1. Priceless Pieces Past & Present Quilt Extravaganza
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 475-1500
Address: Roanoke Island Festival Park Art Gallery
Description: If you love quilts and the fabric arts, you’ll love this popular annual show. The show features old and new quilts made by or belonging to Dare County residents. There are also demonstrations. It’s held throughout the month of Mar.
2. Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 473-5558
Address: Roanoke Island Festival Park
Description: This exhibition, sponsored by the Dare County Arts Council, is open to all artists, and cash awards are given. It is held throughout the month of May and is open for public viewing. Call for membership, reception, and entry information.
3. March Of Dimes For Babies Walk
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (800) 732-7097
Address: Roanoke Island Festival Park
Description: This fund-raising walk benefits the March of Dimes. The walk starts at Festival Park, winds through downtown Manteo, and ends back at Festival Park. Music and refreshments are offered after the walk.
4. Bloody Mary And The Virgin Queen
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 475-1506
Address: Roanoke Island Festival Park
Description: This farce is based upon the tempestuous relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Tudor. General admission to the park includes the performance; however, tickets must be reserved in advance. Appropriate for ages 14 and older. Performed select weekdays at 3 p.m. in the film theater.
5. Shepherd Of The Ocean
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 475-1506
Address: Roanoke Island Festival Park
Description: Shepherd of the Ocean is a whimsical comedy inspired by the relationship between Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth I. Moments before Sir Walter Raleigh is set to be executed, he looks back upon his time with the beloved queen. General admission to the park includes the performance; however, tickets must be reserved in advance. Appropriate for ages 14 and older. Performed select weekdays at 3 p.m. in the film theater.
6. Annual Herbert Hoover Birthday Celebration
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 473-1221
Address: Sir Walter Raleigh Street
Description: On August 10 browse through this superb bookstore, taste three cakes (each one inscribed with “Happy,” “Birthday,” or “Herbie”), sip some famous “Herbert Sherbert” punch, and chat with Hoover fans at this tongue-in-cheek free event. The reason for the fun? It’s purely for the sake of having a celebration. The day includes a book signing. Look for a special display of Hoover memorabilia. Come eat, drink, and think Herbert Hoover!
7. Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 473-6800, (800) 367-4728
Address: Nags Head–Manteo Causeway
Description: The tournament, sponsored by Pirate’s Cove since 1989, honors the memory of local fishing enthusiast Alice Kelly, who died in her 30s from Hodgkin’s disease. Kelly was a high-spirited woman whose love for fishing inspired many local women to try (and fall in love with) the sport. Women form teams and arrange for charter boats to carry them out to sea. The tournament occurs in mid-August. The entry fee is $400.
8. Annual Pirate’S Cove Billfish Tournament
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 473-6800, (800) 367-4728
Address: Nags Head–Manteo Causeway
Description: Pirate’s Cove Yacht Club has hosted a billfish release tournament every August since 1983. Contenders fish for several days to catch and release the largest billfish. A meat fish (tuna, dolphin, and wahoo) category, in which a prize is awarded for the largest catch, adds to the fun. The tournament is an official part of the N.C. Governor’s Cup Billfish Series and occurs mid-month. Call for entry fee information.
9. Mount Olivet United Methodist Church Bazaar
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 473-2089
Address: 300 Ananias Dare St.
Description: For this event the church is filled with all sorts of goodies, including books, kitchenware, antiques, and baked treats. Get there early—this is a very popular event. Browse table after table covered with exciting finds—something old, something new. The day features a late afternoon/early evening auction. There’s no charge. This event is held the first Sat in Nov.
10. Manteo Rotary Rockfish Rodeo
City: Manteo, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (252) 473-4268
Address: Roanoke Island Festival Park
Description: Whether you call them rockfish, striped bass, or stripers, the fish can win you big money and help a good cause in this tournament. Participants fish in the sound or ocean from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and bring one fish back to the weigh station. Trophies are given to the top four winners in the ocean and sound categories, and the top winner can win up to $5,000. All nonfishing events and the weigh-in are held at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Registration, a social hour, and an anglers’ rule meeting are held Friday night. Saturday it’s fishing, the weigh-in, and an awards dinner. Manteo Rotary, the sponsor of this event, uses the profits to give college scholarships to local youth, and they have granted more than $170,000 to students because of this tournament.