Wilmington, N.C. - What better way to celebrate Father’s Day (Sunday, June 19) than with a visit to Wilmington, North Carolina and its island beaches? Whether you’re spending the entire weekend or just visiting for the day, here are a few activities from the river to the sea that Dad and the family are sure to enjoy.
Father’s Day weekend events in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach:
June 17: Outdoor Concerts. Does Dad enjoy music? Check out these Friday night concerts: *Downtown Sundown Concert (6-10pm). High energy blues by “Southern Avenue” & “Snake Malone & the Black Cat Bone.” Free. Water St. at Princess Street, Wilmington, 910-763-7349; www.wilmingtondowntown.com; *Monkey Junction Concert Series (6:30-9:30pm). Music by “Justin Fox” (blues/rock). Free. Home Depot center, 5613 Carolina Beach Rd., Wilmington, http://monkeyjunctionconcertseries.com/; *Airlie Gardens Concert Series (6:30-8:30pm). Music by Jack Jack 180 (rock). Admission charge. Airlie Gardens, Wilmington. 910-798-7700; www.airliegardens.org. *Beachside Music Series at The Oceanic Pier (6:30pm-9:30pm). Free; Oceanic Restaurant, Wrightsville Beach, 910-256-5551
June 17-19: Cape Fear Blues Festival. Treat dad to 3 days of authentic blues by national, regional and local bands. Headliners include Chicago bluesman John McDonald, Memphis-based band Southern Avenue, Raleigh’s own The Rusted Nails & more. Various venues, Downtown Wilmington. Admission charge. Details: www.capefearblues.org
June 17-19: Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green presents an outdoor production of “Twelfth Night” (8pm; every Fri., Sat., Sun. through June 26). Free (donations welcome). Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, Wilmington. 910-399-2878;www.capefearshakespeare.com.
June 17: Wilmington Hammerheads v. Bethlehem Steel FC. Pro soccer. 7pm. Admission charge. Legion Stadium, Wilmington. www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com
June 17-19: Lighthouse Beach Spiel. The Coastal Carolina Curling Club hosts 24 curling teams that will battle to win the bonspiel. Registration required to compete. Wilmington Ice House, 7201 Ogden Business Lane, Wilmington. http://coastalcurling.com
June 18-19: Carnivorous Plant Hike. Bring Dad to hike with a park ranger at Carolina Beach State Park and learn about carnivorous plants like Venus flytrap. 10am. Free. 910-458-8206
June 18: Kids Music Fest. 9am-11am. New Hanover County Public Library presents live entertainment by the 208th Army Band and stories, music and dance with Mr. Scooter and April Turner. More activities include Kure Beach Fire Dept. fire truck; crafts; comic books, bubble-mania, rock star makeovers & more! Free admission. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park, 105 Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach. 910-798-6393. Free to register at www.nhclibrary.org.
June 18: Wilmington Sharks Baseball. 7pm. Legion Stadium, Wilmington.
June 18: 5k Good Hops Brew Run. 8am-10am. 5k run. Registration fee. Hosted by Good Hops Brewing; race takes place at Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach. www.goodhopsbrewing.com/event/5k-beer-run
June 18: Architecture Tour of the Burgwin-Wright House. 4pm. Tour of Colonial architecture & 1845 modifications. Reservations/admission. Burgwin-Wright House, Wilmington. 910-762-0570; info@burgwinwrighthouse.com
June 19: Father’s Day “Hot Dog” Cruise of the Cape Fear River. Departs at 1pm & 3pm. This 90-minute narrated catamaran cruise includes a hot dog lunch. Other cruises depart daily. Admission charge. Wilmington Water Tours, 212 S. Water Street, Wilmington. Reservations: 910-338-3134; www.wilmingtonwatertours.net
June 19: FREE ADMISSION FOR DAD *JUNE 19 ONLY*
*N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher-Dads Free Today: Dads are admitted free to the Aquarium *June 19 only*. Admission charge for guests accompanying Dad. At an additional charge, arrive by 11:30am to enjoy a special Father’s Day BBQ lunch and take-home craft activities. Pre-registration required for BBQ and crafts (additional charge). NC Aquarium at Ft. Fort Fisher, Kure Beach. 910-458-7468; www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.
*Children’s Museum of Wilmington-Dads Free Today: Dads are admitted free to the Children’s Museum *June 19 only*. Admission charge for guests accompanying Dad. Children’s Museum of Wilmington, 116 Orange Street, Wilmington. 910-254-3534; www.playwilmington.org.
June 19: Boogie in the Park. 5-7pm. Music by “The Imitations” (beach/soul/rock). Free. Kure Beach Oceanfront Park, Kure Beach. 910-458-8216; www.townofkurebeach.org/OFPP-activities-events.aspx
June 19: Free Movies by the Sea. This week’s free family movie is Disney’s “Cinderella”. Starts at dusk at Carolina Beach Lake Amphitheater. 910-458-8434; www.pleasureislandnc.org
Weekend Theatre (June 17-19):
*Monty Python’s Spamalot. 8pm (Fri./Sat.) & 3pm (Sun.). Admission charge. Thalian Hall, Wilmington, 910-632-2281; www.thalianhall.org.
*We’re Just Like You…Only Prettier (7pm, Fri./Sat.). Admission charge. TheatreNOW, Wilmington. 910-399-3669; www.theatrewilmington.com.
Special Exhibits (ongoing):
*Ribbit the Exhibit. Whimsical copper frog sculptures at Airlie Gardens, Wilmington
*Starring Cape Fear! Special exhibit explores 30+ years of film history. Cape Fear Museum, Wilmington: www.capefearmuseum.com/exhibits/starring-cape-fear/
*DINOSAURS! & Butterfly Bungalow. Animatronic life-size dinos & delicate butterfly exhibits at N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach: www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher-exhibits
*Patchwork North America at Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington. Other CAM exhibits include: “Dustin Farnsworth” + “Raise the Curtain!” + “She Tells A Story”: www.cameronartmuseum.org/index.php?c=exhibitions&s=index
ALL ABOARD! Explore Wilmington’s railroad history, step inside a real train car, caboose, engine, and operate elaborate model trains. Admission charge. Wilmington Railroad Museum, Wilmington. 910-763-2634; www.wrrm.org.
And that’s not all! There are fishing piers, surfing schools, parks, gardens, museums, tours, farmer’s markets, Boardwalk amusements, miniature golf, a water park and a WWII battleship. Events may change without notice, so before traveling any distance, please confirm details with contacts listed for each event. For a complete Events Calendar, visit www.WilmingtonAndBeaches.com/events-calendar. For seasonal highlights and visitor information, call 1-866-266-9690 or email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com.
