and is planning to have opening night on May 28 and run through Aug. 21. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. and is held Monday through Saturday.
Another event happening in Manteo is the reopening of the Downtown Market, which is an outdoor event being held at the Manteo Waterfront. It will be held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, running from May 15 until Sept. 18.
“We are spacing the booth spaces further apart to meet social distancing requirements and will have hand-sanitizing stations available during the market,” program manager Michele Bunce said.
Masks will also be required for entry. There won’t be any sampling of food or drink items because of the pandemic, but fresh produce and baked goods will still be available for purchase, along with local arts and crafts. The town is also waiving vendor fees in an effort to encourage more small businesses to participate.
Similarly, the Dowdy Park Farmers Market in Nags Head is planning to open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting on May 27 and ending on Sept. 9. Fresh produce, baked goods and handmade arts and crafts will be available for sale.
Sophomore Tatum Dermatas has been to the Dowdy Park Farmers Market before and has many things she loves about it.
“I love the uniqueness of it. You can go there and find stuff you couldn’t find online because it’s all handmade and there’s a huge range of what they have there, from good food to really cool jewelry and art,” Dermatas said.
In Ocracoke, the Ocrafolk Festival will be held June 4-6. The event will operate at half capacity to ensure COVID-19 protocols are followed as musicians, storytellers and artisans come together for the weekend. It will be held outdoors at Berkley Manor and the properties neighboring it. The festival will be divided into four-hour performance blocks with reserved ticketed seating to restrict the number of audience members. Face masks will be required for attendance and for the visiting of booths and workshop stage areas.
In Duck, officials decided to cancel the annual Fourth of July Parade and Community Celebration in the interest of keeping residents and visitors safe, so in its place is a Fourth of July Window and Display Contest, running from June 14 to July 9. Visitors will be able to walk around Duck, look at the displays that businesses have made and then vote for their favorites.
Looking forward to fireworks on the Fourth of July? The Outer Banks has four displays this year to suit everyone: Fireworks are scheduled to be set off at Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Nags Head Fishing Pier from 9:25 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the Manteo Waterfront at 9:30 p.m.
Sophomore Rylee Young usually watches the fireworks at Avalon Pier and has fond memories of it.
“I think my favorite thing is listening to the people go ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh,’ ” Young said. “As a child, watching people and hearing people’s reactions to each and every firework and how they are different was always my favorite.”
The Whalehead Club in Corolla will have their Independence Day Celebration from noon to 9 p.m. on July 5. It will be held at Historic Corolla Park and will feature free live music, games and food vendors. The games, cornhole tournament and watermelon eating contest will begin around noon and the live music will start around 5 p.m. After the fun, visitors can grab a spot on the lawn to catch the fireworks show over the Currituck Sound, starting at sunset.
Another event that will keep visitors looking skyward is the 43rd Annual Wright Kite Festival at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills on July 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watch kites fly high in the air and experience the history of the Wright Brothers while walking around the museum.
The 15th Annual Outer Banks Watermelon Festival, held at the crossing between Jockey’s Ridge State Park and Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head, is returning after being canceled in 2020. It is planned for Aug. 5, starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. There will be activities for the whole family and the children can enjoy games, face-painting, arts and crafts and an inflatable waterslide. There will also be food and competitions for people to participate in.
Also happening is the Outer Banks Pirate Festival that’s coming back this year. It will be held on Aug. 11-12 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Kitty Hawk Kites next to Jockey’s Ridge. There will be activities for everyone to enjoy, but especially for kids. Photo ops with mermaids, fun games, activities and a pirate encampment are just some of the exciting events planned.
“I think that people are just eager to get outside and reconnect, but of course it’s got to be safe,” Nettles said. “So we’ll get there. I think it’s going to be a busy year.”
Sophomore Emmy Benton can be reached at 23bentonem58@daretolearn.org.
