Rainy Day Activities at Roanoke Island Festival Park

*Updated on July 8, 2019

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

Get out of the house and spend a rainy day 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 kids 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. This summer, join Captain Robbie for a rope making demonstration every Tuesday - Friday at 2:30 pm. 

See a Live Performance at our Children's Show Summer Series

Live theatre is a great solution to your rainy day dilemma. Our Children's Show Summer Series features a new performance each week. This year's lineup includes magicians, live music and interactive plays based on some of your favorite literary tales. See a new performance each week on Wednesdays at 10:30 am and Thursdays at 10:30 am and 6:00 pm in our indoor theater. The shows run weekly through August 1st and tickets are $5 per person. Ages to and under are free. 

Watch The Legend of Two-Path Film

This thoughtful docu-drama explores the relationship between the English settlements 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

Keep yourself entertained by picked up a special treasure in our Museum Stores. Pick out a good book or a 16th century board game to play. The kids can pick up 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 Summer Exhibit

If you can't be at the beach, enjoy learning about the history of swimwear at our latest exhibit, A Day at the Beach: 100 Years of Swimwear. View Elaine Henson's collection of swimwear spanning from the late 1800s through the 80s. Tour this exhibit and learn about the history and trends that inspired each piece. 

You can still enjoy our site attractions during rainy days. Just bring your poncho and rain boots from 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 daily rain or shine, but some attractions may close 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 day!