When the warm winds of summer begin to blow, people in the Outer Banks wait for Dare Days with bated breath. This beloved annual festival is a tradition that brings joy and excitement to everyone in the community since its inception in 1976. Between Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 - Dare Days 2024 will bring two days of fun and frolic, full of laughter and unforgettable memories.

Two Days of Endless Enjoyment

There is something for everyone in the day's schedule. The children can enter a world of games and entertainment, where they board colorful trains and gaze in awe at the magic performed by magicians. Their faces are transformed into painted works of art by skillful face painters. Myriad games and activities ensure that their imaginations run riot and their smiles never disappear.

An Artisan's Paradise

For those with an eye for artistic fancy, this festival is a veritable paradise on earth. Supported by over 100 talented craftspeople, the festive downtown will be filled with individually designed artwork. Everything from elaborate furniture works to hand-carved masterpieces, hand-crafted jewelry, clothing and wonderful paintings will adorn this occasion. It's a feast for the eyes and for different desires, something that will turn anyone's head or satisfy all tastes.

A Culinary Delight

From smoked fish sandwiches and barbequed fresh crab appetizers to home-baked pastries, cake, hot dogs with chilli and drinks of every conceivable kind, there's nothing you can't find at the festival. Drinks mixed with fresh squeezed lemons are available a-plenty to quench your thirst under the sun.

Live Music & Entertainment

Visitors to venues jammed with vibrant festival goers can expect to hear live music and performances all the way down through virtually every street on Saturday, giving the festival an even more exciting atmosphere.

Event Schedule

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Dare Days will open in Manteo's downtown area at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 1st and close at 6:00 PM. People can enjoy live entertainment for most of the afternoon, taking prizes in contests, swing dancing at different levels and entertaining themselves all day long with music, lawn games and much more. Then there’s a great Kid's Zone full of rides for kids - you name it and its there.

Sunday, June 2, 2024

There will be a delightful gospel concert in the park at Cartwright on Sir Walter Raleigh Street this Sunday, June 2nd, 2024 from 2:00-4:00 PM. Savor the nostalgic taste of old-fashioned lemonade while you listen to soul-stirring melodies and harmonies performed by local churches which they sing in their very own sweet way.

Dare Days 2024 celebrates community, diversity, and rich cultural heritage. It's a place for people from different backgrounds to gather, tell their stories and make prints that can never be erased by time or tide. Regardless of whether you are a resident or this is your first time coming, the event provides an unforgettable experience for everyone.