Wilmington Weekend: December 11th – 13th

The holiday spirit is in full swing here in Wilmington and there are several fun events where you can enjoy the cheer! And if you’re worn out from too much cocoa and carols, there are great non-holiday events as well to give you a break! Check out our Wilmington Weekend Guide below and have a fantastic weekend!

The Twelve Tastes of Christmas

Stop by the Brooklyn Arts Center for the 3rd annual 12 Tastes a Christmas, a fundraiser for Cape Fear Literacy Council, with season eats and cocktails. Participants include standout local restaurants and bars including PinPoint, Flytrap Brewing, Palate and more.

Friday, December 11th at 7pm.
Admission is $30.00.
For tickets and more information visit the event page.

Brooklyn Arts Center
516 North 4th Street
Wilmington , NC 28401

Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll

Enjoy holiday sights and activities in downtown Wilmington this Saturday and Sunday. The Stroll includes street musicians, choral groups, a window decorating contest at downtown businesses and decorations at the Port City Marina and Bennett Brothers Marinas.

Friday, December 11th from 4pm – 8pm; Saturday, December 12th from 11am – 8pm.
Admission is free, stroll is self guided.
For details and schedules, visit the Wilmington Downtown website.

Various Venues in Downtown Wilmington.

Jingle Bell 5K Run

Jingle all the way through this 5k, taking place around the Wrightsville Beach loop! Participants are encouraged to dress in holiday apparel and proceeds benefit the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History.

Saturday, December 12th, at 9am.
Admission is $15.00 to $30.00.
For more information and to register, visit the event page.

Wrightsville Beach Museum of History on The Loop
303 West Salisbury Street
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

Island of Lights Tour of Homes

There’s nothing we love more than a good homes tour! (We can’t help it, we’re in real estate). The Island of Lights Tour in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach is a self guided tour of some of the area’s homes, complete with elegant holiday decor.

Saturday, December 12th, from 4pm to 9pm.
Tickets are available at touche’ at 201 N. Lake Park Blvd.
For more information, visit the event page.

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

Santa by the Sea

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher never dissapoints with holiday events and this Saturday adults and children can enjoy decked out halls, holiday crafts and games, and of course, a special visit from Santa!

Saturday December 12th, at 5pm.
Admission is $15.00 to $18.00.
For more information, visit the aquarium website.

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
900 Loggerhead Road
Kure Beach, NC 28449

Christmas Flotilla at Southport Waterfront

In case you can’t get enough of flotillas, stop by SOuthport along the Southport Marina to Kingsley Park and enjoy decked out boats. Boats will be judged by the students from Southport Elementary for originality and creativity.

Saturday, December 12th, at 7pm.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit the event page.

Southport Waterfront
Yacht Basin Drive
Southport, NC 28461

North Carolina Symphony Holiday Pops

The North Carolina Symphony Concert is coming to the Cape Fear Community College Humanities & Fine Arts Center in downtown Wilmington and will be playing fun holiday selections from recent movies such as Frozen, along with holiday classics.

Saturday, December 12th, at 3:30pm and 7pm.
Admission is $15.00 to $71.00.
For tickets and more information, visit the event page.

CFCC Humanities & Fine Arts Center
701 North Third Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

27th Annual Santa Cruise

The 27th Annual Santa Cruise is this Saturday aboard the Henrietta III! Enjoy this charity cruise for the Salvation army by providing 6 non-perishable items for admission. The cruise runs for an hour and a half and picks up Santa on the way to the North Pole!

Saturday, December 12th, at 9:30am and 12:30pm.
Admission is free with 6 non-perishable items per person.
For more information, visit the Cape Fear Riverboats website.

Cape Fear Riverboats
101 South Water Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas comes to life at the CFCC Humanities and Fine Arts Center!

Saturday, December 12th, and Sunday, December 13th, at 3pm and 5pm.
Admission is $8.00. Bring a canned good for a discounted ticket.
For more information, visit the CFCC website.

CFCC Humanities & Fine Arts Center
701 North Third Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

A Courtly Holiday Tea with The Beverly Biggs Baroque Trio

Chamber Music Wilmington presents a live performance and German tea ceremony on Sunday evening at the Graystone Inn.

Sunday, December 13th, at 4pm.
Admission is $50.00 to $65.00.
For tickets and more information, visit Chamber Music Wilmington’s website.

Graystone Inn
100 South 3rd Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Wilmington Weekend Guide: November 20th – 22nd

Wilmington Riverfest!

After Riverfest was postponed last month, we’ve been anxiously awaiting it’s arrival! The annual street fair will be bringing shopping, street food, live music, fireworks and more to Downtown Wilmington all throughout the weekend. For the complete schedule of events, see the event website.

Friday, November 20th 6pm -11pm; Saturday, November 21st, 12pm – 11pm; Sunday, November 22nd, 12pm – 6pm.
Admission is free.
Event website listed above. Port City Daily has a great event and parking guide that can be found here.

Historic Downtown Wilmington around Water Street.

