Derby Days: Celebrating the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is almost here so pass the mint juleps, y’all!

(Images from top: horse drink stirrers, golden horse DIY, individual salad cups, mini bourbon set up, benedictine sandwiches, pimento cheese).

I grew up not knowing very much about the Kentucky Derby. I knew what horse races were, but the big hats, seersucker suits, and the sophisticated parties were lost on me. It wasn’t until a coworker told me that she attended Kentucky Derby parties hosted by Garden and Gun that I truly started to grasp the Derby Culture.

“Garden and Gun, that’s a real magazine?” I asked her. (I did not grow up in the South and thought she may have been pulling my leg. She wasn’t.)

I was then presented with photos of Garden and Gun’s Derby Party which included pristine mint juleps, ladies in big hats and pastel summer dresses, and men whose attire looked like they just came from a quick game of croquet in a J.Crew store. It looked perhaps a little extravagant, but it also seemed like a fun way to spend an afternoon: drinking bourbon, mingling with friends, and watching races.

While I never went to a Garden and Gun Derby party or any similar event, I do now watch the derby and take advantage of the mint julep specials. This year, I’ll be hosting a small derby get together with some friends, so I’m sharing some easy ideas for a Kentucky Derby party below! And, if you’re really getting into the Derby celebrations, you can find the official Kentucky Derby Party Planning guide here or see our Wilmington Weekend Guide for Derby events and parties around town.

Easy Kentucky Derby Party Ideas:

Fun straws and swizzles.
Make your cocktail extra glam with decorative straws or swizzle sticks, like the colorful horse ones above.

A build your own julep bar.
Set up a build your own julep bar for guests with mini bottles of bourbon, superfine sugar, crushed ice, and fresh mint. You could also up the cute factor by framing a copy of the mint julep recipe by the bar area.

Serve some classic hors-d’oeuvres.
Serve up some Derby classics like pimento cheese and finger sandwiches. We also love the idea of fresh spring vegetables and dip served in a small clear cup!

DIY some winning prizes.
Use old horse toys sprayed with gold spray paint to create a prize for guests who correctly predict the winners. You could also create winning bows with old ribbon.

Wear your best hat or dapper look.
Half the fun of Derby parties is dressing up, but you don’t have to shell out big bucks to look the part. Grab a big hat and decorate it as you like, or simply throw on your favorite suit and break out a fun pocket square.

How do you celebrate the Kentucky Derby? Share with us on Facebook or Twitter!

Your Complete Guide to Holiday Events in Wilmington NC

The holiday season is upon us and we’re looking forward to a month of cheer! Below is your complete guide to holiday events in Wilmington NC!

bread & lights gingerbread & lantern festival

Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC, presents bread & lights gingerbread & lantern festival featuring a display of gingerbread creations by all ages as well as artist-made lanterns.

Monday through Sunday, running until Sunday, December 6th. Mondays – Sundays, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm.
Admission is $6 to $12.
For more information visit the Cameron Art Museum website.

The Christmas Train & Light Spectacular

Enjoy a fantastic display of lights and toy trains and enjoy an appearance from Santa each night!

Fridays and Saturdays through December 26th, 6PM to 8PM.
Admission is $5.00 per person.
For more information, visit the Wilmington Railroad Museum website.

Wilmington Railroad Museum
505 Nutt Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Greenfield Tree Lighting (& Movie Night featuring Elf!)

Watch the tree light up, participate in an elf costume contest and catch a live screening of Elf at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. Santa will be visiting after the lighting ceremony and will have gifts for the first 500 children! Concessions will also be available for purchase during the film.

Thursday, December 3rd at 6:00 PM.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
1941 Amphitheater Drive
Wilmington, NC 28401

Enchanted Airlie

Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC, presents Enchanted Airlie, where visitors can take a self-guided tour through the gardens that are featuring festive lights and holiday displays. Santa Claus will be making an appearance and guests can also enjoy food and beverages from local vendors.

December 4th-6th, 10th-13th, 16th-22nd. Viewing times are 5pm-7pm.
Various ticket options are available. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Airlie Gardens website.

Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie Road
Wilmington, NC 28403

Island of Lights Christmas Parade

Enjoy festive floats and gain some holiday cheer from the annual Island of Lights parade in Carolina Beach. The parade runs from Atlanta Avenue up Lake Park Boulevard to the Federal Point Plaza.

