Talk about soaring into the next phase of your life … literally! Imani Davis of Hampton, VA, did just that last Sunday in Manteo. Celebrating her recent high school graduation, Imani enjoyed her very first parasail flight … in her cap and gown! Wow … can you think of a better way to commemorate many years of hard work and dedication in school?! Congrats, Imani … you deserve it! Just another way that Kitty hawk Kites is Teaching The World To Fly! #KHKExperience
Santa Claus greeting a family at Kitty Hawk Kites.
Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head may be the only place anywhere where kids get to greet Santa Claus sitting under a hang glider.
There could not have been two better days for Santa’s annual visit to the Kitty Hawk Kites store at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing. Word must have gotten our quickly about his location because the line formed early and stayed long throughout the Friday and Saturday visit
Of course Kitty Hawk Kites is not the only location St. Nick be stopping by. In fact, we have it on good authority that the “fat jolly old elf” may not be quite so fat after a holiday season running from Duck to Hatteras. He’ll still be jolly of course, but Mrs. Claus tells us she expects him to be at least 20 pounds lighter come December 26.
It’s all part of what makes the Outer Banks such a wonderful place for families to live or visit. When Santa Clause comes to town around here, he takes the time to greet each child, and find out what is truly on their Christmas list.
For moms and dads wondering where Santa is scheduled this holiday season, here’s our Outer Banks list of upcoming Santa Claus appearances (hopefully we didn’t miss any!):
Festival of the Trees
Dec. 3-5
Held annually at the Outer Banks Brewing Station, the Festival of the Trees is one of the most popular parts of Outer Banks life. This year Santa will be making his appearance between 6-9p.m. on Thursday, the first evening of the show.
Manteo Christmas Celebrations
Dec. 4-5
The big event Friday evening is the tree lighting at the old Dare County Courthouse, highlighted by the lighting of the Christmas tree and Santa’s appearance. The parade Saturday morning is a wonderful example of small town life at its best with another appearance from Santa.
Duck Yuletide Celebration
Dec. 5
Santa rides into town in a fire truck, usually right around 4:30, but plan on spending the afternoon on the Duck Village Green. Live music, a crab pot Christmas tree and Carolers.
Christmas with Santa
Dec. 5
A wonderful children’s play filled with humor and a message. Presented by Bright Star Touring Theatre based in Asheville, tickets are only $5 and the play is a great introduction to live theater for kids. Indoor Theater, Roanoke Island Festival Park. Show begins at 7:00 p.m.
Breakfast with Santa
Dec. 6
A great concept—a delicious buffet breakfast at Pamlico Jack’s restaurant, followed by some one-on-one time with the big man himself! Proceeds are matched by Village Realty and go to the Dare County Angel Tree Fund. 9:00 a.m – 1p.m.
Hatteras Village Christmas Parade
Dec. 12
If there is one parade that is must see on the Outer Banks, this is it. A wonderful sense of community, floats, motorcycles, Coast Guard, bands and of course—Santa Claus.
Christmas Past at Island Farm
DEC 12, 2015
St. Nicholas arrives at the Island Farm by an ox-drawn wagon, giving wagon rides around the farm’s trails from 10am-12pm. There is also a 2:00 p.m. reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” 10am – 4pm.
Winterlights Dinner With Santa
Dec. 19
The Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island give kids a last chance to get their Christmas wish list to the man in the red suit. Winter lights is a million light spectacular, turning the Elizabethan Gardens into a nighttime wonderland. Promises to be a magical evening.
Handmade kite flying at the 2014 Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition.
Summer on the Outer Banks is winding down, but there are still a lot of reasons to visit. More and more, it seems, fall is becoming a second season all it’s own with some great events that are really worth checking out.
The autumn—especially September—seems to have become the time for competition on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites is sponsoring three competitions—with our 30th Annual Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition the granddaddy of them all. Just about the only Outer Banks competition that has been around longer is our springtime Hang Gliding Spectacular.
Here are some upcoming competitions that seem to cover almost every sport on the Outer Banks.
KITTY HAWK KITES BIC SUP ONE DESIGN-FINAL EVENT IN MANTEO
Sep 6, 2015
Kitty Hawk Kites, Manteo
A family-friendly competition—free to the public. Whether you’re paddling for the first time or you’re already a pro, this is a great activity for all!
