The Outer Banks is a cherished vacation spot all year, but there's something truly enchanting about it during the holiday season! From November 28th to December 31st, 2025, a dozen locals’ favorite restaurants will present the 12 Bars of Christmas, bringing extra cheer to the Outer Banks while transforming into winter wonderlands, each with its own unique theme and menu. Beyond the seasonal food and drinks, these venues will host a variety of special holiday events. From live music and merry markets to silly sweater contests, there will be plenty of festive activities to enjoy throughout the season.
All 12 bars and restaurants are open to the public. For $10, you can purchase a 12 Bars of Christmas passport, benefitting 12 local charities, at any of the participating restaurants. After visiting each location and collecting 12 stamps on your passport, show your completed passport at any of the pop-up venues to receive a 12 Bars of Christmas keepsake ornament. Submit the entry form at any of the 12 bars to enter the Charity Raffle held on January 5th, 2026!
The Kids Quest scavenger hunt is a fun way for children to partake in the event, too! Like the adult passport challenge, all proceeds are donated to local Outer Banks charities. Kids of all ages can participate by purchasing a $5 Kids Quest booklet at any of the 12 restaurants beginning November 28th. After collecting 3 or more stamps in their booklet, they can enter to win one of 3 awesome prizes!
Here's a list of participating bars and restaurants:
Poor Rudolf's
Poor Richards Sandwich Shop, 305 Queen Elizabeth Ave, Manteo
Deck the Hulls
Outer Banks Distilling, 510 Budleigh St, Manteo
North Pole Yacht Club
Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar, 2000 Sailfish Dr, Manteo
Sailing Away RI-114 is just under a mile and a half away!
‘Ol Cedar Brown’s
Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café, 7623 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
Sound Waves SC-210 is about a mile away!
Jingle 12
Lucky 12 Tavern, 3308 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
Southern Cross 420-C and Raven’s Nest 425-A are less than a quarter mile away!
Mama Klaus's
Mama Kwan's Tiki Bar & Grill, 1701 S Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills
Pelican Briefs 397-D and Moon Shadow 447 are less than half a mile away!
The Broken Candy Cane
Bonzer Shack, 1200 S Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
Coastal Condo SDV-103 and A Shore Thing VP-204 are less than a quarter mile away!
Jack Frost's Cheer & Burger Joint
Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint, 800 S Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
Got Beach? 381-B is less than a quarter mile away!
Christmas Vacation Station
Outer Banks Brewing Station, 600 S Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills
Isabel 375-C and Moonrise Kingdom 395 are less than half a mile away!
Goombrrrs
Goombays Grille & Raw Bar, 1608 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
Nautilus TGS-D2 and Ocean Hideaway CRS-301 are less than a quarter mile away!
Holly Jolly Christmas
Jolly Roger Restaurant, 1836 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
Making Waves 334-A, Vanderhoof 322-A, and Hurricane Katie 323-A are less than a quarter mile away!
McCallister's Corner
Two Roads Tavern, 3833 N Croatan Hwy, Kitty Hawk
Turquoise Dreams 226 and Carolina In My Mind 272 are less than a mile away!
Here are a few tips for making the most of your 12 Bars of Christmas experience:
• Start planning early and map out your route. Don’t feel like driving? Check out the OBX Party Sleigh, offering VIP pub crawls, running 3 different routes, and visiting 3 to 4 bars on each route. Find more information and book your seats here.
• Dress in layers, as the weather can be unpredictable on the Outer Banks during the winter months.
• Be sure to pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
• All the stops offer non-alcoholic holiday drinks, plus many offer seasonal food and snacks for children.
The 12 Bars of Christmas is a great way to experience the Outer Banks during the holiday season. With so many participating bars and restaurants, there's something festive for everyone to enjoy. Gather your friends and family and get ready to celebrate the Outer Banks way!
Sun Realty is a proud sponsor of this event. For the most up-to-date information, check out the 12 Bars of Christmas on Instagram (@12barsofchristmas), Facebook, and their website.