Things to Do in Ocracoke

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With more than 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as flags, toys, boomerangs and games. You’ll find a wide selection of beach sportswear and footwear from Crocs, Olukai, Chaco, Hey Dude, Southern Fried and Life is Good apparel, t-shirts, sweatshirts, outdoor clothing, sunglasses and more. Kitty Hawk Kites also offers a number of adventure activities including hang gliding, kayak and SUP tours, lessons and rentals, dolphin tours, tours to and of various Outer Banks locations, parasailing, Jet Skis, fishing tournaments and more. At Kitty Hawk Kites' Waves Village Watersports Resort in Rodanthe, you can learn kiteboarding; buy and rent kiteboarding gear; rent a kayak, surfboard or standup paddleboard or climb the adventure tower/ropes course. Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School at Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head offers private lessons, beginner lessons, advanced lessons and training packages for hang gliding, as well as retail merchandise and sand boards available for rent. Call (252) 441-2426 for information. 

Deepwater Theater and Music Hall on School Road is the headquarters for Ocracoke Alive, a nonprofit organization that sponsors cultural and artistic activities and festivals. Ocracoke Alive typically offers summertime shows in this indoor, air-conditioned performance hall, but inside programs are canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic. Outdoor activities may still be added during the season. When you're strolling or biking around town, check out Ocracoke Alive's bulletin board outside the Deepwater Theater to find out more about possible community events.

For a peek into Ocracoke’s past, visit Ocracoke Preservation Society’s Museum. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving the island’s history and cultural heritage and to protecting its environment. Housed in the turn-of-the-century home of Coast Guard Capt. David Williams, the museum lets visitors glimpse island life in the early to mid-1900s. Many of the architectural elements are intact, and a bedroom, living room and kitchen are decorated with period furnishings donated by island families. The museum has photographs, artifacts and exhibits that pertain to island life and culture. A favorite is a video on the Ocracoke brogue. The museum also houses special rotating exhibits and a gift shop. Upstairs is a small research library that can be used by appointment. In the yard of the museum you can find outdoor exhibits including an old-style cistern and the traditional fishing boat, Blanche, circa 1934. During the summer, OPS hosts free porch talks and museum tours with a variety of islanders sharing their knowledge, stories and history. The museum also offers a mid-week Create-a-Craft program for kids. This interactive program is fun and informative and the children leave with a handmade island souvenir. Stop at the OPS gift shop for a schedule of these events. It’s free to visit the museum, though donations are encouraged. It’s open from the end of March through the first week of December.

Ocracoke's community radio station WOVV 90.1 FM invites island visitors to tune in to hear live local programming featuring music and entertainment, local news, weather, sports and coverage of local civic and business affairs. The programming is produced and presented by and for locals and visitors alike, broadcasting from the station’s studio in the heart of Ocracoke Village. If you get Ocracoke fever when you're away and need a little taste of the island, you can listen online at WOVV.org. Your donations mean a lot to a small, nonprofit station like WOVV, so if you're inclined to support the station where you can tune in any time of year to hear what's happening on the island, make your tax deductible contribution at the website, or mail it to Ocracoke Community Radio WOVV, P.O. Box 1447, Ocracoke NC, 27960.