Roanoke Island Festival Park
Roanoke Island Festival Park
Roanoke Island Festival Park
4.5
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
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.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
525 reviews
Excellent
265
Very good
163
Average
73
Poor
14
Terrible
10
TDNY
Canandaigua, NY241 contributions
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 1 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
80237travel
Denver, CO1,926 contributions
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.
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 13 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
virginiatraveler024
Virginia25 contributions
May 2022
Close to a total bust. My kids normally love living history sites. We went to the ones in Jamestown and Yorktown three years ago and they still rave about it. But we would have been better off just going to the FREE national park site and playing miniature golf.
It was $50 to take 2 adults and 3 kids. The place was very small, and almost none of it was operational. They had three total people working in the living history place. Only one really told us anything. There were multiple “try this” spots for kids that lacked the equipment to “try this.”
Honestly, don’t go.
It was $50 to take 2 adults and 3 kids. The place was very small, and almost none of it was operational. They had three total people working in the living history place. Only one really told us anything. There were multiple “try this” spots for kids that lacked the equipment to “try this.”
Honestly, don’t go.
Written 25 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are sorry to hear about your experience and will be working with our staff to address the issues you mentioned in your review. This is out of the ordinary for us and we want to make sure all of our guests have a wonderful time at the park.
Written 28 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
screw you
Westover, MD1,607 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
Took the tour and saw the Indian settlement, Elizabeth II and a number of activities for that era. Lot of interesting information provided about the Algonquin Indian culture and life, English life style ( active black Smith and wood worker) Has a onsite museum and some really interesting and educational videos. Restroom on site, shop and plenty of parking.
Written 31 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Written 1 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kim982
Cleveland, Ohio38 contributions
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 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting and for the kind review!
Written 1 June 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
klgwhite
Charlotte, NC60 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
This looks like it used to be much nicer. It was pretty run down with only 3 "costumed reenactors" in the entire park. The exhibits looked like they used to have interactive components but those seem to be long gone. What was there was very dingy and sparse. For the cost, I definitely expected more. The blacksmith was great though and took the time to talk with us about the time period and have a conversation with us.
Written 20 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gwen G
Chillicothe, OH288 contributions
Jun 2022
I have to agree with the previous review that says this place is lacking. We really liked the ship, there were three guides on board to answer questions and tell history stories. We loved that there were hands on exhibits in the Indian Village and Settlement parts, but sadly many exhibits were missing pieces or broken so we could not participate (for example there were no oysters to use to hollow out the canoe). The Settlement was very sparse, really the only building was the blacksmith shop. The Blacksmith really knew his stuff and was very interesting to talk to. For the admission price that is charged we really expected more.
Written 15 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Gwen. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We will work with our staff to make sure the issues you stated are addressed and resolved.
Written 28 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amusementparkguy
Pataskala, OH1,472 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
A friend and I vacationed in the Outer Banks region for the first time, and this is one of the highlights. It gives visitors a glimpse of life in early America before colonial times.
The character actors area a very nice touch to help make history come alive. I highly recommend this to all who are in the area.
The character actors area a very nice touch to help make history come alive. I highly recommend this to all who are in the area.
Written 13 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo-Anne A
Blandford, MA2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
The history of Roanoke is so interesting and the staff share the history in such a witty and informative way- it's easy to become completely engrossed. The blacksmith and the carver were especially interesting. Along the trails are relics and historical trinkets with informative plaques. There are also hands on activities such as cording , weaving and tying linen and hyde pieces to a Native American living structure. A great place for people of all ages!
Written 5 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dylan B
Saxapahaw, NC10 contributions
Jul 2023
Easily one of the coolest places I've ever seen a concert! Absolutely beautiful, especially with the big glass window behind the musicians looking out onto the ocean. Sound was fantastic too - will 100% be back!
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wha age kids would enjoy this? Asking whether a 12 and 16 year ol would b engaged? Or better to visit another historica landmark with this age?
Written 1 June 2024
How long would you allow to visit, and do you think you could do both this and the aquarium the same day??
Written 29 March 2022
RIFestivalPark
Manteo, North Carolina
Hi Joan. Our tours are self guided and typically take 1 - 3 hours for guests to complete. Some guests choose to quickly travel through each venue, while others enjoy engaging with each of our exhibits and historic interpreters. Touring the aquarium also takes about 1-3 hours. You should be able to visit both in one day. If you run out of time, the park's admission is good for two consecutive days.
Written 28 July 2022
Would a 13 month old who loves walking enjoy this?
Written 28 March 2017
Oh yes! Lots of things to look at there. And there are places to sit along the way if you get tired. There are also a lot of exhibits which are interactive. Enjoy your day!
Written 28 March 2017
We would love to do this but the time we want to go calls for 40-50% chance of rain. How much could we see if it was raining?
Written 27 September 2016
Almost everything is outside. It is fairly small, so you can probably still do everything.
Written 1 October 2016
Are all attraction included with admission to Roanoke Island Festival Park?
Written 2 April 2016
RIFestivalPark
Manteo, North Carolina
Hi Cheryl! Yes, your ticket includes a self-guided tour of the Elizabeth II ship, our interactive museum, American Indian town and the settlement site. Guests are also welcomed to visit our piers and our outdoor pavilion.
Written 19 January 2018
RIFestivalPark
Manteo, North Carolina
Our adult admission is $10.00 each, plus tax. Hope to see you here soon!
Written 24 July 2015
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