Party in the Pines
a kickoff party for bread & lights gingerbread and lights festival!

Party in the Pines kicks off the gingerbread and lights festival at Cameron Art Museum with music, cocktails, and holiday desserts!

Party in the Pines: Friday, November 20th at 6pm
Admission is $35 to $45. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 910-395-5999.
For more information, visit the Cameron Art Museum’s website.
bread & lights begins Saturday, November 21st through December 6th.

Cameron Art Museum
3201 South 17th Street
Wilmington, NC 28412

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Stop by the Carolina Civic Center to catch a screening of one of our favorite films, The Grand Budapest Hotel. The story follows a young lobby boy who becomes the trusted friend of the hotel’s lead concierge. Popcorn and other conseccions will be available.

Friday, November 20th at 7pm.
Admission is $5.
For more information, visit the Carolina Civic Center’s website.

Carolina Civic Center
315 North Chestnut Street
Lumberton, NC 28358

Carolina Music Festival

Enjoy live music all weekend long with the Carolina Music Festival! Performances will be held at the Brooklyn Arts Center on Friday, Satellite Bar & Lounge on Saturday, and The Art Factory on Sunday.

Friday, November 20th – Sunday, November 22nd.
Admission is $5 to $20. Single day and three day ticket options are available.
For tickets and band lineups, visit the event website.

Pleasure Island Library Grand Opening

The new Pleasure Island Library in Carolina Beach has a grand opening celebration on Saturday, with tours, a ribbon cutting, refreshments, and events throughout the day.

Saturday, November 21st, 10am – 2pm.
Admission is free.

New Hanover Public Library at Pleasure Island
401 N Lake Park Blvd
Carolina Beach, NC 28428

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: 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

Wilmington Weekend Guide: October 16th – October 18th

The weekend is upon us yet again and the weather forecast looks beautiful and cool. Our Wilmington Weekend Guide is here with great events to make it a perfect fall weekend!

Airlie’s Annual Oyster Roast!
(Image via Airlie Garden on Facebook)

The annual Oyster Roast at Airlie Gardens along the banks of Bradley Creek returns as a celebrated tradition rooted in Airlie’s history. Tickets include appetizers, steamed oysters, BBQ, fish fry, two spirituous drinks. A cash bar will also be available and live entertainment will be provided by Heartbeat of Soul & The Sea Pans. Proceeds from this event support Airlie’s Environmental Education Programs.

Friday October 16^th, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Tickets are $85.00 per guest. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit the Airlie Gardens website.

Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie Road
Wilmington, NC 28403

Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde Silent Film with Dorothy Papadakos

Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde Silent Film with Dorothy Papadakos (Image via Wikipedia)

If you’re looking to get into the Halloween spirit,, stop by St. Paul’sto catch the silent film of Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde accompanied by Dorothy Papadakos, a celebrity organist and composer.

Friday, October 16^th, 7:00 PM.
Tickets are $15.00 to $20.00. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s website.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
16 North 16th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Seaglass Salvage Market

cropped-img_1198 (Image via the Seaglass Salvage Market website)

Enjoy this indoor & outdoor market full of recycled and repurposed furniture, art, candles, home décor, and local goods!

Friday October 16^th – Sunday October 18^th. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday and Saturday; 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit Seaglass Salvage Market’s website.

Seaglass Salvage Market
1987 Andrew Jackson Hwy
Leland, NC 28451

Salty Paws Festival

(Image via the Pleasure Island website)

Looking to hang with your furry friends this weekend? Bring them to the 7^th Annual Salty Paws Festival at Carolina Beach! The festival includes music and entertainment, pet contests, raffles, and pets available for adoption.

Saturday, October 17^th at 11am
Tickets are $7.00. Children 10 and under are admitted free. For more information visit the Pleasure Island website.

Carolina Beach Lake Park
Atlanta Avenue
Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Gatsby Lawn Party

(Image via Jess James’ website)

Step back in time to the 1920s and celebrate Jazz Age style with dancers, big band music, Bella Rose photography, tintype portraits with Harry Taylor, tarot card reading and fashion vendors. The event is hosted by Jess James (Fashion Editor at Focus on the Coast) and Kusek Financial Group.

Saturday October 17^th, 11am to 4pm
Tickets are $30.00 to $99.00 and can include a picnic basket for two from Little Pont Caterers. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Jess James’ website.

Home of Paula Corbett
6604 Spring Garden Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403

Wilmington Seafood Festival

(Image via the event website)

Three words and our three favorite things- Wilmington Seafood Festival! The event will feature an abundance of fresh North Carolina seafood, live music, cooking demonstrations, and shopping.

Saturday October 17^th from 11am to 7pm and Sunday, October 17th 11am to 6pm
Parking note: Limited parking is available on-site for $10.00 Off-site parking is available at Barclay Center (3147 and 3151 South 17th Street) with shuttle service.
Admission is free! For more information, visit the event website.

