Runners, joggers, and walkers of all ages and abilities can explore the scenic coastal landscape of Oak Island while enjoying an invigorating dose of activity at the Run Oak Island event. This annual event features a variety of courses that can range from a 1-mile fun run or walk to a full half marathon, which allows active visitors of all ages to get out and explore in a lightly competitive and all-around fun environment.
Visiting and local pet fans alike can enjoy a fun stroll, walk, jog or run with their furry best friend by signing up for the Annual paws4people 5K & 1 Mile Fun Walk. This event that is celebrating its 16th year in 2026 is a fundraiser that supports a great local cause, but which also provides plenty of comradery and good times for all human and canine participants.
For more than 10 years, runners from all across the country have stormed the beach for this annual event that presents a great opportunity to explore all the gorgeous waterfront scenery that the Cape Fear coastline has to offer. The Wilmington Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifying event and an USATF-certified qualifier, and features a fun and unique course that starts at the beach and which uncovers all the cool landmarks and landscapes that are found in this coastal corner of North Carolina.
Join the crew of The Brewing Station – a beloved destination for beer lovers – for this annual, active celebration that will give attendees a jump start on their St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The Annual Outer Banks Beer Mile is becoming a favorite tradition for locals and spring vacationers alike, and is a great chance to get in a little run while enjoying some of the tastiest brews that the OBX has to offer.
The Running of the Leprechauns was the original idea of Mike Kelly and hosted at Kelly's Restaurant & Tavern, every St. Paddy's Day weekend since 2008. This fun, green and grand race Started and Finished on site at Kelly's Restaurant, and this years' 5K & 10K courses are virtually the same as in the past, just altered slightly to start and finish at nearby Satterfield Soccer Complex in Nags Head. All Finishers earned medals and enjoyed Irish Stew and Guinness beer at Mike's restaurant while sharing their running triumphs with their friends.
Celebrating its 22nd year in 2026, the annual St. Patrick’s Low Tide Run is a great way for visitors and locals to explore the coastal Carolina Beach scene while ringing in the holiday with a little active fun on the sand. Officially known as the “Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Low Tide Run,” in honor of two amazing men whose paths crossed on Carolina Beach, this annual run features costumes, cool views, and beautiful terrain throughout, as well as plenty of ways to celebrate.
Not for the faint of heart, the Blackbeard's Revenge 100 is a relatively new event that first launched in 2019, and which will test the strongest athletes from the Outer Banks area and miles beyond. Covering a lengthy coastal course that extends for 100 miles, this scenic but tough race will push athletes to the limit as they head from the northernmost beaches of the OBX all the way down to the southern tip of Hatteras Island.
Embark on an active exploration of Harkers Island while taking in miles of views along the way at the annual Core Sound Run in the Down East region of the Crystal Coast. With options to tackle a 10K, 5K, or a one mile fun run, this event can cater to visitors of all ages and abilities, and is a fun and engaging opportunity to see how charming this corner of the Crystal Coast can be.
Discover a beautiful little corner of the globe while celebrating Earth Day by participating in this engaging run, jog or walk that explores one of the prettiest sections of Kure Beach. The 5K Race for the Planet begins and ends at the Fort Fisher Aquarium, and the no-pressure race is a fun way to uncover all the beauty of this southernmost strip of coastline in the Cape Fear region.
Put on your best eyepatch and get ready for a fun and engaging race that traces the steps of some of piracy’s most notable characters. The Ocracoke Island Scallywag 5K/10K/half-marathon is an annual running event on Ocracoke Island that attracts fitness fans of all ages and abilities, and which takes the village by storm via a fun and engaging course that’s close to the shoreline.
Come and enjoy a scenic run through some of the prettiest terrain that the central Outer Banks has to offer with this race that has been going strong for more than 35 years. The Annual Nags Head Woods 5K Run is a great running event that falls on Mother’s Day Weekend, and which features plenty of reasons to put on your sneakers and hit the road, and the sandy, wooded trails.