Friday, December 4, 2015 at 7:30 PM.
For more information, visit the Pleasure Island website.

Carolina Beach
Atlanta Avenue and South Lake Park Blvd
Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla

Boats and lights! Get into the Christmas spirit by the water with wonderfully lit boats. The boats cruise from Snow’s Cut to the Carolina Beach Boat Basin and back.

Saturday, December 5th, at 6PM.
For more information, visit the Pleasure Island website.

Carolina Beach Yacht Basin and Marina
216 Canal Drive
Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Christmas by the Sea

Celebrate the holiday season by the sea on the Carolina Beach boardwalk. Enjoy hot chocolate at the Welcome Center, a fire pit with story telling, caroling, holiday themed movies at the Gazebo, puppet shows, and arts & crafts.

Saturday, December 5th, 12th, and 19th, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit the event page.

Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Cape Fear Blvd
Carolina Beach, NC 28428

13th Annual Holiday Parade

Enjoy the 13th Annual Holiday Parade in downtown Wilmington filled with floats and fun! The parade begins at North Front and Walnut Streets and moves south on Front Street, ending at Church Street. View the parade route here.

Sunday, December 6th at 4:55PM.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit the event website.

North Front Street and Walnut
Wilmington, NC 28401

5th Annual Chanukkah Menorah Lighting

Oak Island’s 5th Annual Chanukkah Menorah Lighting at Middleton Park (next to Town Hall) features Rabbi Paul from the Temple of Israel and music.

Sunday, December 6, 2015, at 4PM.
Admission is free.

Middleton Park
4700 East Oak Island Drive
Oak Island, NC 28465

Pet Photo Night with Santa

Let fluffy and spot share their wishlist with Santa and get a great photo op.

Sunday, December 6th from 6PM to 8PM.
For more information, visit the Independence Mall website.

Independence Mall
3500 Oleander Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403

A Christmas Stroll Through the Past

Join the Burgwin-Wright House, Bellamy Mansion Museum and St. James Episcopal Church as they stroll through the past with period decorations, costumed interpreters, entertainment and refreshments! Enjoy a trolley ride or a candlelit stroll through Downtown Wilmington as you go from one location to another!

Saturday, December 12th, 4PM to 7PM.
Admission is $20 for adults. Children 15 and under are free.
For more information, visit the event website.

503 Market Street
Wilmington NC 28401

Wilmington Ballet Company Presents: The Nutcracker

Wilmington Ballet Company presents The Nutcracker at the Cape Fear Community College Humanities & Fine Arts Center in downtown Wilmington, NC. The event features Master of Ceremonies WWAY news anchor Daniel Seamans and stars Keaton Thomas, a Marine Corps Prior Active Duty Captain, as the beloved Nutcracker. Robin Dale Robertson portrays the mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer while the role of Clara is danced by Sydney Jones, a 10th grader at Laney High School and student at the Wilmington School of Ballet. Professional guest dancers include Stacey Slichter of North Atlanta Dance Theater as Sugar Plum Fairy and Adam Schiffer of Carolina Ballet as the Cavalier.

Saturday, December 19 & Sunday, December 20 at 3pm.
Admission is $35 per person.
For tickets and more information, visit the Cape Fear Community College website.

CFCC Humanities & Fine Arts Center
200 Hanover Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Wilmington Weekend Guide: November 13-15

Happy Friday Wilmington! We are so excited for a sunny and cool weekend! Check out our Wilmington Weekend Guide below for great weekend events!

Tables to Dine For
We are obsessed with decorating and tablescapes (thanks to HGTV), so we will definitely be heading to The Treasure Chest to see their holiday tablescapes. The event features six unique tables decorated for Thanksgivingand Christmas with wine and appetizers.

Friday, November 13th at 6pm
Admission is free.

The Treasure Chest Resale & Design Center
1614 Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Feast of the Pirates
Ahoy! The Wilmington Harbor Enhancement Trust bring pirates to the Port City Marina downtown complete with a pirate vessel, live pirates, a treasure hunt, games, food, and beer garden. There will be a ‘Pirate Parrrty’ on Saturday evening, 7-11pm.