Events at Watermark Marina
4114 River Road
Wilmington, NC 28412

One Year Anniversaries: FlyTrap Brewery & Burne Mill Creek Billards & Wine Bar

(Images via TripAdvisor and Facebook)

Two great local beer and wine spots in Wilmington are celebrating their one year anniversary! Flytrap will have live music and food trucks and Burnt Mill will have food by 2 Bros Coastal Cuisine, and live music.

Saturday, October 17^th. Begins at 12pm at Flytrip Brewing and 7pm at Burnt Mill Creek Billards & Wine Bar. Admission is free to both events.

Burnt Mill Creek Billiards & Wine Bar
2101 Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Flytrap Brewing
319 Walnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

Wilmington Weekend Guide October: 9th – October 11th

The weekend is here and we’re excited not only because there is less rain in the forecast this weekend, but because there are a ton of amazing events going on in the Wilmington area! Check out our Wilmington Weekend Guide below.

An Evening with Devils Backbone Brewing Company at Fermental

(Image by Christina Haley, via Port City Daily)

Fermental, a great local beer shop with an outdoor beer garden, is showcasing the Devils Backbone Brewing Company from Lexington, Virginia. The event will feature samples, giveaways, live music, and the Funky Fresh Food Truck.

Friday October 9^that 6:00 PM.
This is a free event with food and beverage for sale.
For more information, visit Fermental’s website.

Fermental
7250 Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28411

Paranormal Ghost Tour at Poplar Grove Plantation

(Image via WhatsonWilmington.com)

The Paranormal Ghost Tour at Poplar Grove Plantation in Wilmington, NC is led every Friday in October. Ghostly activity is abound in the Manor house, particularly in the dining room, upstairs hallway and the children’s room. Tours also feature tales of true crimes of passion!

Tours are held every Friday in October and begin on the hour and last from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Tour groups are limited to 15 people and are $15.00 for adults. Reserve your space in advance by calling Felicia Green at 910-686-9518 x103.
For more information visit the Poplar Grove website.

Poplar Grove Plantation
10200 Us Highway 17
Wilmington, NC

Back Door Kitchen Tour

(Image via Wikipedia)

Itching to get a look inside of some the beautiful homes in the historic downtown? This Saturday is your chance to get a glimpse! The Back Door Kitchen tour is a self led tour that allows the public to visit nine distinguished kitchens in the historic downtown area. Some of the kitchens include a Fifth Avenue mansion, a 1898 bungalow, and a Front Street home once occupied by President Woodrow Wilson.

Saturday, October 10^th from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under and can be purchased online here.
For more information visit the Residents of Old Wilmington website.

Various locations in the historic district, see website for details.

Taste of Wrightsville Beach

(Image via Wrightsville Beach Foundation)

Enjoy local food, beer, and wine from over 30 local businesses celebrating the unique tastes of the Wrightsville Beach area!

Saturday, October 10^th at 5:00 PM
Tickets are $25.00 to $100.00.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Wrightsville Beach Foundation website.

Oceanfront by MarineMax
130 Short St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

Port City Rumble Car Show

(Image via Port City Rumble on Facebook)

Don’t miss jalopies, choppers, cars, bikes and more at the Port City Rumble Car Show. All the featured vehicles are built before 1967!

Saturday October 10^th, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Admission is free.
For more information, check out the event page on Facebook.

Between Princess and 2^nd Street in downtown Wilmington.

Star Wars Day at The Northeast Regional Library

(Image via Northeast Regional Library)

Kids and their families are invited to dress up and enjoy Star Wars Day at the Northeast Regional Library featuring games, crafts, and activities.

Saturday, October 10^th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit the Northeast Regional Library’s website.

Northeast Regional Library
1241 Military Cutoff Road
Wilmington, NC 28405

A zombie, a vampire, and a werewolf walk into a bar… Presented by TheatreNow

(Image via TheatreNOW)

Is it panic, pandemonium and mayhem when these high powered ladies of the night go out for a night on the town? Not really. Try trivia, karaoke and a bachelorette party? These ladies of the evening are sure to show you the meaning of “eat your heart out” in more ways than one. This performance is recommended for mature audiences only. Join TheatreNow for this fun performance complete with a Halloween themed dinner!

October 9^th – October 31^st (Fridays and Saturdays only). Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show begins at 7PM.
Tickets are $20.00 (dinner excluded) to $34.00.
For more information, visit TheatreNow’s website.

TheatreNOW
19 South 10th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

The 22nd Annual Pleasure Island Seafood Blues and Jazz Festival

(Image via Pleasure Island on Facebook)

Enjoy nationally recognizes Blues and Jazz performers, coastal cuisine and fun for all ages at this festival. In addition to the several amazing artists, the festival will also have some shopping, wine tasting, and magicians, face painting, and inflatables for the kids.

October 10^th – October 11^th, gates open at 11:00 AM.
Tickets range from $25.00 to $100.00 with two day and single day offers.
For the musician lineup and for more information, visit the Pleasure Island website.

Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area
118 Riverfront Road
Kure Beach, NC 28449