Roanoke Island Festival Park

Roanoke Island Festival Park Experience a new adventure in an old world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Park Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 9am - 5pm The land was vast, pristine, and natural.
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If you are interested in Outer Banks history, nature, recreation, and family activities, Roanoke Island Festival Park is an ideal choice. This Roanoke Island attraction, across from the Manteo waterfront and just 5 miles from Nags Head and 30 minutes from Hatteras Island and Kitty Hawk, is a 25-acre interactive historic site representing the first English settlement attempt in 1585. Imagine a land with Algonquin Indian culture. This was Roanoke Island when English explorers stepped off their ships. Roanoke Island Festival Park offers a winding, wooded trail with stops at the American Indian Town, the Settlement Site, and the Elizabeth II, a 16th century representative ship. Costumed and speaking in a 16th century manner, living history interpreters interact with visitors of all ages at the Settlement Site and the ship, recounting their experiences on the voyage and upon arrival to the New World. The tour is ideal for children offering excitement and fun with educational components. Explore over 400 years of Roanoke Island history in the interactive Roanoke Adventure Museum. Play and discover in the Fossil Pit. Experience breathtaking water views and see wildlife while strolling on the Boardwalk which surrounds the cultural site. The park also hosts many performances throughout the year in the Indoor Theatre and concerts at the Outdoor Pavilion. Several venues at the park can be rented for weddings, receptions, meetings and corporate retreats. Group Tour rates are available. Roanoke Island Festival Park is a vibrant place on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where history, the arts, family gatherings, multiple activities and environment combine to make a memorable Outer Banks stop.

Today, we pause to remember September 11, 2001.We honor the lives lost, the courage of those who responded, and the stre...
09/11/2026

Today, we pause to remember September 11, 2001.

We honor the lives lost, the courage of those who responded, and the strength shown in the days that followed.

May we continue to remember, reflect, and stand together. 🇺🇸

Img: American flag billows from a wooden pole over a calm coastal marsh, with blue sky, trees, docks, and distant homes creating a patriotic scene.

09/10/2026

🌟 Workforce Wednesday 🌟

Dreaming of a career where you can help preserve, protect, and promote North Carolina's natural and cultural treasures? DNCR has several opportunities open now!

This week's featured positions:

🔹 Museum Curator Supervisor – North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort (North Carolina Museum of History)📍Carteret Co.– Closes Sept. 15

🔹 Director– NC African American Heritage Commission📍Wake Co. – Closes Sept. 17

🔹Maintenance/Construction Supervisor I – North Carolina State Parks and Recreation📍Harnett Co. – Closes Sept. 18

🔹Housekeeping Supervisor I – North Carolina State Parks and Recreation📍Stokes Co. – Closes Sept. 18

🔹 Educator – NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher📍New Hanover Co. – Closes Sept. 19

🔹 Assistant Director – Roanoke Island Festival Park (North Carolina Museum of History)📍Dare Co. – Closes Sept. 23

🔗 View and apply for these roles at the link in the comments.

Join our team and help shape North Carolina's story for generations to come!

Please note: Positions may close before you see this post, but they remain open until their stated deadline. Listings close at 11:59:59 p.m. the night before the closing date.

How good are your sword skills? Try them out on our sword course, where you’ll get practice with aim, maneuvering, and s...
09/09/2026

How good are your sword skills? Try them out on our sword course, where you’ll get practice with aim, maneuvering, and speed. Time yourself and aim for accuracy! Of course, we’ll provide the training sword. ⚔🛡

Sword Training:
📆Fridays
⏰10:00 am - 12:00 pm
📍Settlement Site

This program starts on September 11 and is included with park admission. Park admission is required to participate in the program

Humanity’s oldest friend, Elizabethans, had a love for drinks and played a significant part in their daily lives! From e...
09/07/2026

Humanity’s oldest friend, Elizabethans, had a love for drinks and played a significant part in their daily lives! From entertainment to daily survival, Englishmen of the past had to brew a lot of drinks to keep up! Come by the Elizabeth II to see what historical beer and ale were made of and how it was made!

ELIZABETHAN BREWING:
📆Tuesdays & Thursdays
⏰2:00-4:00 pm
📍Elizabeth II

This program starts on September 8 and is included with park admission. Park admission is required to participate in the program.

Happy Labor Day!💙Today we recognize and appreciate the hard work and contributions of workers past and present who help ...
09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day!💙

Today we recognize and appreciate the hard work and contributions of workers past and present who help shape our communities every day. 🇺🇸

Please note that our administrative offices are closed today in observance of the holiday.

⏰Park Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 9am - 5pm

Img: People stand on a wooden bridge as a large American flag waves over blue water, with a sunny coastal landscape in the background.

09/04/2026

All clear

09/04/2026

Fall is almost here and so are our seasonal programs at Roanoke Island Festival Park! ⛵️💙 Join us this autumn for Elizabethan Brewing and Sword Training, and experience a hands-on look at life in the 16th century. We can’t wait to see you this Fall! ☀️🍂

FALL PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Elizabethan Brewing 🍺
Tuesday & Thursday
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Elizabeth II

Sword Training ⚔️
Friday
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Settlement Site

Programs start 9/8/26 and are included with admission. Programs are subject to change due to incliment weather.

This is the final month to explore Are We There Yet? at Roanoke Island Festival Park, on display through September 26.Ta...
09/03/2026

This is the final month to explore Are We There Yet? at Roanoke Island Festival Park, on display through September 26.

Take a break from your own vacation to learn about the history of travel in this engaging photography exhibit, on loan from the Museum of the Albemarle. It highlights the rise of tourism during North Carolina’s “Variety Vacationland” era and how it helped shape the coastal experience we know today.

The exhibit is free to the public and open during regular park hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Don’t miss your chance to see it before it’s gone.

09/01/2026

Celebrating Labor Day on the OBX? Same here! 😎

Close out the summer with a bang by catching one (or both 👀) of our excellent shows this weekend at Roanoke Island Festival Park:

Fri, 9/4 | The Movement & Pepper w/ special guest Surfer Girl

Sun, 9/6 | Flatland Cavalry w/ special guests Philip Bowen and Jake Sutton
‼️ Last show of the season! While supplies last, use code OUTERBANKS at LiveFromOBX.com for $20 off tix.

Take a stroll along the boardwalk at Roanoke Island Festival Park and discover where history meets the natural beauty of...
08/30/2026

Take a stroll along the boardwalk at Roanoke Island Festival Park and discover where history meets the natural beauty of the Outer Banks!💙

Address

1 Festival Park
Manteo, NC
27954

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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