Outer Banks Events

Hanging with Santa + Kites with Lights

November 29, 2019 — November 30, 2019
Come spread the holiday cheer with Kitty Hawk Kites and the Jockey’s Ridge Crossing crew. Free visit and pictures with Santa and a festive hang glider, cocoa and baked goods, and a light show with kites on Jockey’s Ridge are just a few of the fun and festive things going on... not to mention all the amazing holiday sales! Share all your Christmas wishes and get your picture taken with Santa at Kitty Hawk Kites at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head midday on Friday, November 29 and on Saturday afternoon, November 30. Have some fun with Santa’s elves and try out classic Read More

5th Annual OBX Brewtag

October 26, 2019 — October 26, 2019
How far can a keg fly? Hosted by the Rogallo Foundation, this event is a celebration of flight and beer. Brewtag teams from all over the east coast compete to see who can launch and fly an empty 1/6 keg barrel the furthest. The sky is the limit as to how creative your homemade flying contraption can be! Individuals and teams are welcome. A rather crafty selection of local and regional beer and food will be available for purchase that day. This family-friendly event will also feature plenty of activities for the kiddos! The Rogallo Foundation was created to honor Francis and Gertrude Read More

Fall Hang Gliding Camp #2

October 20, 2019 — October 27, 2019
Learn to fly with a group of like-minded students. Immerse yourself in hang gliding for the week. Lessons daily, lodging included. Hang 1 or Hang 2 training available. For more details, call (877) 359-8447 or visit the Kitty Hawk Kites website.  

Fall Hang Gliding Camp #1

September 15, 2019 — September 22, 2019
Learn to fly with a group of like-minded students. Immerse yourself in hang gliding for the week. Lessons daily, lodging included. Hang 1 or Hang 2 training available. For more details, call (877) 359-8447 or visit the Kitty Hawk Kites website.  

Outer Banks Kayak Fishing Tournament

September 14, 2019 — September 14, 2019
Join Kitty Hawk Surf Company for the “main event” of the year! The 6th Annual Outer Banks Kayak Fishing Tournament features fantastic prizes for the best kayak anglers on the Outer Banks. This event is a slam style tournament targeting Drum, Flounder and Trout. Last year the Grand Prize was a Hobie Outback kayak, and Kitty Hawk Surf Company is looking to go big again this year!

Outer Banks Kite Festival

September 7, 2019 — September 8, 2019
A regional kite festival that brings some of the nation’s best stunt kite pilots right here to our backyard. Come out and join us for two days of kite flying fun for the whole family. Enjoy massive display kites flying high, including a 100-foot octopus, 80-foot panda and a 50-foot fish, and participate in FREE stunt and power kite lessons given by pros. On Sunday, come watch world-class displays of artistry and skill with kite flying set to music, synchronized performances, and more!

Outer Banks Pirate Festival

August 14, 2019 — August 15, 2019
Ahoy, Mateys! Get ready for a swashbucklin’ good time as Kitty Hawk Kites hosts the Outer Banks Pirate Festival. Pirates of Blackbeard’s Crew and mates will be camped out at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing. Come learn the vast history of pirates on the Outer Banks and participate in Scallywag School to see if your little ones have what it takes to be a part of Blackbeard’s crew.

Landing Clinic and Barbecue at The Cotton Gin Flight Park

August 3, 2019 — August 3, 2019
Learn landing techniques from some of the best in the business.

OBX Watermelon Festival

August 1, 2019 — August 1, 2019
Celebrate summer with Kitty Hawk Kites and support the Outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition at the annual OBX Watermelon Festival on Thursday, August 1 at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head. Enjoy games, food, face painting, tie-dye shirt making, arts and crafts activities, and TONS of watermelon fun. OBX Watermelon Festival is free for guests to attend; however, the purchase of tickets is required to play and eat! Compete in classic competitions like seed spitting and watermelon eating – and the not-so-classic watermelon ice cream eating competition provided by Scoops. Bring the family by for a day of summertime fun! All Read More

Light up the Night

July 24, 2019 — July 24, 2019
Join Kitty Hawk Kites at Waves Village Watersports Resort on Tuesday, July 24th for our annual Light up the Night event! Come enjoy free NOCQUA watersports demos, light up games and toys and a movie under the stars on the big screen. (Bring a blanket!) Strap a NOCQUA light onto the bottom of your stand-up paddleboard and make playing on the water at night more fun than in the daylight! We’ll have plenty of demo stand up paddleboards for you and your group to enjoy a trip on the Pamlico Sound.

41st Annual Wright Kite Festival

July 13, 2019 — July 14, 2019
Take flight where flight first began with Kitty Hawk Kites and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Enjoy a walk on the hallowed grounds where Wilbur and Orville took their historic first flight in 1903, then come join us for some fun flight of your own. Large 30– to 100-foot kites, including a 100-foot octopus, 80-foot panda and a 50-foot fish, will be flying high on display. We invite you to come fly kites of your own, take FREE stunt and power kite flying lessons, and bring the kiddos to our kite making station. Admission to the park is $7, but participation in the Read More

Summer Slam Kayak Fishing Tournament

June 22, 2019 —
Kick off a fantastic summer of fishing in 2019 with your fellow kayak anglers and Kitty Hawk Surf Company at the 1st Annual Summer Slam Kayak Fishing Tournament. This event will be a slam style tournament targeting Drum, Flounder and Trout, and is a great warm up event for the annual Outer Banks Kayak Fishing Tournament in September.