30th ANNUAL OUTER BANKS STUNT KITE COMPETITION
Sep 12, 2015 – Sep 13, 2015
Outer Banks Event Site, Nags Head
OBSKC is a regional kite competition bringing some of the nation’s best kite fliers to the Outer Banks. Two days of kite flying fun for the whole family. Saturday Kitty Hawk Kites and friends will host demos and a FREE family fun fly day. Enjoy massive display kites flying high, and participate in stunt and power kite lessons given by pros.
KITTY HAWK SURF COMPANY KAYAK FISHING TOURNAMENT
Sep 19, 2015
This is a kayak and SUP fishing tournament. All fish caught must be caught from your watercraft, no wading. Registration is online or at mandatory captains meeting September 19th at 6p.m. at Kitty Hawk Surf Co. in Nags Head.
This is a photo catch and release style tournament. Click here for rules and regulations. Competitors are allowed to launch at first light Saturday morning. All photos must be received by 5pm on Saturday in order to be eligible for judging. All pictures must show the fish length from upper lip to end of unpinched tail.
ESA EASTERNS SURFING COMPETITION
Sept. 20-26
Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head
Highlighting the best of East Coast amateur surfers, skim boarders and body borders, the ESAs are a must-see event. Don’t let the “amateur” label prejudice your view. The level of competition is outstanding and the water skills excellent.
AMERICAN WINDSURFING TOUR’S HATTERAS WAVE JAM
Sept. 21-26
Hatteras Island
An annual part of the AWS pro circuit, the competition is intense and spectacular.
Laughter and joy lifting into the air for a parasail adventure over Roanoke Sound.
There are a lot of ways to see the Outer Banks from the air. A tandem hang gliding tow to 2000’ or a mile is wonderful. The Kitty Hawk Kites Aero Tour creates multiple ways to see the area.
But for sheer exhilaration and fun, nothing beats floating beneath a parasail above Roanoke or Currituck Sound.
A great family activity, parasail boats can put up one, two and even three people at a time and there is plenty of room for passengers so mom and dad can be there with the kids.
There is an extraordinary sense of floating above the world, the wind blowing across the parasail, the harness gently swaying as the boat traverses the sound.
The view is marvelous. Looking east the narrow ribbon of sand that is the Outer Banks is bordered by the white froth of breaking waves. Soaring above the Currituck Sound the small islands that dot the waters stand out like pastures of green against the blue of the waters. Lifted above the waters of Roanoke Sound the towns of Manteo, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills seem almost like the fishing villages they once were.
Kitty Hawk Kites OBX parasailing captains are Coast Guard licensed and the crew is trained in CPR.
Kitty Hawk Kites offers parasail adventures from the docks in Manteo and the dock beside their Duck location. No shuttle driving needed—just park at the stores.
With the Kitty Hawk Kites SUPtastic race in Manteo tomorrow morning, the fun and adventure of Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boarding comes to the fore. Sponsored by BIC Sport, the event is as much about having some fun on the water as it is competing, according to Galen Pederson, Water Equipment Buyer for Kitty Hawk Kites.
The Manteo event is also a great chance for anyone who wants to know more about the sport to see for themselves what it’s all about. There will be SUP demos and a chance to try one of the BIC boards that are in the rental program for free.
With a huge SUP rental inventory, SUP lessons and tours, Kitty Hawk Kites has become the leader on the Outer Banks in teaching people the sport.
Based on the traditional surf board in design, an SUP is typically longer, wider and more buoyant. There are also some emerging trends in product development.
Because buoyancy is at the heart of what differentiates a SUP from a surf board, manufacturers have been developing inflatable SUPs and the reviews consistently show the inflatables perform as well as the hard shell boards in most conditions.
“Inflatables are coming on strong,” Galen said.
The hard shell boards still own an advantage in racing and big surf conditions; however, since most people use SUPs for recreational use, the inflatables may be something to think about.
There are five more Kitty Hawk Kites BIC SUP events scheduled for the summer, so there’s plenty of opportunity to get out on the water.
BIC SUP One Design Series | Waves Village-Jul 23, 2015
BIC SUP One Design Series | Whalebone-Aug 6, 2015
BIC SUP One Design Series | Sanderling Resort in Duck-Aug 20, 2015
BIC SUP One Design | Final Event in Manteo-Sep 6, 2015