Roanoke Island Festival Park

Roanoke Island Festival Park Experience a new adventure in an old world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Imagine a land with Algonquin Indian culture. Play and discover in the Fossil Pit.
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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. The land was v

ast, pristine, and natural. 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. 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.

06/12/2026

It’s shaping up to be a beautiful weekend, OBX! ☀️

We’re kicking off the Summer Series with Joe Russo's Almost Dead on Friday night and Kool & The Gang on Saturday. 🏖️

On site parking passes are SOLD OUT for JRAD and we’ve got minimal remaining for KATG, so snag yours while you can!

Don’t forget your sunscreen— see you at the beach!

This summer, you can visit us on Sundays! Roanoke Island Festival Park is part of a time-limited pilot program to expand...
06/10/2026

This summer, you can visit us on Sundays! Roanoke Island Festival Park is part of a time-limited pilot program to expand access to North Carolina Historic Sites. We’ll be open from 1-5 p.m. on Sundays from June 14 – Aug. 2.

Visit our website to learn more: historicsites.nc.gov/sunday-hours

06/10/2026
06/09/2026

Our first Sling Gun Drill on the Elizabeth II for the 2026 summer season! HUZZAH FOR ENGLAND!

Today, on World Oceans Day, we think about the profound role the ocean has played throughout history. It served as the l...
06/08/2026

Today, on World Oceans Day, we think about the profound role the ocean has played throughout history. It served as the lifeline connecting distant shores, enabling the brave pioneers to embark on journeys that shaped the course of civilizations. Let’s keep our beaches and our oceans clean so generations to come can enjoy the natural splendor of the Outer Banks!

Photo from our 2022 Edenton voyage.

Img: A majestic tall ship (the Elizabeth II) sails on calm waters at sunset, silhouetted against a vibrant sky.

06/05/2026

Roanoke Island Festival Park is excited to announce our summer programs will start next week on Tuesday, June 9th! We have A LOT happening this summer, from the gun drill on the Elizabeth II to rope making in the Adventure Museum - we have something for everyone! Check out the schedule below to see our full line of programs and when and where they are happening around the park. For more information on each program visit our website or give us a call. We can’t wait to step into history with you all this summer!

Summer Programs at RIFP:

All scheduled programs begin on June 9th, and end on August 22nd. All programs are included with park admission & are subject to change due to inclement weather. Park admission ticket required to participate in any program.

Tuesday
Summer Storytime | 10am | Adventure Museum Lobby
Sling Gun Demo | 12pm | Elizabeth II

Wednesday
New World Pictionary | 10am – 12pm | American Indian Garden
Sling Gun Demo | 12pm | Elizabeth II
Ropemaking | 2pm – 3pm | Adventure Museum

Thursday
Sling Gun Demo | 12pm | Elizabeth II
Arquebus Demo | 2pm | Settlement Site

Friday
Sling Gun Demo | 12pm | Elizabeth II
Ropemaking | 2pm – 3pm | Adventure Museum

Ongoing
Story Walk | Self-guided | Along park trail
A250 Stamp Adventure | Self-guided | Throughout park

Find more details on our website ➡️ https://www.roanokeisland.com/education/summer-programs

Or click the link in our bio! 💙⛵️

It's  ! Lots of songbirds call RIPF home, including this Great Crested Flycatcher spotted on our boardwalk this week. Li...
06/03/2026

It's ! Lots of songbirds call RIPF home, including this Great Crested Flycatcher spotted on our boardwalk this week. Like the name implies, they like to eat bugs and help keep the boardwalk fly-free. Look up into the trees to find these guys during your next stroll around the park!

What a beautiful day with Laney and Grant! Congratulations to you both! 💍🩷If you’re interested in getting married at the...
06/02/2026

What a beautiful day with Laney and Grant! Congratulations to you both! 💍🩷

If you’re interested in getting married at the park, give us a call! Our sound-front pavilion is the venue dreams are made of!

📸: .bri.hines

Venue:
Planning: Erin Colleen Events
Photo: .bri.hines
Beauty:
Florals: .obx
Music: Jeremey Russell Music
Rentals:
Catering:

There's still time to view our current traveling exhibit, “Rock of the Eye: Boatbuilding Traditions Around the Albemarle...
05/30/2026

There's still time to view our current traveling exhibit, “Rock of the Eye: Boatbuilding Traditions Around the Albemarle Sound,” on loan from the Museum of the Albemarle!

This exhibit explores the long tradition of boatbuilding in northeastern North Carolina, where generations of skilled craftsmen built vessels that connected communities, supported local industries, and shaped the region’s rich maritime heritage. The paneled display will be on view in the Admissions Building gallery at the park from March 17 through June 21 and is free for the public. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm.

Img: Schooner Under Construction, ca. 1898
Employees of Creef Boatworks in Wanchese standing inside a schooner under construction.
Courtesy Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, NC

Img 2: Fearing-Hayman Boat Works, ca. 1902
This shipyard was located in Elizabeth City.
Courtesy Museum of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City, NC

05/29/2026

It’s that time of year again - the 3 Sisters Garden has been planted for the season in American Indian Town! 🌽

The 3 Sisters planting method has been used for centuries, originating in American Indian cultures. The 3 “sisters” are corn, beans, and squash. Corn provides a stalk for the beans to climb, the beans release nitrogen which helps all the plants grow, and the squash provides ground coverage to suppress weeds. It’s a great natural system!

We’ll continue to post garden updates through the summer, but it’s alway better in person! Visit the park this summer, open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.

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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