The 12 Bars of Christmas 2026 — A Festive Outer Banks Trail

Published: Nov. 04, 2026.

Updated for 2026.

The Outer Banks is adding an extra measure of holiday cheer to the season.

What started in 2022 as Christmas Island, with four local restaurants and bars taking part, has become The 12 Bars of Christmas: twelve Christmas-themed pop-ups, each offering its own personality and seasonal surprises.

The 2026 celebration takes place November 27, 2026, through January 3, 2027, with participating venues located between Kitty Hawk and Manteo. Visit one or two stops, or set out to experience all 12. However you approach the trail, you’ll encounter plenty of twinkling lights and festive spirit.

Expect seasonal food and drinks, holiday activities, and many opportunities to celebrate.

Discover the 12 Bars of Christmas

These Outer Banks favorites are taking on glittering holiday identities for the season. Here are the places serving up seasonal cheer.

1. McCallister’s Corner — Two Roads Tavern, Kitty Hawk

Two Roads Tavern takes inspiration from Home Alone with McCallister’s Corner, a playful setting filled with nostalgic holiday details and movie-inspired surprises. Kevin would approve of the mischief, though visitors won’t need to navigate any elaborate booby traps.

2. Holly Jolly Christmas — The Jolly Roger Restaurant, Kill Devil Hills

The Jolly Roger Restaurant transforms into an island of misfits for Holly Jolly Christmas. Rudolph and his friends join the restaurant’s already eclectic atmosphere in a quirky winter-wonderland experience.

3. Goombrrrs — Goombays Grille & Raw Bar, Kill Devil Hills

Goombays Grille & Raw Bar trades its familiar tropical atmosphere for a winter makeover as Goombrrrs. The experience features The Goombrrrs Yeti and The Christmas Island of Misfit Toys, along with a holiday menu and crafted cocktails.

4. Jack Frost’s — Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, Kill Devil Hills

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint receives a frosty holiday transformation under the Jack Frost’s name. Seasonal treats are available for adults and children, including fried Oreos that even Santa would find hard to resist.

5. Christmas Vacation Station — Outer Banks Brewing Station, Kill Devil Hills

Outer Banks Brewing Station embraces the exaggerated holiday style of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as Christmas Vacation Station. The pop-up includes festive food and drinks, a cocoa bomb bar out back, late night entertainment, and plenty of nostalgia. Visitors should bring their enthusiasm for Christmas and leave the tangled extension cords behind.

6. The Broken Candy Cane — The Bonzer Shack, Kill Devil Hills

The Bonzer Shack takes on a Grinch-worthy personality as The Broken Candy Cane. Its Christmas-inspired food includes Roast Beast, Bumpuse’s Sausage Balls, and Tatooks Tots. Adults and children can also enjoy seasonal drinks such as Hot Chocolate, Grinch’s Punch, and Santa’s Surprise.

7. Mama Klaus’s — Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar & Grill, Kill Devil Hills

Mama Klaus’s combines tiki-bar character with Christmas sparkle for a tropical Outer Banks interpretation of the holidays. The menu includes festive food, mocktails, and holiday themed cocktails, creating a cheerful island escape.

8. Jingle 12 Tavern — Lucky 12 Tavern, Nags Head

Lucky 12 Tavern was one of the original inspirations for the event, and its holiday identity, Jingle 12 Tavern, continues that tradition. Seasonal food and drinks accompany festive decorations and playful spaces including a ski lodge, ice fishing shack, and winter igloos. It offers après-ski energy without the mountain setting.

9. ’Ol Cedar Brown’s — Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café, Nags Head

Basnight’s Lone Cedar Café becomes ’Ol Cedar Brown’s for the season, giving the local seafood destination a holiday makeover. Guests can enjoy Christmas nostalgia alongside jolly beverages and a merry menu.

10. North Pole Yacht Club — Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar, Manteo

Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar becomes the North Pole Yacht Club, a waterfront oyster-themed pop-up overlooking Pirates Cove Marina. The experience combines nautical character with Christmas festivities and makes for a holiday port of call with strong dining options.

11. Deck the Hulls — Outer Banks Distilling, Manteo

Outer Banks Distilling gives the holidays a maritime point of view with Deck the Hulls. Nautical-inspired holiday cocktails made with its locally crafted rums offer a spirited coastal celebration of Christmas.

12. Poor Rudolph’s — Poor Richard’s Sandwich Shop, Manteo

Poor Richard’s Sandwich Shop becomes Poor Rudolph’s, giving visitors a festive place to eat and recharge. The longtime Manteo favorite offers Christmas cheer, food, and drinks for anyone in need of a refueling stop.

Themes, menus, hours, and special offerings may vary. Check the official 12 Bars of Christmas website for the most current information before visiting.

Complete the 12 Bars of Christmas Passport Challenge

The optional 12 Bars of Christmas Passport Challenge offers a holiday mission with a festive reward.

Passports cost $10. Collect a stamp at each participating location, with all passport proceeds benefiting local Outer Banks nonprofit organizations.

After gathering all 12 stamps, participants can redeem a limited-edition 2026 keepsake ornament and enter the event’s prize giveaway. The visits do not need to happen in one day. Guests can spread the stops over a holiday weekend, add them to a getaway itinerary, or collect one cheerful stamp at a time throughout the season.

Family-Friendly Holiday Adventures

Although the event is called The 12 Bars of Christmas, it also welcomes families. Eleven participating restaurants offer family-friendly experiences, including children’s menus, festive drinks and desserts, and holiday activities during the season.

Activities may include cookie decorating, crafts, trivia, and character appearances. New for 2026, the Christmas Island Kids Quest gives younger guests a holiday adventure designed for them.

Review the event website and individual restaurant social media pages for family activities, schedules, and location details before bringing the whole crew.

Ride the OBX Party Sleigh

There’s no need for reindeer to enjoy a holiday outing.

The OBX Party Bus offers the OBX Party Sleigh, a chauffeured holiday pub crawl with three themed routes. Each route stops at four or five participating locations, allowing guests to enjoy several festive venues without driving between them.

Gather your group, choose a suitably festive outfit, and reserve seats through the OBX Party Sleigh booking page. The sleigh travels on wheels rather than runners, but the holiday spirit remains part of the ride.

Plan an Outer Banks Christmas Escape

With salt air, seasonal sparkle, and twelve different ways to celebrate, The 12 Bars of Christmas can anchor a festive Outer Banks getaway.

Plan a weekend around the pop-ups, take time for relaxed meals, and add waterfront shopping, holiday markets, light displays, and other seasonal celebrations. Between stops, enjoy a winter beach walk and the coast’s seasonal scenery.

Choose an Outer Banks place to stay as your holiday home base, then map out your festive route.

For participating locations, current hours, menus, special events, and passport details, visit 12BarsOfChristmas.com.

Categories

Holiday

Author

Outer Banks Visitors Bureau