Put your running, jogging and even hiking abilities to the ultimate test via this race that may be short, but which features one of the highest climbs that the Outer Banks has to offer. The Killer Dunes 2-Miler & Fun Run features one of the most unique courses on the coastline, and includes a unique challenge of climbing the dunes that are located within the Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
Take advantage of the beautiful springtime weather, as well as an opportunity to explore the Crystal Coast in depth, with this annual race that is celebrating its 36th year in 2026. The Annual Lookout Rotary Road Race is a fun event that is accessible for attendees of all ages and skill levels, and which offers a wide range of courses – from a Fitness Walk to a Half Marathon – to encourage everyone to get out, get active, and join in the fun.
Labor Day weekend on Bald Head Island is truly a celebration, and the annual Labor Day Cookout offers a lot more besides a chance to feast on burgers and beachy fare. With corresponding activities and events held all along the island, and plenty of unique attractions to discover along the way, the annual celebration is a prime opportunity to uncover everything this popular North Carolina vacation destination has to offer.
Labor Day weekend on Bald Head Island is truly a celebration, and the annual Labor Day Cookout offers a lot more besides a chance to feast on burgers and beachy fare. With corresponding activities and events held all along the island, and plenty of unique attractions to discover along the way, the annual celebration is a prime opportunity to uncover everything this popular North Carolina vacation destination has to offer.
The annual Bark in the Park is a playful competition that pits high flying canines of all varieties in a number of competitions that will delight participants and their human spectators alike. Featuring a number of activities, and absolutely free to the public, Bark in the Park is a great outing for family members of all varieties, and especially the furry ones who love to make new friends and show off their stuff at one of the coolest parks in Wrightsville Beach.
Known as one of the most-watched and most intense competitions in the Cape Fear area and miles beyond, the Ironman 70.3 North Carolina puts athletes of all ages to the test with an incredible course that requires endurance and massive feasts of strength. Featuring a swim, bike ride, and run, this "point-to-point-to-point-to-point" event will wow spectators from all across the Cape Fear region with its incredible course, and incredible athletes who participate.
Rapidly becoming a favorite tradition for active Crystal Coast visitors and locals alike, the Emerald Isle Marathon, Half-Marathon & 5K Races are a great opportunity for folks to discover the gorgeous communities and shorelines of Emerald Isle and beyond, while supporting a worthy local cause and enjoying a little competitive spirit in the heart of the Outer Banks.
Ties up your laces and get ready for one of the biggest running and fitness events that the Cape Fear area has to offer! The annual Battleship Half Marathon, 10K and 5K is a popular running event that attracts active visitors from all across the county and beyond, and which provides a perfect opportunity to explore the local landscape of the southern N.C. coastline while enjoying a little competitive fun.
Get your Thanksgiving off to a fun and active start with this event that combines a little fitness with a world of exceptional brews. The Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile is a great Wednesday precursor to the Thanksgiving Day feast, and it entails a drink-and-run course that beer lovers and runners alike will enjoy to the fullest.
Start a Thanksgiving holiday by participating in one of the Northern Outer Banks’ favorite traditions – the Annual ADVICE 5K Turkey Trot. This event which is now in its 30th year in 2026 attracts visitors and locals alike who want to run, walk or “trot” before diving into their afternoon Thanksgiving feast.
Get your Turkey Day celebration off to a fun and fast-paced start with this annual event that is quickly becoming a highlight of the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Surfin' Turkey 5k and Puppy Drum Run is presented by the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund (HIYEF), and is a great opportunity to support a favorite local cause while enjoying miles of fun in the heart of Hatteras village.
Start your Thanksgiving Day with a little action before you start digging into the turkey feast with this annual run that features a family-friendly course, and plenty of ways to explore the local Outer Banks communities. The Outer Banks Running Club OBX Gobbler 5K & Fun Run is an engaging and scenic trek through the Village of Nags Head which is open to runners, joggers, and walkers of all ages, and which is sure to be a great kick-off to Turkey Day for everyone in the crew.