Wilmington, NC: Holiday events in Wilmington, North Carolina and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach fill the months of November and December with a great amount of cheer! Throughout the season, there are twinkling enchanted forests, candlelight home tours, parades, model train displays, concerts, theatrical productions, holiday tours, cruises, and New Year’s celebrations. From the river to the sea, visitors can immerse themselves in holiday arts and cultural activities and shop for one-of-a-kind and locally crafted gifts at beach and riverfront boutiques, shopping villages, art galleries and museum shops. Brighten this holiday season with a coastal getaway to Wilmington and its island beaches. To download a free 2018 Holiday Events brochure, please visit our Seasonal Highlights page. Here’s a sampling of holiday events.
Light-Up the Season – Holiday Lights & Parades
Nov. 19-Dec. 30: Cape Fear Festival of Trees, N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach
Nov. 23-Dec. 31: Island of Lights Festival, Carolina & Kure Beaches
Nov. 23: Lighting at the Lake Celebration, Carolina Beach Lake Park
Nov. 23-Nov. 24: North Carolina Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach (An STS Top 20 Event!)
Nov 23, 24 & 30 Dec. 1 & 7-22: Enchanted Airlie, Advance tickets required. Airlie Gardens, Wilmington
Nov. 23-Dec. 29 Fridays & Saturdays: Spirit of the Holidays Cruise, Wilmington Riverfront
Nov. 23: Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting, Downtown Wilmington
Nov. 23-Dec. 31: Holiday Lights & Window Displays, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington
Nov. 30: Christmas Tree Lighting & outdoor holiday movie screening, Greenfield Lake, Wilmington
Nov. 30: Island of Lights Christmas Parade, Carolina Beach
Dec. 1: Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla, Carolina Beach
Dec. 2: Wilmington Holiday Parade, Downtown Wilmington Riverfront
Dec. 8: Island of Lights Tour of Homes, Carolina/Kure Beaches
Dec. 9: Floating Lantern Ceremony, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington
Christmas Days of Yore
Dec.7-9 & 14-16: A Merry Little Christmas Festival: Candlelight Tours, Poplar Grove, Hwy. 17N, north of Wilmington
Dec. 1-2: Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour, Latimer House, Wilmington
Dec. 1: Annual Candle Tea, Covenant Moravian Church, Wilmington
Dec. 2-3: Jingle Bells Holiday Tea, Bellamy Mansion, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 4: Fort Fisher Holiday Open House, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, Kure Beach
Dec. 8: Christmas Stroll Through the Past, Bellamy Mansion & Burgwin-Wright House, Downtown Wilmington
Deck the Stages – Theatre, Dance & Film
Nov. 16-Dec 23: Fridays & Saturday. Sunday starting Dec. 9: Dinner Theatre: Christmas Cactus, TheatreNOW, Wilmington
Nov. 21: The Great Russian Nutcracker, UNCW Kenan Auditorium, Wilmington
Nov. 29-Dec 16: Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Cape Fear Playhouse, Wilmington
Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Dec. 1-2: City Ballet-A Carolina Nutcracker, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 6-9, 13-16: The SantaLand Diaries. Thalian Hall, Ruth & Bucky Stein studio theatre, Wilmington
Dec. 7-9 & 14-16: A Christmas Carol, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Dec. 8: A Charlie Brown Christmas, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 15: Wilmington Ballet Co. Presents: “Nutcracker,” CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 20: “It’s A Wonderful Life” film screening, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
A Joyful Noise – Musical Celebrations
Nov. 27: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 8: Homegrown Holiday with Zoe & Cloyd, UNCW Kenan Auditorium, Wilmington
Dec. 15: 7th Annual Toys for Tots Fundraiser concert. Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington
Dec. 18: The Beach Boys Reasons for the Season Christmas Tour, Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 19: NC Symphony Holiday Pops, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 19: 3 Redneck Tenors, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Oh What Fun! – Families with Young Children
Nov. 18-Dec.24: Santa’s Workshop & Photos with Santa, Mayfaire Town Centre, Wilmington
Nov. 22: Wrightsville Beach Turkey Trot, Wrightsville Beach Loop, Wrightsville Beach
Nov. 23: Battleship Ho Ho Ho, USS NORTH CAROLINA, Wilmington
Nov. 23: Black Friday Dash 5K & 1 Mile Race, Waterline Brewing Co., Wilmington
Nov. 23-Jan. 2: Holiday Skate Rink, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington
Nov. 23-Dec. 29 Fridays & Saturdays: Christmas Train & Light Spectacular, Wilmington Railroad Museum
Nov. 24-Dec. 30 (Fri.-Sat.-Sun.): Holiday Train Expo 2018, Independence Mall (Dillards wing), Wilmington
Nov. 24: Santa Arrival & Holiday Show, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington
Nov. 24: Turkey Trot 4 Mile Trail Run/Walk, Carolina Beach State Park
Nov. 24, Dec. 1, 8 & 15: Christmas by the Sea, Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Dec. 1: Dashing Through the Glow 5k & Holiday Festival, River Lights Community, Wilmington
Dec. 7-9: Kure Beach Christmas Fantasy Show, K Ave., Kure Beach
Dec. 8: Storytime with Santa, Barnes & Noble Mayfaire, Wilmington
Dec. 8: 5k Jingle Bell Run, Wrightsville Beach Park, Wrightsville Beach
Dec. 8-9; 15-16; 22-23: Saturdays & Sundays: Polar Express Holiday Show, Wilmington Railroad Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 8 & 15: Polar Express Day, Children’s Museum of Wilmington
Dec. 9: Santa Cares: Sensory Friendly Santa Event, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington
Dec. 14-15, 21-24: Caroling with Santa & “Reindeer” Drawn Trolley/Carriage, 1st block of Market Street, Wilmington
Dec 31: New Year’s Noon, Children’s Museum, Wilmington
Ongoing through Dec. 24: Shopping Center “Santa” visits: Cotton Exchange, Mayfaire Town Centre, Independence Mall
Shop ‘til You Drop
Nov. 17 & 24: Kure Beach Holiday Market, Oceanfront Park, Kure Beach
Nov. 17-Dec. 24: Artisan Holiday Market by Going Local NC, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington
Nov. 30-Dec. 2: Holiday Flea at BAC, Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington
Dec. 1: Carolina Beach Holiday Market, Carolina Beach Lake Park
Happy New Year! December 31
New Year’s Noon Countdown, Children’s Museum, Wilmington
Midnight in Paris, Le Catalan, Wilmington
Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Countdown, an STS Top 20 Event, Kure Beach Oceanfront Park, Kure Beach
New Year’s Eve Gala-dinner, show “Mamma Mia” & dancing/midnight toast, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
New Year’s Eve Speakeasy Celebration, TheatreNOW, Wilmington
Insider Tips: Event details often change without notice and/or sell out in advance, so please confirm event date, time, place before traveling any distance. For a FREE Official Visitors Guide, email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com. For seasonal highlights and to download a free 2018 Holiday Event brochure, click here.
###
Contact:
Connie Nelson
Wilmington CVB
910-341-4030 x120
866-266-9690
cvbpr@wilmingtonandbeaches.com
