United States
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina Coast
Outer Banks
Roanoke Island
Manteo
Things to Do in Manteo
Roanoke Island Festival Park

Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo: Hours, Address, Roanoke Island Festival Park Reviews: 4.5/5

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Roanoke Island Festival Park

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Roanoke Island Festival Park
4.5
498
#6 of 23 things to do in Manteo
Historic Walking Areas • Ships • History Museums
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
Experience a new adventure in an old-world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. This 25-acre historic site allows guests of all ages to experience first hand what life was like for the first English settlers in 1585. Historic costumed interpreters are featured through Indian Town, the Settlement Site and the Elizabeth II ship to show and tell how the first settlers lived, worked and played on Roanoke Island. For a hands-on history lesson, visit the Adventure Museum that features interactive exhibits that all ages will enjoy. The park also serves as a venue for concerts, events and weddings in the indoor theatre or outdoor waterfront pavilion. Whether you’re enjoying the museum or an outdoor concert, Festival Park offers a stunning location with piers, nature trails and picturesque views at every turn. Experience an unforgettable adventure on the Outer Banks at Roanoke Island Festival Park – where history comes alive.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Popular mentions
4.5
498 reviews
Excellent
252
Very good
156
Average
69
Poor
13
Terrible
8
Jay A
6 contributions
Great place; take the kids!
Jun 2021 • Family
We spent three hours and 15 minutes and it was pretty fun like everything was pretty good experience the settlers village was friendly and had a blacksmith and I am carpenter they’re both making tools and furniture and stuff like that and they showed you how to make it back in the day. The blacksmith also gives you a nail that he makes right in front of you. It nice the ship Elizabeth II was really nice and I like it the day we really detailed and explaining how come everything was done back then I am the Indian village was really really nice and I would’ve liked to had at least one Indian telling us about their lives as well. There are four things you should do and that will complete your experience1. is the Elizabeth to ship 2. the settlers village 3. the Indian town 4. the museum. also as a 5th item make sure to check out a documentary it’s kind of long but tells you a lot more insight but the settlers were the first encounter with the natives that was very interesting.
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Travel before 2020 was fun
Fort Wayne, IN678 contributions
Tourist trap
May 2021
I had high expectations since the NPS-administered historic site is basic and doesn't have much.

While the smallish adventure museum here was fascinating and informative, the rest of the festival park was a tourist trap.

Sure, there's a ship but that's about it. The entire open-air English Settlement is one hut and stocks. No replica houses, no replica fort, no musket firings or any kind of historic interpretation beyond a blacksmith. There is more curated exhibits in the open-air park on Indians than the English.

For the price, I'd say skip it. The owners and management should go up to Jamestown Settlement and see how it's done. This place has so much potential. It's vastly underutilized.
Written May 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TDNY
Canandaigua, NY209 contributions
Sub-par during COVID
Apr 2021
This might be a much cooler place when we're not in the end of a pandemic, but with so many of the interactive exhibits closed it's really not that engaging or exciting for kids. The outdoor exhibits (long house, black smith's shop) aren't terribly exciting, and the museum looks like there are lots of hands on activities that have been removed (historic costumes, duck hunting). It is a nice break from the beach (or if your weather happens to be 50 degrees and cloudy during spring break). But I would love to see it when it's not mostly closed.
Written April 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
larryrneal2016
Warren, PA460 contributions
A good experience
Oct 2020
The park offered an opportunity to tie various historical periods of the area together. It was an interesting and enjoyable experience.
Written October 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RIFestivalPark
Thank you for visiting and for the kind review.
Written October 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Courtney B
6 contributions
Peek at OBX history
Sep 2020 • Family
The natural setting of the park is very nice, and the experience is a pleasant change of pace from usual beach activities. The gift shop was closed, but we enjoyed the ship, English settlement, and American Indian areas. To be honest, I expected a little more, but it was probably just the right amount of content for the elementary-aged children in our group. The museum was my favorite part as it was the most informative. A great activity for cooler days or just a change.
Written September 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RIFestivalPark
Thank you for visiting and being patience as we work within the state's COVID-19 restrictions. We look forward to re-opening more of our hands on activities and interactive exhibits once it is safe to do so.
Written October 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tazzie T
Newport News, VA207 contributions
Good place to and learn history
Jun 2020 • Family
Went there for the 1st time and it was very informative. The staff was friendly, and knowledgeable. Would definitely go back.
Written June 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RIFestivalPark
Thank you for visiting.
Written October 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sunny
Manteo, NC5 contributions
I rode the bike over from the island guest house (great place to stay) to the park. So beautiful!!!
May 2020
When you go over the bridge and follow the path its breathtaking. Great views of the sound, friendly people all around, nature at its finest. Watching the sunset over the sound was so surreal.
Written May 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RIFestivalPark
Thank you for visiting!
Written June 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kim982
Cleveland, Ohio40 contributions
Nice park and museum
Jun 2019
Went here with my family, including a 4 and 6 year-old. All of us enjoyed the park. The museum had a lot of information about historical Roanoke and was a nice way to cool off for a bit. The interpreters on the ship and in the colony interacted very well with my nephews, showing them what types of games were played back then on the ship and letting them use tools in the colony. Enjoyable time for all!
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RIFestivalPark
Thank you for visiting and for the kind review!
Written June 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
wanderlust
Centralia, PA152 contributions
Nice park but museum was closed
Feb 2020
We really hoped to learn about the history of the Lost Colony but I was disappointed to find the museum was closed and we found no signs of any outdoor historical learning opportunities at all.

On the other hand it's a nice quiet and scenic park for enjoying the marshy vegetation and many birds and squirrels. Free parking.

Maybe I would go back if I knew for sure that some sort of historical attractions would actually be open.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RIFestivalPark
Thank you for visiting. The park typically opens the first week in March through December 31. We hope you'll get a chance to visit our historic attractions next time you're in the area.
Written June 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ahaenssen
Lawrenceville, NJ77 contributions
You can't beat the Staff
Dec 2019
Discover the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island. Before Jamestown, there was Roanoke Island. The first attempt by the British that ultimately ended in disaster a spurred centuries of research what happened to the first settlers. The Park and the Exhibition are smaller than Jamestown near Colonial Williamsburg but the staff makes up for it. All the people we met during our stay, on the ship, and in the settlement were extremely knowledgable and enthusiastic about the place. It was a pleasure listening to them in there roles.
Written December 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RIFestivalPark
Thank you for visiting!
Written June 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Roanoke Island Festival Park
Roanoke Island Festival Park is open:
  • Tue - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Roanoke Island Festival Park tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Roanoke Island Festival Park tours on Tripadvisor