Wilmington, NC: The last weekend in November officially kicks off the holidays with events for all ages that reflect the traditions, culture and spirit of Wilmington, North Carolina and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach. Colorful flotillas (lighted boat parades) usher in the season as they illuminate the waterways during the N.C. Holiday Flotilla in Wrightsville Beach on Saturday, Nov. 25, and again the following weekend when the Island of Lights Christmas Parade (Fri., Dec. 1) & Flotilla (Sat., Dec. 2) takes place in Carolina Beach. Throughout the season, there are twinkling enchanted forests, candlelight home tours, parades, model train Christmas 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.
Stray off course and see where the water takes you when you brighten the season with a visit to Wilmington and its island beaches. To download a free 2017 Holiday Events Brochure, please visit our Seasonal Highlights page. Following is a sampling of holiday events.
Light-Up the Season – Holiday Lights & Parades
Ongoing through Dec. 31: Cape Fear Festival of Trees, N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach
Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2; 8-10; 13-22: Enchanted Airlie, Airlie Gardens, Wilmington
Nov. 24-25; Dec. 1-2; 8-9; 15-16; 22-23; 29-30: Spirit of the Holidays Cruise, Wilmington Riverfront
Nov. 24: Lighting at the Lake, Carolina Beach Lake Park
Nov. 24: Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting, Riverfront Park, Wilmington
Nov. 25: N.C. Holiday Flotilla & Day in the Park, an STS Top 20 Event, Wrightsville Beach
Nov. 25; Dec. 2, 9, 16: Christmas By The Sea, Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Dec. 1: Island of Lights Christmas Parade, Carolina Beach
Dec. 2: Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla, Carolina Beach
Dec. 2-Jan. 8: Art of Illumination exhibition, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 3: Wilmington Holiday Parade, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 8: Christmas Tree Lighting & outdoor holiday movie screening, Greenfield Lake, Wilmington
Dec. 8-9: Historic Wilmington Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll, Downtown merchants, Wilmington
Dec. 9: Island of Lights Tour of Homes, Carolina/Kure Beaches
Dec. 10: Floating Lantern Ceremony, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 15-28: Holiday Lights Trolley Tour, Call 910-763-4483 for dates/times. Boards in Downtown Wilmington
Christmas Days of Yore
Nov. 26: Post-Thanksgiving Historic Home Tour, McGary-Brown-Davis House, 215 S. 5th Ave., Wilmington
Dec. 1-3; 8-10; 15-16: A Merry Little Christmas Festival: Candlelight Tours, Poplar Grove, Hwy. 17N, north of Wilmington
Dec. 2-3: Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour, Latimer House, Wilmington
Dec. 2: Moravian Christmas Candle Tea, Covenant Moravian Church, Wilmington
Dec. 2: Battleship Alive-Christmas Edition, Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington
Dec. 3: Wrightsville Beach Museum Holiday Open House, Wrightsville Beach
Dec. 3-4: Jingle Bells Holiday Tea, Bellamy Mansion, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 5: Fort Fisher Holiday Open House, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, Kure Beach
Dec. 9: Christmas Stroll Through the Past, Bellamy Mansion & Burgwin-Wright House, Downtown Wilmington
Deck the Stages – Theatre, Dance & Film
Nov.24-25; Dec. 1-2; 8-9; 15-16; 22-23: The Greatest Gift, TheatreNOW, Wilmington
Nov. 30: Ballet for Young Audiences: Sleeping Beauty, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Dec. 1-2: Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Dec. 1-3; 7-10; 14-17: “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” Cape Fear Playhouse, Wilmington
Dec. 2-3: City Ballet-A Carolina Nutcracker, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 6-7: The Sound of Music, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 8-10; 15-17: A Christmas Story: the Musical, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Dec. 9: A Charlie Brown Christmas, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 14-17: Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, UNCW Kenan Auditorium, Wilmington
Dec. 16-17: Wilmington Ballet Co. Presents: “Nutcracker,” CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 16-17: The Christmas Cabaret, Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach
Dec. 21: “It’s A Wonderful Life” film screening, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
A Joyful Noise – Musical Celebrations
Dec. 10: Wilmington Choral Society: “Frank-Incense” & Myrrh: A Sinatra Tribute, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 12: Handel’s “Messiah”: Choir of St. Paul’s Concert, St. Paul Episcopal Church, Wilmington
Dec. 14: Cherish the Ladies: Celtic Christmas, Thalian Hall, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 16: Toys for Tots Concert, Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington
Dec. 20: NC Symphony Holiday Pops, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Oh What Fun! – Families with Young Children
Ongoing through Dec. 24: Santa’s Workshop & Photos with Santa, Mayfaire Town Centre, Wilmington
Nov. 24: Battleship Ho-Ho-Ho, Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington
Nov. 25; Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16; 22-24; 29-30: Christmas Train & Light Spectacular, Wilmington Railroad Museum
Nov. 30: Ballet for Young Audiences: Sleeping Beauty, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Dec. 1-2: Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17; 22-24 & 26: Holiday Train Expo, Independence Mall (Dillard’s wing), Wilmington
Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16: A Merry Little Christmas Festival, Poplar Grove, Scotts Hill (10 mi. north of Wilmington)
Dec. 2: Battleship Alive-Christmas Edition, Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, Wilmington
Dec. 2: Dashing Through the Glow 5k & Holiday Festival, River Lights Community, Wilmington
Dec. 2, 9, 16-17 & 23: Polar Express Program, Wilmington Railroad Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 3: Santa Cares: Sensory Friendly Santa Event, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington
Dec. 8-10: Kure Beach Christmas Fantasy Show, K Ave., Kure Beach
Dec. 9, 16, 21-22: Holiday Elf Camp, NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach
Dec. 9 & 16: Polar Express Day, Wilmington Children’s Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 9: 5k Jingle Bell Run, Wrightsville Beach Park, Wrightsville Beach
Dec. 13: Kids’ Christmas Program, Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, Wrightsville Beach
Dec. 15-16; 21-24: Caroling with Santa & “Reindeer” Drawn Trolley/Carriage, 1st block of Market Street, Wilmington
Dec. 16-17: Santa By the Sea, NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach
Dec. 16: Kids@CAM: Holiday Arts & Crafts, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 16: Holiday Super Saturday Fun Time, TheatreNOW, Wilmington
Dec 31: New Year’s Noon, Children’s Museum, Wilmington
Ongoing through Dec. 24: Visit with “Santa” at Cotton Exchange, Mayfaire Town Centre & Independence Mall
Shop ‘til You Drop
Nov. 24: Fourth Friday Gallery Night, Wilmington River District
Nov. 25: Kure Beach Holiday Market, Ocean Front Park, Kure Beach
Nov. 30-Dec. 2: Cape Fear Academy Market, Cape Fear Academy, Wilmington
Dec. 1-3: Holiday Flea at BAC, Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington
Dec. 8-9: Historic Wilmington Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll, Downtown merchants, Wilmington
Dec. 9-10: Poplar Grove Arts & Crafts Festival, Poplar Grove Plantation, Hwy. 17N, north of Wilmington
Dec. 22: Fourth Friday Gallery Night, Wilmington River District
Ongoing through Dec. 24: Shopping Center “Santa” visits: Cotton Exchange, Mayfaire Town Centre, Independence Mall
*Be sure to check out our museum shops for special mementos of your visit, unique gifts and stocking stuffers!
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, Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina Beach
New Year’s Eve: Bacchanalia, TheatreNOW, Wilmington
New Year’s Eve Gala-dinner, show “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” & dancing/midnight toast, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
New Year’s Eve Winner Party Boat Cruise, Carolina Beach Marina, Carolina Beach
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, specials and to download a free 2017 Holiday Event Brochure, visit www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/things-to-do/seasonal-highlights.
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Contact:
Connie Nelson
Wilmington CVB
910-341-4030 x120
866-266-9690
cvbpr@wilmingtonandbeaches.com