Saturday November 14th, 10am-6m; Sunday November 15th, 12pm-5pm
Admission is free. Admission to the Pirate Parrty is $35.00 per person.
For more information, visit the Port City Marina website.

Port City Marina
10 Harnett Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

UFO Lecture at Holiday Inn Express
If you didn’t get enough spook during the Halloween season, join Dr. Diana Pasulka, professor and chair of the Philosophy and Religion Department at UNCW in a discussion about the correlation of historical UFO accounts and modern sightings. Presented by The Mutual UFO Network of NOrth Carolina (MUFON NC).

Saturday, November 14th at 2pm
Admission is $10.00

Holiday Inn Express
160 Van Campen Blvd
Wilmington, NC 28403

Cancer Shucks: Oyster Roast and Silent Auction
Events at the Watermark Marina presents Cancer Shucks, an oyster roast and silent auction with proceeds benefiting those receiving treatment at New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Zimmer Cancer Center.

Satuday, November 14th at 5pm
Admission is $30-$50. Children under 13 are admitted free.
For tickets and more information, visit the event website.

Events at Watermark Marina
4114 River Road
Wilmington, NC 28412

A Very Merry Crafted Market
If you’re already excited about holiday decorating (we certainly aren’t…) enjoy this holiday market with artwork, fine crafts, and handmade items.

Saturday, November 14th, 10am-4pm
Admission is free.
For more information, visit the Town of Leland website.

Leland Cultural Arts Center
1212 Magnolia Village Way
Leland, NC 28451

Wilmington Weekend Guide: November 6th – 8th, 2015

Happy Friday!

The first weekend of November is here (can you believe it?) and there is no shortage of events to attend this weekend! Check out our Wilmington Weekend Guide Below!

Cape Fear Fair & Expo

Cape Fear Fair & Expo at the Wilmington Airport features attractions, livestock and agriculture! See some cute animals, chow down on some great fair food and enjoy games and special events.

Friday November 6th, 5pm to Midnight
Saturday, November 7th, Noon to Midnight
Sunday, November 8th, 1pm-11pm
Tickets are $5.00 to $22.00.
For more information and tickets, visit the Cape Fear Fair Festival website.

Wilmington International Airport
1740 Airport Blvd
Wilmington, NC 28405

Festival Latino

Enjoy this cross-cultural celebration with Latin American food booths, music, events and children’s activities (featuring a pinata!). The festival will be in Ogden Park on both Saturday and Sunday, with Saturday focusing on cevents for children and Sunday focusing on food and music.

Saturday, November 7th, 11am-8pm
Sunday, November 8th, 11am-5pm
Admission is free.

Ogden Park
615 Ogden Park Drive
Wilmington, NC 28411

The Golden Age of Hollywood at Thalian Hall

This exhibit features work by Dorothy Lonergan Currie including a collection of charcoal and pastel drawings of film stars of the 1930s along with memorable movie moments.

Daily through November 22nd.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit Thalian Hall’s website.
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Ben Folds with yMusic in Concert

98.3 FM The Penguin presents Ben Folds, renowned singer-songwriter, in Wilmington NC at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater this Saturday with New York City based chamber ensemble yMusic. We can’t wait!

Saturday, November 7th, at 6pm
Tickets are $35.00.
For tickets and more information, visit the event website.

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
1941 Amphitheater Drive
Wilmington, NC 28401

Novemberfest

Join The Learning Tree on Lake Avenue for Novemberfest, featuring great activities and events for kids! Enjoy face painting, a bounce house, games, a cake walk, raffle and more! Non-perishable canned food will be collected to support local families in need.

Saturday, November 7th, at 10am
Admission is $5.00.

The Learning Tree
4306 Lake Avenue
Wilmington, NC 28403

Harvest to Table Dinner Benefit for Centripetal Farm

Enjoy dinner, drinks and music at this benefit featuring locally sourced food from Red Beard Farms and Carolina Mariculture Company and drinks from Wilmington Brewing Company. Proceeds benefit Centripetal Farm and their mission to provide environmentally safe and nutritious food along with healthy lifestyle education.

Saturday, November 7th, at 6pm
Tickets are $50.00.
For tickets and more information, visit the event website.

