Rainy Day Adventure Guide graphic for at Roanoke Island Festival Park

Rainy Day Activities at Roanoke Island Festival Park

*Updated on May 25, 2022

When you picture an Outer Banks vacation, you probably imagine sunny beach days and outdoor excursions with the family. But what do you do when the weather isn't on board with your plans? Luckily, there are a variety of entertaining indoor activities to experience on the OBX. Roanoke Island Festival Park offers many exciting indoor attractions that can add some cheer to a gloomy beach day. Check out our list of top rainy day activities at the park. 

Explore the Roanoke Island Adventure Museum

Roanoke voyages timeline exhibit in the Adventure Museum at Roanoke Island Festival Park

Rainy days are best spent in the Adventure Museum. Dress up in period costume, explore the pirate exhibit and Life Saving Station, test your aim in the duck blind and learn about the first voyages to the New World. Our interactive exhibits are hands on and encourage guests to learn while they play. The museum captures the history of Roanoke Island, from the first English settlers in 1584 to today's fishermen and women on the Outer Banks. On a rainy day, you can spend 30 minutes to an hour here soaking up the history and fun.  

Watch The Legend of Two-Path Film

This thoughtful docu-drama titled The Legend of Two Path explores the relationship between the early English settlers and American Indians during the 16th century. The film is 45 minutes long and runs every hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shop for a Treasure in our Museum Stores

Pirate merchandise display in the Museum Store at Roanoke Island Festival Park

Find a special treasure in our Museum Stores. Search for a good book or a 16th century board game to play inside. The kids can pick out pirate gear for a rainy afternoon of pretending and playing. Jewelry, home decor and specialty items are special treats for mom to enjoy on a gloomy day. 

Tour our Traveling Exhibit

NC Digs logo on sand background

When you can dig in the beach sand make plans to tour our latest traveling exhibit, "N.C. Digs!". This free exhibit features five types of archaeological sites in North Carolina—Native American, battlefield, plantation, trash pit, and industrial. Tour the exhibit in the Ticket Sales Gallery and learn more about the important work archaeologists are doing in our state. This exhibit is free and open through June 18 and is on loan and made possible by the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Marketing and Communication Division and the NC Office of State Archaeology Research Center.

You can still enjoy our site attractions during rainy days. Make sure to bring your poncho and rain boots for a comfortable way to tour our outdoor exhibits that include the Elizabeth II ship, American Indian Town and the Settlement Site. The park is open Tuesday - Satruday rain or shine, but some attractions may close temporary due to thunderstorms. Our park tickets are good for 2 days so you can catch up on any activities you may have missed due to the weather. Don't let a little rain, rain on your parade. Join us at the park and turn a rainy afternoon into a fun-filled adventure!