Join us Memorial Weekend for a Summer kick off! There will be a cool treat by the pool on Friday afternoon.  A cookout,crafts, and a movie on Saturday!

Date: Happening All Summer Long!
Time: 5:00 p.m.

Join us every Friday at 5 pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day for a cool treat by the pool (weather permitting).

Care Camp donations are appreciated so that we can help send children with cancer to summer camp.

Come celebrate Dad with us! Friday night we will have root beer floats, Saturday join us for craft time and then movie night at the Pavilion.  We look forward to seeing you!

Join us this Independence Day Weekend for lots of fun! We will have a cookout, a movie, crafts and more!

Join us Labor Day weekend for a great end of Summer weekend! Stay tuned for activities...

Visit the beautiful campus of UNCW!  Continuing the community tradition of making original art accessible to everyone, Art for the Masses features over 100 artists with work for $250 or less!  Admission is free, donations always welcome.
Time - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Date: April 10-12, 2020
Join us Easter weekend for an eggcellent time!

Friday activities:
Train rides: 2pm and 6pm

Saturday activities include:
Train rides: 2pm and 6pm-Kids young and old will enjoy riding in the barrel train!
Egg hunt: 10:30 a.m.- Join us by the gem mine for our annual Easter Egg Hunt, Face Painting and maybe a visit from the Easter Bunny!!!
Craft Time($): 1 p.m.- 2 p.m.
Paradise Provisions Demo - 1:30 p.m. - Come sample one of the "Grab and Go" meal kits and a Cocktail Kit. 
Smores Night: 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Roasting Peeps and making smores! Yum!
Movie - 7 pm 

This annual open-lawn early evening casual concert series allows dining and dancing surrounded by Airlie Gardens' majestic beauty.  This family friendly event usually offers libations and food and beverage for sale or bring your own.  So pack your picnic basket, chairs and blankets and come out and enjoy an evening outdoors.

Please check website for time and admission- advance ticket purchase required
Recurring monthly on the 1st Friday.

• This unique Farmers' Market is the only one on the island and provides an opportunity to purchase fresh, locally grown produce. In addition to produce vendors and various other consumables vendors, the market includes a variety of unique craft vendors.
  
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• Time:  Mondays 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  
• Price:  Free
  

Wilmington's largest downtown arts festival returns with works of more than 80 artists from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Participants will exhibit oil and watercolor paintings, pottery, jewelry, wood, glass, and paper creations. The Orange Street Arts Fest is both relaxing and exhilarating with live entertainment, old-fashioned fair food, and a wine and beer tent. With its laid back attitude and historic Downtown Wilmington setting, the Orange Street ArtsFest has been described as "A Jewel of a Show" so don't miss out! 

Dates:
May 25 - 26, 2019

Time:
Saturday: 10am-6pm, Sunday: 10am-5pm

Admission:
Free

On Memorial Day, people of all generations from across the state will gather together on the deck of the USS North Carolina to pay their respects. This moving and meaningful ceremony includes military and patriotic musical arrangements featuring a military guest speaker, an all-service Color Guard, a 21-gun salute, and a memorial wreath cast into the water. Executive Director Captain Terry A. Bragg and members of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Commission invite the public to take part in this powerful Memorial Day observance ceremony.

The Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament welcomes all fishermen, participants, and spectators for a weekend of fishing fun as well as an opportunity to promote conservation, protection, and preservation of valuable marine resources. This annual event is sure to embrace your wild side. Please check their Website and Social Media for a full schedule of events, parties and the latest updates.

• Time:  Wed:3:00 PM | Thurs:8:30 AM-8:00 PM | Fri: 8:30 AM-8:00 PM | Sat: 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM and Awards: 7:00 PM
  
• Price:  Free to watch. For Registration please see website.
  

Hear is your chance to dance barefoot on the sand or just sway to the Beach Music Beat while standing in the surf. Held the first Saturday in June, the Beach Music Festival hosted by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce is billed as "the biggest and only beach music festival actually held on the beach on the North Carolina coast" and one of the longest running beach music festivals in the United States. Come out and enjoy a full day of live entertainment with the hottest beach music bands in the south! You can access this festival via the Carolina Beach Boardwalk.

• Enjoy this unique paranormal ghost tour discovering spirits and haunts, or haints, of all eras from 1850 to 1950 as they continue to hover around this historic manor house. There are lots of true stories of the Poplar Grove's Foy Family household haints to share, including a murderous crime of passion. Discover who these phantoms are and why they're still here. You will learn a little history, review a scroll of the dead, and focus on a particular room or rooms for paranormal activity. Cameras and other paranormal equipment are permitted.  Please check their Website and Social Media for latest updates on exact dates tour is available between the dates listed below.
  