37th Annual Rogallo Kite Festival

June 14, 2019 — June 16, 2019
Francis Rogallo was a NASA scientist and inventor of the flexible wing. His inventions started the sport of hang gliding, and his designs have evolved into the development of paragliders, stunt kites, power kites, kiteboarding kites, and hang gliders that are flown today. We invite you to join us and fly a kite at the annual Rogallo Kite Festival to celebrate Francis Rogallo and his many accomplishments. Kitty Hawk Kites and friends will be displaying amazing 30 – 100 ft kites, including a 100-foot octopus, 80-foot panda and a 50-foot fish, on top of Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Join us and fly a Read More

Soundside Funfair

June 13, 2019 5:00 pm — June 16, 2019 11:00 pm
The annual Soundside FunFair is back again in Nags Head! Enjoy this summer kick-off carnival to benefit the Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County! From 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM on June 13th through the 16th enjoy carnival rides, games, fair food, and of course tons of fun! For more information, contact Children & Youth Partnership at darekids.org/events or call at (252) 441-0614.

Eaglet Wars

June 8, 2019 — June 29, 2019
Our weekly eaglet hang glider competition on Jockey’s Ridge! Pilots of all skill levels will compete to see who has mastery of our training gliders. We supply the glider, you supply the “skill”. Spot landings, distance and pylon flying are all part of the fun. Minimum of beginner rating required. Event recurring weekly on June 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th

Wills Wing Demo Days

May 17, 2019 — May 20, 2019
The largest hang glider manufacturer in the world will have their latest models available to fly on the dunes and at the Cotton Gin Flight Park.

47th Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular

May 16, 2019 — May 20, 2019
Kitty Hawk Kites is proud to host the 47th Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular and Air Show! Join professional hang gliders, fans, and families at Jockey’s Ridge State Park for this Outer Banks tradition. This event is the oldest continually held hang gliding competition in the world! The Hang Gliding Spectacular and Air Show will run from May 16 through May 20, with competitions each day. The Hang Gliding Spectacular and Air Show is FREE TO THE PUBLIC FOR VIEWING and right in the center of the action as pilots take flight. For more information on participating in the event, please contact the Hang Read More

Kitty Hawk Kites Tournament of Champions

May 16, 2019 — May 16, 2019
All previous winners of the Hang Gliding Spectacular are invited back to compete in a one-day, winner-take-all competition on the dunes of Jockey’s Ridge to kick off the 48th Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular.

48th Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular

May 16, 2019 — May 20, 2019
Come be a part of the oldest continually held hang gliding competition in the country. We’ll fly on Jockey’s Ridge Friday through Sunday, and at the Cotton Gin on Monday.

KidsFest at Roanoke Island Festival Park

May 3, 2019 9:30 am — May 3, 2019 12:30 pm
This fun free event is all about the kids! KidsFest features hands-on crafts, face painting, photo boots, and more! Bring a picnic lunch and hangout at Roanoke Island Festival Park! This event is free and open to the public! For more information visit www.darekids.org or call 252-441-0614.

Spring Hang Gliding Camp

April 28, 2019 — May 5, 2019
Learn to fly with a group of like-minded students. Immerse yourself in hang gliding for the week. Lessons daily, lodging included. Hang 1 or Hang 2 training available. For more information, call Kitty Hawk Kites at 252-441-2426.

PASA Kiteboarding Instructor Certification

April 22, 2019 — April 26, 2019
The Professional Air Sports Association, or PASA, is an organization dedicated to teaching and promoting the sport of kiteboarding in a manner that is professional, safe, and fun. Kitty Hawk Kites Watersports Resort in Rodanthe, NC will be hosting a five-day PASA Instructor Certification Program (ICP). PASA started the Instructor Certification Program to take the guesswork out of choosing an exceptional kiteboarding instructor. To sign up and find out more information, contact Chris Moore at info@kiteprovo.com.

Flying into Spring and the Easter EGGstravaganza

April 19, 2019 — April 20, 2019
Celebrate National Kite Month and the start of spring with Kitty Hawk Kites! Experience the sights of our massive 30- to 100-foot kites flying high over Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Across the street from the dunes outside Kitty Hawk Kites, take your picture with the Easter Bunny, and let your kids join in our annual Jockey’s Ridge Crossing Easter Egg Hunt!

Cotton Gin Flight Park Opening Day

April 5, 2019 — April 5, 2019
And so it begins! Come fly with us! Students and pilots welcome! Located in Jarvisburg, NC, the Cotton Gin Flight Park features Tandem Hang Gliding Training and more!

Cotton Gin Flight Park Barbecue and Spot Landing Contest