If you are visiting the Outer Banks for the Fourth of July, you simply can’t miss the Whalehead Club Independence Day Festival and Fireworks. As locals, we attend every year, making lifelong memories of many magical evenings at Whalehead.
During the day, bands play, vendors sell food and children enjoy clowns, crafts and face painting. But at dusk the real fun begins. People “in the know” drive to Whalehead, cars loaded with blankets, chairs and picnic baskets. The Department of Travel and Tourism has the parking down to a science. They pack cars in quickly and tightly, however it is best to arrive before dark to be sure you get a spot. There is a reasonable fee for parking.
As the sun goes down, vendors begin to sell light sticks and necklaces. We purchase these beforehand from the dollar store because the prices are pretty steep for simple light sticks. But since every child seems to have one, we bring ours to join in the fun.
There is a solid amount of time between sundown and the start of the fireworks. We have kept the children entertained by taking pictures of them swinging around their light sticks and then showing them the result. The light sticks form swirls of color around their faces in the finished pictures. We have also brought a camping lantern and played cards and other games while waiting. Of course all lights should go off once the fireworks begin.
Which leads me to the actual fireworks display at Whalehead Club. When they are about to start, all music and lights are shut off. A hush covers the crowd as the first fireworks are shot into the air from barges over the sound. The fireworks are just over your head, loud, gorgeous and breath taking. The water surrounds you during the evening with frogs croaking all around. I have never attended a better or more magical display.
What should you bring to the fireworks display at Whalehead? I suggest the following:
- Bug spray.
- Money for the parking fee.
- Blanket to spread on the ground.
- Light jackets “just in case.”
- Glow sticks.
- Low chairs to sit in while waiting for the display.
- Money for food, children’s games and more.
- A book if you don’t have children to watch.
- Plenty of bottled water and snacks.
- Comfortable shoes.
- Flashlights for walking back to your car.
- Hand sanitizer for after porta-potty visits.
- Camping lantern, to be turned off before the fireworks. A low setting is best to keep from disturbing your neighbors.
- If you have children, a football, Frisbee, cards, gaming devices, books or other things to keep the kids occupied for an hour before the fireworks.
Our favorite place to sit is on the grass just behind Whalehead Club. This gives you a perfect view of the night sky.
You can view the yearly Outer Banks Fireworks schedules on the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce website.
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Places to go in Corolla | OBX Dunes says:
[...] water, bug spray, suntan lotion and perhaps a picnic basket and blanket. And don’t forget the Whalehead Club Fireworks display, which is an evening you won’t soon [...]
have the fireworks been rescheduled?
As of now, there is no rescheduled date. For those who don’t know, on the Fourth of July, 2011 everyone was setting up their spots for the big Whalehead Club fireworks display. The puppet show was on, bands were ready to go and everyone was in a great Fourth of July spirit. As this was happening, dark clouds began to roll in. We were one of the first to start leaving the area behind Whalehead Club, planning to wait in the car for it to blow over. Everyone else began to do the same. Staff drove around telling people to find cover, also noting that if the storm passes by they would shoot of a test firework at 8:50 to check the wind. If it was safe, the display would go on. Unfortunately, the storm never eased up, with thunder, lightening and pouring down rain. The children and I decided the lightening was our fireworks display… it was the best we could do to stop the disappointment. I was extremely impressed with the staff and volunteers, working hard to keep everyone safe!