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• Presented By:  Poplar Grove Plantation
  
• Time:   8:00 PM, 9:00 PM will be added as necessary
  
• Price:  $15 for Tour
  

The CFI: Film Festival celebrates the best of independent film in the heart of filmmaking in North Carolina. Showcasing local, regional, national and international film, the festival accepts all genres and gives awards in ten different categories. The festival also features celebrity guests, educational and business panels and the Wilmington Film Awards.  Please visit their Website and Social Media for the latest updates.

• Time:  Please see website for showcase schedule
  
• Price:  *2019 Admission TBA*
  

The Cape Fear Blues Festival, an up and coming festival though out the national blues industry, is where blues fans can satisfy their soulful cravings! Please check web site for latest up dates and schedule of artists.

Join the Children's Museum celebration of Mud Day with the messiest fun you can imagine. Kids will create a connection to the joys of playing in nature with this event by squishing, stomping, and sliding in the mud, making mud pies in the mud kitchen, exploring "Magic Mud" and other new gooey concoctions. Be sure to wear a bathing suit or old clothes and bring a towel and a change of clothes. Please check their Website and Social Media for the latest updates.

• Time:  9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  
• Price:  Free with admission or membership
  

Celebrate Independence Day early with a special display of free fireworks and live music by the sea. Be sure to arrive early to grab your spot at the gazebo or on the beach to enjoy free entertainment and fireworks by the sea. Weather permitting and schedule is subject to change without notice.  Please check their Website and Social Media for the latest updates.

• Time:  Entertainment: 6:30 PM | Fireworks: 9:00 PM
  
• Price:  Free for Spectators
  

The City of Wilmington's 4th of July Celebration featuring Independence Day Fireworks and  live entertainment and food vendors in beautiful historic downtown Wilmington. The fireworks display will begin at 9:05 pm. Spend a night to remember with the whole family.  For more information including parking and traffic information please visit the city's website.

• Time:  6:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Fireworks: 9:05 PM
  
• Price:  Free for spectators
  

One of the most renowned Rugby Tournaments in the country, Cape Fear 7's, is one of the nations largest Summer 7's tournaments. This 45th Annual event features one of the most competitive premiere divisions and hosts several hundred players from teams from across the country and around the world. Please check their website and social media for a complete listing of all the events

• Time:  Various, see Website
  
• Price:  Registration Details on Website
  

Get your rods and lines ready for this  years Classic!
Please see web site for full schedule and competition registration details.

Competitors start out with a 375 meter ocean swim.  Upon exiting the water, participants put on their running gear at the "Beach Transition Area" and run 1.5 miles to the "Bike Transition Area". Participants then complete a 20K bike ride on a closed course (no traffic).  Then it's back on with the running gear for the 1.5 mile run back to the "Beach Transition Area".  Participants complete the race by once again swimming the 375 meter course.

See website for "bundle" pricing and further details.

Dance the night away to live music, enjoy an inflatable movie screen featuring short films, a cash bar and more. Make bids at the popular silent auction featuring a wide assortment of fine art, services, and specialties from local businesses. Make sure to “seas the daze” and stop by this wonderful annual event in the heart of Wrightsville Beach!

• Time:  6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  

The Wilmington Boat Show launched September 9-11, 2016.  The Port City is renowned as North Carolina's most accessible coastal destination, nestled between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean.  This coastal gem will now be home to the annual Wilmington Boat Show produced by JBM & Associates, producers of the Charleston and Savannah Boat Shows. The Wilmington Boat Show is the largest of its' kind between Annapolis, Maryland and Tampa, Florida.This destination show will take place in several different venues including the Port City Marina, Wilmington Convention Center.  See web site for confirmed details.

ADMISSION Adults (13 to 64):  $10
Two-Day Pass:  $15
Seniors (65 and Up):  $8
Military:  $5
Children (4 to 12):  $5
Children 3 and Under:  Free
Thursday Night VIP Ticket: $50
 Friday, September 6, 2019 Noon to 6pm Saturday, September 7, 2019 10am to 6pm Sunday, September 8, 2019 10am to 5pm

Accept the open water challenge of the 14th Annual Pier-2-Pier Swim Race at beautiful Wrightsville Beach. This annual event entails swimming approximately 1.7 miles between Johnnie Mercer's Pier and the Crystal Pier around marker buoys. The starting point for the race will be determined on race day in accordance with the ocean current.

• Presented By:  Wilmington Family YMCA
  
• Time:  Race Start: 9:00 AM
  
• Price:  Please see website for registration details.
  

