Every fall, Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head hosts one of the East Coast's most beloved kite festivals. Expect enormous show kites — octopuses, dragons, and 100-foot banners — plus stunt demonstrations, kite-making for kids, and a giant open flying field for everyone else.
Parking fills early. Come before 10 a.m., wear sunscreen, and bring water. If you have your own kite, the wind on the dune is almost always cooperative.