Antlion Acre
173 Yorktown Road
Wrightsboro, NC 28429

24th Anniversary Open House and Bike & Car Show at Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson

Join Harley-Davidson on Market Street for an anniversary party and bike and car show. The event will also feature food, drinks, a stunt show (at 12pm and 1pm), a dyno shootout and children’s activities.

Saturday, November 7th, at 10am
Admission is free.
For more information, visit Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson’s website.

Carolina Coast Harley-Davidson
6620 Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28405

Wilmington Weekend Guide: October 23rd – 25th

The weekend is here again! Fall and the Halloween season are in full swing here in Wilmington. Our Wilmington Weekend Guide is below to help you navigate this weekend’s happenings!

Folkstone String Band at Flytrap Brewing

(Image via FlyTrap’s website)

Enjoy this live bluegrass band and Flytrap’s delicious cold brews on Friday evening, starting at 8pm. Pepe’s Taco Truck will also be serving food.

Friday, October 23^rd at 8:00 PM.
Admission is free.
More information can be found on Flytrap’s website.

Flytrap Brewing
319 Walnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Museum of Nightmares at The Museum of the Bizarre

(Image via Museum of the Bizarre’s Facebook)

For the month of October, Museum of the Bizarre is featuring special effects and giving us the heebie jeebies with their Museum of Nightmares event. The effects are courtesy of Tony Rosen, a local movie artist known for films like The Conjuring.

October 1^st through October 31^st, 6pm to 12am.
Admission is $20.00.
For more information, visit Museum of the Bizarre on Facebook.

Museum of the Bizarre
201 South Water Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Halloween Ghost Trolley and Haunted Barn

(Image via Horse Drawn Tours’ website)

Enjoy a tour fit for the Halloween season! The Halloween Ghost Trolley and Haunted Barn will feature ghost stories (kid friendly) and treats for children.

Friday October 23^rd and Saturday October 24^th, 6pm to 9pm.
Admission is $5.00 – $12.00
For more information, visit Horse Drawn Tours’ website.

Horsedrawn Tours
Market Street Between Front and Water
Wilmington, NC 28401

14th Annual Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival

(Image via Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival website)

In need of a libation? Head to North Waterfront Park to enjoy more than 200 craft breweries and wineries, live music, food, and free taxi rides home.

Saturday October 24th, 12pm.
Tickets are $13.00 to $75.00. VIP and Designated Driver tickets are also available.
For more information, visit Lighthouse Beer and Wine’s website.

North Waterfront Park
1000 North Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Haint Blue All Hallows Masquerade

(Image via Poplar Grove’s website)

This 21+ event promises to be a chilling time! Poplar Grove hosts a Halloween masquerade party with music from the Phantom Playboys, wickedly delicious candy apple Martinis, a variety of appetizers & an oyster bar (raw & steamed) from the Crab Shack, cigar bar from Brookelynn Premium Cigars, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 parade & costume contest with gift certificates from Spirit Halloween, black and white horror films, and music from the 20th & 21st centuries spun by Cape Fear Entertainment. Plus, be sure to visit your past, present and future with an onsite tarot card reader!

Saturday, October 24th at 7pm.
Tickets are $50.00.
For tickets and more information, visit the Poplar Grove website.

Poplar Grove Plantation
10200 US Hwy 17 North
Wilmington, NC 28411

27 Views of Wilmington Book Launch

(Image via Pomegranate Books’ website)

The 27 Views of Wilmington Book Launch features Wilmington author and poet contributions and that capture the past and present of our city. 27 Views of Wilmington is the eighth and final book in Eno Publishers’s popular 27 Views local literary series.

Saturday, October 24^th, 2pm.
Admissions free.
For more information, visit Pomegranate Books’ website.

Pomegranate Books
4418 Park Ave
Wilmington, NC 28403

Family Friendly Farm Days at Legacy Farms

(Image via Legacy Farms’ website)

There are plenty of great farm festivals this month, but be sure to catch the Farmily Friendly farm days at Legacy Frams in Wallace! Legacy’s farm days will include hayrides, a corn maze, face-painting, inflatable slides, animals, games and more.

October 24th and 25th
Tickets are $8.00 -$15.00. Children one and under are free.
For more information, visit Legacy Farms’ website.

Legacy Farms
7494 Highway 41 West
Wallace, NC 28466