Tempting over 17,000 people from across the country to taste the nation's best BBQ, this festival is a celebration of culinary skill and live entertainment. National BBQ teams will flock to Carolina Beach to sell their BBQ and compete against each other for bragging rights. Many of these "ribbers" have been featured on several national TV networks including the Food Channel, TLC and the Discovery Channel's "Pitmaster." Taste not only ribs but beef brisket, chopped and sliced pork, chicken, sausages and a plethora of side items, desserts and drinks prepared Memphis-style, Chicago-style, Texas-style and more. Please see their website for details.

Join in the largest single distance one day race from northern Virginia to Florida. This race is a highly-anticipated USA Triathlon sanctioned event, and consists of a 1,350 yard swim, an 11.5 mile bike and a 5k run in Wrightsville Beach making great use of Wrightsville Beach's terrain for local and visiting competitors.

• Time:  7:00 AM
  
• Price:  Free for Spectators. For registration information please see the website.
  

Come stroll Historic Downtown Wilmington's picturesque streets and view colorful and creative works of art in a variety of mediums at Wilmington's largest outdoor art show and sale.  Don't miss your chance to pick up some of these one-of-a-kind local pieces from talented artists.

This fun-filled, self-guided tour of downtown Wilmington bars, nightclubs and eateries will take you on an adventure like no other! Sample two wines or two beers at participating locations while you experience some of your favorite fun places and some you have yet to discover! Please check their Website for the latest updates.

Join fellow art and nature lovers for one of the leading events of the season.  Wilmington area artists will show their two and three dimensional work though out the gardens. 

See web site for details

Join in celebrating Wilmington's Annual Riverfest! This festival includes a street fair with special exhibits along with vendors selling art and handmade crafts, competitions, fireworks, over 30 food vendors and more. Enjoy a car show, continuous live entertainment showcasing local musicians and bands and see the Miss Riverfest crowned as the festival's ambassador. Fireworks are Saturday evening

Mighty mutts and playful purebreds will leap tot hte sky to catch flying discs at the Bark in the Park.  Everyone is welcome to enjoy this free event.  Spectators can vote for the Best Dressed Dog, Best Dressed Team and Dog Displaying Most Personality.

This USTAF Boston qualifier marathon takes a tour of Carolina Beach and the adjoining town of Kure Beach.
Free for spectators.
Runners please see website for registration

Join the celebration of the three B's-- Beach, BACON and Beer! This friendly, culinary competition pits the creativity of local chefs presenting unique and tasty BACON-inspired offerings that can be paired with several choices of Beer and Wine.  Prizes will be awarded for Judges Choice, People's Best Overall, Most Original, Best Savory and Sweetest, in addition to the Best Decorated Tent and Most Enthusiastic Tent. Each guest will receive five ‘tasting tickets' they present to the booth of their choice with additional ‘tasting tickets' available for $1 each.

The PPD IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina triathlon will take place on much of the same course as its bigger sibling and will feature a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run. This "point-to-point-to-point-to-point" event begins in Wrightsville Beach and takes athletes along the same fast channel swim. The bike course runs through the coastal countryside outside Wilmington, and the run traverses Greenfield Lake before athletes finish in historic downtown Wilmington across from the USS North Carolina Battleship.

If you're constantly searching for the latest and greatest beer, this event was made for you. Take advantage of the opportunity to try the private reserves of over 30 of your favorite breweries featuring unique beers you've never had and some you've never heard of aboard the deck of the historic Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, complete with light appetizers, live music and brewers on hand to answer all of your questions.Tickets Available in June- this is an Age 21+ EventInsiders Tip:  This is a Sell Out Event please plan accordingly

• Presented By:  Lighthouse Beer & Wine
  
• Time:  6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  
• Price:  Tickets on Sale in June Admission TBA
  

Explore the world of hops, grapes and grain at the Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival featuring over 100 craft breweries and wineries. Admission includes entrance to the Lighthouse Beer Festival grounds and a sampling glass.There will be a guide about the Breweries and the lucky wine ticket holders will have a printed booklet with all the participating wineries at the wine tent. Don't miss this fun-filled festival of beverages, live music, food vendors, and more!  For the true beer aficionados, be sure to check out the Voracious Rare Beer Festival (held the Friday evening prior aboard the Battleship North Carolina.) Please see website for details.

