Wilmington, N.C. - December delights with holiday 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. From the river to the sea, there are light displays, enchanted forests, candlelight home tours, parades, model train expos, concerts, theatrical productions, holiday tours, cruises and New Year’s celebrations. More than 50 locally-owned downtown businesses have decorated their storefronts as part of the Historic Wilmington Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll contest featuring seasonal sights, sounds, flavors and activities, as well as guided nighttime history tours of illuminated neighborhoods (Dec. 9 & 10). Visitors can shop for one-of-a-kind and crafted-in-Wilmington gifts at beach boutiques, shopping villages, art galleries and museum shops.
Go with the flow and see where the water takes you when you visit Wilmington and its island beaches during the month of December. Following is a sampling of holiday events. To download a free 2016 Holiday Events Brochure, please visit www.tinyurl.com/WilmingtonAndBeachesHoliday.
Light-Up the Season – Holiday Lights & Parades
Dec. 1-4: Cape Fear Festival of Trees, N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach
Dec. 1-31: Island of Lights Walking Tours of Lake, Carolina Beach Lake, Carolina Beach
Dec. 1: Christmas Tree Lighting & “Home Alone” movie screening, Greenfield Lake, Wilmington
Dec. 2-4; 9-11; 15-22: Enchanted Airlie, Airlie Gardens, Wilmington
Dec. 2: Island of Lights Christmas Parade, Carolina Beach
Dec. 2; 9-10; 16-17; 23; 30: Holiday Lights Cruise, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 3: Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla, Carolina Beach
Dec. 3, 10, 17: Christmas By The Sea, Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Dec. 3-Jan. 8: Art of Illumination exhibition, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 4: Wilmington Holiday Parade, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 9-10: Historic Wilmington Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll, Downtown merchants, Wilmington
Dec. 10: Island of Lights Tour of Homes, Carolina/Kure Beaches
Dec. 11: Floating Lantern Ceremony, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 15-23: Holiday Lights Trolley Tour, Boards in Downtown Wilmington
Christmas Days of Yore
Dec. 3: Moravian Christmas Candle Tea, Covenant Moravian Church, Wilmington
Dec. 3: Battleship Alive-Christmas Edition, Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington
Dec. 3-4: Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour, Latimer House, Wilmington
Dec. 1-3; 8-10; 15-17: A Merry Little Christmas Festival: Star of Wonder, Star of Night Candlelight Tours, Poplar Grove Plantation, Scotts Hill (10 miles N. of Wilmington)
Dec. 4: Wrightsville Beach Museum Holiday Open House, Wrightsville Beach
Dec. 5: Holiday Tea, Bellamy Mansion, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 9: 12 Tastes of Christmas, Brooklyn Arts Center, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 10: Christmas Stroll Through the Past, Bellamy Mansion & Burgwin-Wright House, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 13: Fort Fisher Holiday Open House, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, Kure Beach
Dec. 19-20: Nights of Lights, Bellamy Mansion Museum, Downtown Wilmington
Deck the Stages – Theatre, Dance & Film
Dec. 1-4: “Elf, Jr. The Musical,” Hannah Block Historic USO/2nd Street Stage, Wilmington
Dec. 1-4; 8-11; 15-18: Jacob Marley’s “A Christmas Carol,” Cape Fear Playhouse, Wilmington
Dec. 1-4; 8-11; 15-18: “Santaland Diaries” (parental discretion advised), Red Barn Studio Theatre, Wilmington
Dec. 2-3: “The Nutcracker,” Thalian Hall, Wilmington
Dec. 2-3; 9-10; 16-18: “A Tuna Christmas,” TheatreNOW, Wilmington
Dec. 3-4: City Ballet-A Carolina Nutcracker, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 8-18: "Annie Warbucks," Thalian Hall, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 9-11: Kure Beach Christmas Fantasy Show, K Ave., Kure Beach
Dec. 10: “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 14-15: “ELF: The Musical,” CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 17-18: Wilmington Ballet Co. Presents: “Nutcracker,” CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 21: “It’s A Wonderful Life” film screening, Thalian Hall, Wilmington
A Joyful Noise – Musical Celebrations
Dec. 2: Sharing Holiday Traditions: 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Band & Chorus, Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 4: Tuba Christmas Carols by UNCW Wind Ensemble, Wilmington International Airport, Wilmington
Dec. 11: Wilmington Choral Society presents Handel’s “Messiah,” CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Dec. 20: Christmas with the Celts, Thalian Hall, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 22: NC Symphony Holiday Pops, CFCC Wilson Center, Wilmington
Oh What Fun! – Families with Young Children
Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18; 23-24; 28-30: Holiday Train Expo, Independence Mall (Dillards wing), Wilmington
Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17; 23-24; 26: Christmas Train & Light Spectacular, Wilmington Railroad Museum
Dec. 1-24: Santa’s Village, Mayfaire Town Centre, Wilmington
Dec. 3: Battleship Alive-Christmas Edition, Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, Wilmington
Dec. 3: Dashing Through the Glow 5k & Holiday Festival, River Lights Community, Wilmington
Dec.4, 10-11 & 17-18: Polar Express Program, Wilmington Railroad Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 10, 17, 22: Holiday Elf Camp, NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach
Dec. 10: Clydes’ Holiday Art by the Sea, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 10: 5k Jingle Bell Run, Wrightsville Beach Park, Wrightsville Beach
Dec. 14: Kids’ Christmas Program, Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, Wrightsville Beach
Dec. 16-24: Caroling by “Reindeer” Drawn Trolley/Carriage, Market Street carriage stand, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 17: Polar Express Day, Wilmington Children’s Museum, Wilmington
Dec. 17: Santa By the Sea, NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach
Dec 31: New Year’s Noon, Children’s Museum, Wilmington
*See also other event categories: Light-Up the Season, Deck the Stages, Christmas Days of Yore & Shop ‘til You Drop
Shop ‘til You Drop
Dec. 1-3: Cape Fear Academy Market, Cape Fear Academy, Wilmington
Dec. 2-4: Holiday Flea at BAC, Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington
Dec. 3-4: Riverfront Family Holiday Market, Battleship Park, Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington
Dec. 9-10: Historic Wilmington Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll, Downtown merchants, Wilmington
Dec. 10-11: A Merry Little Christmas Arts, Crafts & Gift Show, Poplar Grove, Scotts Hill (10 mi. north of Wilmington)
Dec. 23: Fourth Friday Gallery Night, Downtown Wilmington
Dec. 1-24: Shopping Center “Santa” visits: Cotton Exchange, Mayfaire Town Centre, Independence Mall
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, Kure Beach Pier, Kure Beach
New Year’s Eve: Bacchanalia, TheatreNOW, Wilmington
New Year’s Eve Gala-dinner, show “Sister Act” & dancing, 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 specials, visit www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/seasonal-page. To download a free 2016 Holiday Event Brochure, visit www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/media/images/2016_Holiday_Brochure_v3.pdf.
