4th of July Archives - Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates

Government Mule Sunday At RIFP

Our personal favorite float from the Town of Duck's 4th of July Annual Parade. — Our personal favorite float from the Town of Duck’s 4th of July Annual Parade.

There is so much to celebrate on the Outer Banks during the summer that it can almost seem overwhelming.

Yesterday it was the 4th of July and what a great day it was. The weather held and the celebrations were magnificent.

We started the day at the Town of Duck’s annual parade, which is one of the whackiest, most wonderful small town parade imaginable. The parade has wonderful homemade floats—we loved the cardboard float. It has a jump rope, trumpet playing unicycle rider. Santa Clause always shows up, although his is in red shorts.

After the parade, there are free popsicles and watermelon at the town green with live music. Big kudos to Just Playing Dixieland for bringing about two dozen kids on stage to do a kazoo version of “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

We ended up on the beach watching fireworks paint the night sky. Particularly nice touch, just before the night sky took over, a pod of dolphin went by just off the beach.

It really doesn’t get much better than that.

Government Mule Sunday at Roanoke Island Festival Park

But the weekend doesn’t stop there.

Sunday, it Government Mule at Roanoke Island Festival Parkin Manteo.

The tour is being billed as their 20th Anniversary Tour. If ever a group owed its longevity to skill and talent over flash and dazzle, Government Mule is it. Their should is a little bit hard to categorize. It’s rock based, but with a lot of other influences.

RIFP is a wonderful place for an outdoor concert. The setting is beautiful, overlooking Shallowbag Bay and nighttime is perfect for a live summertime concert on the Outer Banks.

Government Mule is the big name, but there is music somewhere on the Outer Bank every night during the summer.

Summer is wonderful on the Outer Banks, but every time of the year is special in its own way. Spend a week or two with Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates and relax on island time…even if the Outer Banks are not truly islands.

Outer Banks 4th of July an All Day Affair

Fireworks over Avalon Pier, Kill Devil Hills.

On the Outer Banks the 4th of July is pretty much an all day affair. There’s a parade; there’s a street fair—two of them, really. And of course fireworks. Spectacular fireworks.

One of our favorite ways to start our Independence Day celebration and really get us in the mood for the rest of the day is to check out the town of Duck’s 4th of July parade.

Parade, Town of Duck, 9:00 a.m.

Nothing that we have seen is quite like it. It is this wonderful combination of the weird, wacky and love of country that it is impossible to walk away and not be smiling.

Plan to arrive a bit early. Parking and traffic can be a problem.

The Duck parade is a morning event, so there’s plenty of time to get ready for the afternoon events.

There are two of them and they lead right into some spectacular fireworks.

Whalehead Club, Corolla, 3:00 p.m.

Fireworks at Dusk

Games, competitions and rides geared toward children during the afternoon. Lots of food vendors are always on hand and usually there’s fundraiser or church group thrown in the mix with some delicious homemade goodies.

The setting is beautiful and the fireworks over Currituck Sound is as good as it gets.

Manteo Waterfront, 3:00 p.m.

The Manteo 4th of July festivities are street fair and celebration all rolled into one.

A lot of food vendors, craft booths, offbeat and original competitions—Wacky Hat and Best Bike Decoration contests—and the traditional. Best apple pie…it doesn’t get any more traditional than that.

Live music all day. Just a wonderful, wonderful time.

The fireworks are lit off at Roanoke Island Festival Park, but can be easily seen anywhere along the waterfront.

Just Fireworks

Nags Head, Nags Head Fishing Pier
Kill Devil Hills, Avalon Pier

There is something indescribably wonderful about sitting on the beach and watching fireworks. Making it better, the towns do a really nice job of putting on an excellent show.

The two locations are about five miles apart, so it is possible to sit in the middle of the piers and watch both shows. Some of the sound and effects are lost over distance, but it is a pretty cool experience.

We hope you’re as excited as we are at Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates about celebrating our nation’s birthday.

An Outer Banks 4th of July-What to Do

4th of July in the Town of Duck. A wonderfully whacky parade.

With July 4th coming this Wednesday, plans have to be made about how to observe our nation’s birthday, and with so much to do on the Outer Banks it may be difficult to figure out just what is the best way to celebrate.

From the Whalehead Club in Corolla to the town of Manteo, there are festivals scheduled all day.

Our Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates recommendation is to keep it close to home; the after fireworks traffic can be pretty heavy. However, for anyone feeling a bit more adventurous, by all means, venture out.

Here’s what’s happening in a somewhat chronological order.