Families have been enjoying this traditional fair for decades.  Enjoy delicious food, animal exhibits, competitions, horticultural contests, amusement rides, children's activities, stunt shows, family fun and live entertainment.
Check website for times

Batty Battleship, brother Buggy and their friends return to the Battleship for a spooktacular trick or treating time. A lot of fun and no scares it is the best location for the family to share.But don't be frightened and don't you fret we promise we'll provide a zoo with animals to pet. With candy and sweets there's plenty of treats you'll be asking yourself what more should I eat.Have fun aboard the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA for the annual Batty Battleship's Halloween Bash. Bring your little ghouls and goblins to Battleship for trick-or-treating!  Fun games, activities, henna tattoos, & storytelling is all part of the Halloween fun.  Batty Battleship is perfect for the little ones and families!  Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes.  Bring your camera!
2019 Information forthcoming! Please verify date and times on website.

Come watch as serious kite flyers share their sky art  at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area.  This is the final kite event of the season with more than just your average kites filling the sky.  See incredible shapes, sizes, styles and of course colors float, soar and ride the air. Please check the Video footage of last year's event on their Website.  Food trucks and other vendors will be on-site during the festival.

• Time:  2019 Times to be Announced
  
• Price:  Free for Spectators
  

Set amidst the inspiring and educational backdrop of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, this year's Cape Fear Festival of Trees is sure to be one of the most unique festivities on the Cape Fear coast! .
Benefiting the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation, this event will start your holiday season off right.    Dates : November 18, 2019 - January 2, 2020.  Purchase of a ticket to the aquarium allows you to enjoy the beautiful trees at no extra expense.  See website for more details.

The Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting features music and caroling, a visit with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and the lighting of the Holiday Tree. Enjoy music, a holiday marketplace, and warm refreshments. Get into the spirit and stroll among the shops and restaurants to kick off the holiday season coastal-style!

A New Hanover County tradition since 2005, guests from around the world have visited Airlie Gardens from Thanksgiving to Christmas to take in the sparkling sights and festive sounds of the season. Guests will experience a 0.5m stroll through the Gardens, on a self-guided walking tour while feasting their eyes on a spectacular array of lights and holiday displays. Also in attendance, Santa Claus himself, and a few local food and beverage vendors with coffee, hot chocolate, popcorn, cookies and more! 

See website for dates and times.

Holiday magic returns to the railroad museum with  more lights and more action.  The museum transforms into a winter wonderland.  Over 25,000 lights glisten and sparkel as well as musical animations and twilight model train displays.  Santa is also on hand with goodies and cider.

See website for times and prices

Santa welcomes everyone to the Battleship Holiday Festivities. Volunteers stationed throughout the ship will hep children adn parents understand this impressive floating City at Sea. Call the North Pole from the Battleship's Radio Central. Track Santa's journey around the world by radar and more fun.

Presented by: Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
Time: 10:00 am until 3:00 pm
Price:  Free with Battleship Admission

Celebrate the holidays coastal-style at the NC Holiday Flotilla.  This celebration kicks off Friday night with the Tree Lighting ceremony.  The fun continues Saturday with the Festival in the Park and the Flotilla begins at 6:00 pm followed by a spectacular fireworks show. 

Friday - Tree Lighting - 5:30 pm
Saturday - Festival 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Flotilla 6:00 pm

Join Poplar Grove Plantation's beautiful grounds aglow with lights twinkling under the stars.  Get in the holiday spirit with a blazing camp fire and drop a letter in teh mail to Santa or a US Military Personnel.  Enjoy a wagon ride through the Abbey Nature Preserve, a "Grinch Toy Junk Shop" and snuggle up for an outdoor movie.  Advanced reservations are required for the candlelight tours.  Please visit website for updates.

This prestigious, historic two-day event ushers in teh holiday season with a festive tour of private  homes, churches and historical sites in Historic Downtown Wilmington.  Don' miss out on this uniquely Wilmington holiday event. Please check website for latest updates.

Join the Burgwin-Wright House, Bellamy Mansion Museum and St. James Episcopal Church as they host their annual festive holiday evening filled with music, dancing, costumes, refreshments and more! Go back in time for an old-fashioned Christmas on this magical night full of fun for the whole family complete with period decorations, costumed interpreters and even a miniature animal petting zoo. Both historic houses are decorated beautifully for the holidays, so enjoy a trolley ride or a candlelit stroll through Downtown Wilmington as you go from one to the other.

• Time:  4:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  
• Price:  See website for details
  

Description:

The 18th Annual Dolphin Dip Extravaganza in Surf City, NC, proceeds benefit Share the Table. The event features thousands of folks braving the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean, plus a costume contest, and more.

Show up at 11am, swim at noon.

Location
Wilmington, NC

Description
The Festival is a celebration of Wilmington's exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern. 
Various Locations

For More Information
910.794.4650

www.ncazaleafestival.org