Mali Goebel
Sep 17, 2024
Have the ultimate family vacation with theme nights! Creating unforgettable memories during family vacations is all about sharing experiences with your favorite people. We’ve gathered our favorite theme nights for the perfect blend of fun and culinary delight. Rewind time with a decades night, complete with a pasta bar, or transform your vacation home into a Super Bowl night with your favorite sports jersey and a “make your own bowl” dinner. Host a theme night every night, or pick your favorite for a magical evening! Each theme brings its own flair, delicious food, and engaging activities, ensuring magical memories that will be remembered for years to come!
Favorite Character
Lights, Cameras, Action! Dress up as your favorite character. Have more than one favorite? Pair up and bring a dynamic duo to life, whether it’s Batman and Robin or Stepbrothers. Let your imagination soar with a dinner board night. Customize your own delectable spread and share your culinary creations with everyone! Get creative with a meat and cheese board, fruit board, or opt for a chip and dip board. This is the perfect way to spend time with family, celebrate your favorite characters, and indulge in delicious bites. So gather your costumes, get into character, and prepare for a night of pure, unadulterated fun whether you dress as Harry Potter or Luke Skywalker!
Decades
Time travel with a decade night! From ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, or ’90s, each decade brings its own flair and excitement. Enhance the night with a pasta bar offering classics like spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine Alfredo, or penne alla vodka. Have a family dance party with your favorite throwback tunes. Whether itтАЩs grooving to the beat of classic rock, breakdancing to hip-hop, or swinging to jazz, this nostalgic theme promises laughter and a memorable time for the entire family.
OBX Olympics
In honor of the Summer Olympics, there’s no better way to kick off the event with red, white, and blue! What better to pair than a delicious BBQ? Fire up the grill for an unforgettable All-American feast with hamburgers, steak, or hot dogs. Create mouthwatering sides with corn on the cob, mac and cheese, fruit salad, and pie!
Want to go for gold? Check out our How to Vacation like an Olympian blog for hosting the ultimate family Olympics! The entire family will enjoy festive games to get into the Olympic spirit.
Luau
Hosting a luau during your family vacation can turn an ordinary evening into a tropical celebration, especially with a delicious spread of kebabs and a seafood boil. Gather the family in colorful Hawaiian shirts and leis, and set the mood with vibrant floral decorations and your favorite vacation tunes. For dinner, serve juicy kebabs with various grilled meats, pineapples, and vegetables, adding a burst of flavor and color to the feast. Have an unforgettable evening with a seafood boil. Add shrimp, crab, clams, sausage, and corn, seasoned to perfection with aromatic spices. If you want to leave the cooking to someone else, check out Outer Banks Boil Company to elevate your luau night.
Welcome to Camp!
You and your family will be happy campers with a camp-themed vacation! Earn camp badges by completing tasks and winning games! Spend your days on scavenger hunts and crafting nature-inspired art, and evenings gathered around a “campfire” (real or pretend!) sharing stories and s’mores. It’s the perfect way to create lasting memories and enjoy family time together!
Super Bowl
Entertain the whole family with a high-energy “Super Bowl” night, complete with a “make your own bowl” dinner. Have everyone don their favorite team jerseys and turn on the evening game. Offer a variety of bases like salad greens, rice, or quinoa, accompanied by proteins such as grilled chicken, seasoned beef, or pork. Top it off with an array of fresh vegetables, beans, cheeses, and a selection of sauces to allow each family member to craft their ultimate game day bowl. Enhance the fun with activities like sports trivia or a friendly football game in the yard. With the thrill of sports and personalized bowls, this themed night will score big with the whole family.
Casino
Go all in with a casino night!
Dress up in your finest attire and set up stations for various games such as blackjack, poker, and cards. Play with money to keep the stakes high! Add excitement with a mini pizza bar! Suit every taste with pizza dough, sauce, and your favorite toppings! From margarita pizza to meat lovers’ delight, can you taste test who has the best pizza? Complement the meal with a selection of gourmet chips and dips, ensuring everyone has a treat as they try their luck at the tables. Enhance the ambiance with a playlist of lively casino-themed music or a prize for the eveningтАЩs big winner to keep the competitive spirit alive. This themed night will be a jackpot hit with the whole family.
Christmas in Paradise
Deck the beach house halls with a “Christmas in the Summer” theme! This can turn a sunny day into a festive wonderland, offering a unique twist on the beloved holiday. Encourage everyone to embrace the holiday spirit by wearing their favorite Christmas sweaters or Santa hats. For dinner, cook a summer twist on classic Christmas fare: serve up juicy, grilled turkey burgers with cranberry sauce, veggies, savory roasted sweet potatoes, and egg nog. Complete the feast with a festive dessert of gingerbread cookies. Incorporate holiday music and unwind the evening with Christmas classics such as “Elf” or “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. If you’re celebrating in December, check out the Corolla Christmas Village for a weekend of holiday delight!
Vacation like a pro
Are you embarking on an OBX vacation with the entire family? Check out how the McElhenny family balances energetic theme nights with 40 family members.
If you have any questions, our Vacation Specialists on our Guest Services team are happy to help! Please chat with us on our website, call (866) 457-1190, or text us at (252) 888-2598.