Town of Duck

The Town of Duck’s annual 4th of July Parade is wonderfully whacky way to start the day. The parade begins at 9:00 a.m. but get there a little bit early—traffic and parking can be a problem.

After the parade, head over to the Town Green for free watermelon and the sounds of a Dixieland band.

Corolla

It’s an all day event at the Whalehead Club with activities beginning at 3:00 p.m.

This is a great family event with live music, games, rides and food.

The fireworks over Currituck Sound are always among the most spectacular.

Town of Manteo

A wonderful way to spend the day. Like the Corolla celebration, everything begins at 3:00 p.m.

Live music all day and food vendors line the streets.

A real treat to go along with the fireworks that are held at Roanoke Island Festival Park—the 208th Army Band will be performing from 8:00 p.m. until the fireworks are set off.

Nags Head

Fireworks will use the Nags Head Fishing Pier for their platform. The scheduled time for the beginning of the show is 9:25 p.m.

The Nags Head police have asked people to not block intersections or driveways when parking. The police will be on hand to help direct parking.

Kill Devil Hills

Avalon Pier will be the center of firework activities this year. The scheduled time for the beginning of the show is 9:25 p.m.

And now for something completely different.

To get a little different view of the fireworks, stake out a spot on the top of Jockey’s Ridge. The firework displays of Nags Head and Manteo are visible from that vantage point—although they are a bit distant. It’s one of the very few times during the year that Jockey’s Ridge State Park authorities allow visitors past sunset.

Outer Banks Independence Day Celebrations

4th of July, 2016. Fireworks over the Atlantic Ocean.

It looks as though the annual Independence Day celebrations on the Outer Banks are going to be extended a bit this year. According to reports in local media, Kill Devil Hills had to move their fireworks celebration to Friday evening because of a shortage of fireworks.

Regardless, that’s not a completely bad situation since it gives everyone a chance to see the night sky painted with fireworks.

We always recommend starting at the Duck Independence Day Parade. Beginning at 9:00 a.m., the parade is the first event of the day, and it is a great way to get in the mood for a day of fun and celebration. A whacky tribute to the American spirit, its worth the effort getting there. Parking can be a bit of an issue so get there early or expect to walk.

We haven’t heard of anything special being planned for the Whalehead Club but this is their 25th Anniversary of Fireworks. It’s always a daylong event at Currituck Heritage Park, the location of the Whalehead Club, and a day that’s wonderfully geared toward families.

Ditto on that for Manteo which is another of those quintessentially American celebrations of Independence. The Army Band will be on hand at Roanoke Island Festival Park to provide live music. And that will be followed by fireworks.

Nags Head will be holding their fireworks at 9:25 and that may be the place to be. There is something magical about sitting on a beach towel, on a summer’s night at the edge of a continent of freedom. As the night sky is lit with exploding colors it’s a reminder of how precious our freedoms are.

Independence Day Schedule of Events

(Events arranged by time)

9:00 a.m.

Duck Parade
Scarborough Lane to Pamela Court
Live music by Just Playn’ Dixieland and awards ceremony, Duck Town Park, after parade

Noon
25th Annual Independence Day Celebration

Festival of Fireworks, Whalehead Club

Historic Corolla Park

3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Independence Day celebration, Manteo

208th Army Band concert, Roanoke Island Festival Park, 8 p.m.

Fireworks, downtown waterfront

9:25

Nags Head Fireworks, Nags Head Pier

All Day: Statewide
Free fishing on any body of water in North Carolina, no license required.

Friday, July 7

Kill Devil Hills
Fireworks, Avalon Pier, 9:15 p.m.

(All Fireworks begin between 9:15 and 9:30)

Fireworks Light Up OBX Night Sky

Fireworks at Avalon pPer reflected off the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

It seems as though there was something for everyone this July 4th on the Outer Banks. A crazy wacky parade in the Town of Duck—their 12 Annual 4th of July Parade. Up at the Whalehead Club it was it was an evening filled with family friendly events capped off with fireworks over the sound.

Manteo was in the act as well with live music and fireworks at Roanoke Island Festival Park. A beautiful setting and a great place for music.

Everyone has a favorite place to to go on Independence Day to see fireworks and we have to admit there is something powerful and wonderful about watching fireworks light up the night sky over the ocean at the edge of a continent.

Kill Devil Hills at Avalon Pier and Nags Head at Nags Head Pier put on quite a show last night. It had rained earlier in the day but by the time the first rocket exploded over the sea, there wasn’t a hint of rain in the air.

The sea was almost calm, and there was a light breeze from the south—near perfect conditions for an evening of fireworks. Reflected off the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the display did not disappoint.

Tag: 4th of July