Outer Banks Event Season Begins April 14-15 with Annual Fly Into Spring/Easter EGGstravaganza
Nags Head, N.C. (January 11, 2017) – Kitty Hawk Kites is excited to announce its 2017 event schedule, featuring a wide variety of events from Corolla to Hatteras. Entering its 43rd year of teaching the world to fly, Kitty Hawk Kites has long been a leader in hosting events on the Outer Banks, with annual festivals covering the spectrum of celebrations – from kites, hang gliding, and paddleboarding to watermelon, pirates, and flying kegs!
“We invite our great community of locals and visitors to experience more fun this year at our series of annual Outer Banks events,” said John Harris, Kitty Hawk Kites founder and president. “Our events carry forward our mission of teaching the world to fly, making people smile, lifting their spirits, challenging them, and providing them with joyful, lifetime memories. We hope to see you in 2017!”
Need additional event details or want to become an event sponsor? Visit KittyHawk.com/events or contact Janet Chesson, Kitty Hawk Kites Events Coordinator, at events@kittyhawk.com or 252.441.1719 x206.
KITTY HAWK KITES 2017 EVENT SCHEDULE:
April 2017
Fly into Spring/Easter EGGstravaganza // Friday, April 14 – Saturday, April 15; Jockey’s Ridge Crossing
Celebrate Easter weekend with Kitty Hawk Kites as they launch several 30- to 100-foot kites flying high over the dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park. In addition, pose for pictures with the Easter Bunny and hunt for thousands of hidden Easter eggs at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing. This event is FREE to the public.
May 2017
45th Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular // Friday, May 19 – Monday, May 22; Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Top hang gliding pilots from around the world are invited to participate in the world’s longest-running Hang Gliding competitions, right here in our backyard! Experience the friendship and culture that defines the sport and community of hang gliding. There is an entry fee for pilots, but FREE for the public to watch. For more information, visit HangGlidingSpectacular.com.
June 2017
35th Annual Rogallo Kite Festival and Revolution East Coast Invitational //
Saturday, June 10 – Sunday, June 11; Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Celebrate the accomplishments of Francis and Gertrude Rogallo, the inventors of the flexible wing. Which launched the sport of hang gliding and whose designs have carried over into the creation of stunt kites, power kites, and hang gliders that are flown today. Catch a glimpse of the many 30- to 100-foot kites above the dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park and bring your own kite to fly! Additionally, witness world-class stunt kite flying in the 2nd Annual Revolution Kite East Coast Invitational. This event is FREE to the public.
SUPtastic Manteo // Saturday, June 17; Manteo Kitty Hawk Kites
SUPers unite for this fun morning of stand up paddleboard competition! SUPtastic consists of a race around Roanoke Island Festival Park, followed by lunch and awards. This race offers 3- and 6-mile course options and is great for beginners and experts alike.
July 2017
39th Annual Wright Kite Festival // Saturday, July 15 – Sunday, July 16; Wright Brothers National Memorial
Take flight with Kitty Hawk Kites where history was made at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Enjoy large display kites filling the air, free stunt kite flying lessons, and a kite-making station for the kiddos. Admission to the park is required but festival participation is FREE!
Light Up the Night // Tuesday, July 25; Waves Village Watersports Resort
Join Kitty Hawk Kites at Waves Village Watersports Resort in Rodanthe and enjoy a relaxing evening on the sound. Participate in free NOCQUA kayak and paddleboard demos (weather permitting), have fun with light-up games and toys, and enjoy a movie under the stars on a large inflatable movie screen. Don’t forget to bring a blanket! This event is FREE to the public.
August 2017
11th Annual OBX Watermelon Festival // Thursday, August 3; Jockey’s Ridge Crossing
Watermelon Festival is a fun-for-all-ages fundraiser benefitting The Outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition and features games, music, food, prizes, and, of course, lots of watermelon, generously provided by Food Lion. Enjoy this timeless summer tradition and help keep OBX bicyclists and pedestrians safe!
SUPtastic Waves // Saturday, August 12; Waves Village Watersports Resort
Test your paddleboard skills at this challenging 8-mile open-water race over the Pamlico Sound. Prizes and lunch at Good Winds Restaurant will follow for all race participants.
OBX Pirate Festival // Wednesday, August 16 – Thursday, August 17; Jockey’s Ridge Crossing
Experience a pirate invasion at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head! Blackbeard’s Crew will set up a realistic 18th-century living history encampment and teach scallywag school. Pirates will also make appearances at some of our favorite local restaurants.
September 2017
Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition // Saturday, September 9 – Sunday, September 10; The Soundside Event Site
The Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition is an annual regional event that showcases world-class stunt kiting skills. Competition categories include: precision, choreography, and dual team and feature some of the top kite fliers in the nation! OBSKC will also feature giant show kites and free stunt kite flying lessons throughout the weekend. This event is FREE to the public.
Kitty Hawk Surf Company Kayak Fishing Tournament // Saturday, September 16; Kitty Hawk Surf Co., Nags Head
Kayak fishing enthusiasts are invited to participate in this dawn-to-dusk catch and release tournament from Bonner Bridge to the Wright Memorial Bridge. Entry fee of $40 includes a captain’s cookout and awards ceremony following the event. Compete for over $500 worth of prizes!
October 2017
3rd Annual OBX Brewtag // Saturday, October 28; The Soundside Event Site
Flying kegs, a beer garden featuring over 20 local and regional beers, kids zone featuring arts and crafts and a mechanical shark, live music, local food vendors … you can’t ask for much more! OBX Brewtag is presented by Kitty Hawk Kites, The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, and BrewThru with the proceeds benefitting The Rogallo Foundation. This third annual only-on-the-OBX celebration of flight and beer is not to be missed! For more information visit OBXBrewtag.com.
November 2017
Hangin’ with Santa // Friday, November 24 – Saturday, November 25; Jockey’s Ridge Crossing
Enjoy a FREE visit and pictures with Santa at Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head.
Kites with Lights // Saturday, November 25; Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Enjoy this amazingly unique Christmas light show in the sky featuring giant display kites decked out in the holiday spirit! Then, warm up with delicious treats at Kitty Hawk Kites, with the proceeds benefitting the Beach Food Pantry.
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BIC SUP One Design Series
A series of FREE stand up paddleboard races featuring BIC’s One Design race style SUP. This event is a fun and family-friendly competition. Brief clinics will be held prior to each race, making this series great for beginners and experts alike.
June 15 – Kitty Hawk Kites, Manteo
July 6 – Kitty Hawk Kites, Duck
July 20 – The Sanderling Resort, Duck
August 10 – Whalebone Watersports, Nags Head-Manteo Causeway
August 17 – Waves Village Watersports Resort, Rodanthe
August 31 – Kitty Hawk Kites, Manteo
*Dates subject to change.
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Kitty Hawk Kites Kids Days
Kitty Hawk Kites offers weekly Kids Days at select locations during summer months. Activities vary at each location but include a portable rock wall, adventure climbing tower/ropes course, wax hands activity, kite coloring, face painting, tie-dye shirt making, and more. For more specific details per Kids Day location, please visit KittyHawk.com.
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About Kitty Hawk Kites:
With OBX locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites is the largest retail and recreation outfitter on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites offers the largest selection of kites, toys, flags, and wind art on the beach, as well as a leading assortment of quality resort apparel, footwear, t-shirts, sweatshirts, sunglasses, gifts, adventure and beach gear and more. Kitty Hawk Kites is also home to the largest hang gliding school in the world, while also offering more than 20 other outdoor recreation activities.
