• Dinosaurs roar to life once again at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. DINOSAURS! features multiple species of animatronic dinosaurs roaring, spitting and wowing visitors in a natural garden setting. Guests may glimpse a ferocious T-rex family, a menacing Diabloceratops and of course, a colorful stegosaurus, among others.
  
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• Presented By:  North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
  
• Time:  Regular Aquarium Hours
  
• Price:  Free with Regular Aquarium Admission
  

Join the beautiful historic Poplar Grove Mansion every Wednesday for their superb Farmers' Market. One of the greatest opportunities at this Farmers' Market is the interaction with the people growing, catching, baking and producing your food and other products.

Every Wednesday, April 18-October 26, 2018

Time: 8am-1pm

• 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 26-27, 2018

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.

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:  *2018 Admission TBA*
  

The very first "Formula 1" or super sprint triathlon produced in the U.S. (formerly the Kure Beach Double Sprint)
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.

This year's U.S. Youth Championship, the pinnacle of youth racing for the summer season, comes to the Carolina Yacht Club on Wrightsville Beach, NC. The top 150 sailors from around the country, aged 19 or under (ISAF World Youth Championship age limit), receive invitations on US Olympic Yachting Committee letterhead to attend this event. Awards will include the prestigious Johnstone, Manton Scott, Conner, Stevens, and Perry Trophies.

• Presented By:  U.S. Sailing
  
• Time:  2018 Times TBA
  
• Price:  Free to Spectators. Please see website for registration details
  

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
  

Come experience the Gnome Invasion Summer Art Exhibit at Airlie Gardens featuring 15 giant 5 foot gnomes that have been colorfully painted and adorned by a select group of artists! The gnomes, nestled in the beautiful greenery and flowers of this historic garden, playfully appeal to visitors young and old. Finding all the Gnomes will be a real Treasure Hunt!

• Time:  Regular Garden Hours
  
• Price:  Free with Regular Garden Admission
  

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 44th 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 on Website
  
• Price:  Registration Details on Website
  

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
  

The O'Neill/ Sweetwater Pro-Am held on Wrightsville Beach has grown into one of the largest surfing contests on the East Coast and attracts surfers from around the world. In all, dozens of amateur surfers and an average of 96 professional surfers from around the world participate in this exciting three-day event. Some professionals that have won in the past include Rob Machado, Fisher Heverly and Avon Cormican.

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:  5:30 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, The Shell, Wilmington Convention Center and across the Cape Fear River at Battleship NC.
 ADMISSIONAdults (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 7, 2018 Noon to 6pmSaturday, September 8, 2018 10am to 6pmSunday, September 9, 2018 10am to 5pm

Celebrate sports, health, wellness and the arts in Carolina Beach during the Dragon Boat Regatta & Festival. You can join in as a participant by forming a Team with your friends, family or co-workers and enjoy being afloat a colorful 45 foot long watercraft. The fun starts Friday evening with a kickoff party featuring live music and refreshments. Saturday, get ready to race and enjoy a large festival of vendors around the Carolina Beach Marina displaying artwork, jewelry, shirts, and food items for sale. Come join the festivities as a team member or spectator. This is a family fun event so participants are encouraged to bring along children and friends to enjoy the fun!

Accept the open water challenge of the 13th 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.

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.

SATURDAY, December 2, 2017
SATURDAY, April 28, 2018
SATURDAY, September 29, 2018
SATURDAY, December 1, 2018Time:
8:00 AM – 5:00 PMFree with Battleship admission!Watch and interact with World War II living history interpreters as they bring the Ship to life by re-enacting daily duties and drills.  A great event for all ages.  Bring your questions and cameras!

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.
  

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 second annual Miss Riverfest crowned as the festival's ambassador. Fireworks are Saturday evening at 8:15 PM.

Enjoy the flavors of Wrightsville Beach restaurants! The Taste of Wrightsville Beach festival celebrates the island's diverse and delicious fare on and around the beach with over 30 food, wine and beer tasting booths. (See website for a full list of vendors). Celebrity judges will rate the dishes with a "Best in Show" while the public will select the "People's Choice" award. This is an evening not to miss so book your tickets today.
Time:
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Admission:
Advanced TBA

• 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.
  
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• Presented By:  Poplar Grove Plantation
  
• Time:  Tours on the Hour: 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM
  
• Price:  $15 for Tour
  

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.

Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman-70.3/north-carolina.aspx#ixzz4UvKNSwe4

Enjoy the 25th Annual Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival with a weekend filled with blues and jazz from two stages of performers all accompanied by delicious locally prepared seafood. Get up close and personal with the soulful echoes of the blues with national headliners or sway to some smooth jazz tunes  Bring your chairs, towels and blankets for a great day of music and seafood at the coast.  Please visit their Website and Social Media for the latest updates.

America's First One Tree Hill convention, EyeCon Returns to Tree Hill at the Wilmington Convention Center. Celebrate a reunion with the celebrities of the hit TV series that was filmed in beautiful Wilmington, NC for nine years. This entertaining weekend will feature games, panels, Celebrity Q&As, photo-ops, celebrity autograph sessions, One Tree Hill themed parties, and even private meet and greets with the stars of the show.  Please check their Website for more information on admission pricing and schedules for individual weekend events as well as their Social Media for other activities and contests.

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.

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:  2018 Times to be Announced
  
• Price:  Free for Spectators
  

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.

SATURDAY, December 2, 2017
SATURDAY, April 28, 2018
SATURDAY, September 29, 2018
SATURDAY, December 1, 2018Time:
8:00 AM – 5:00 PMFree with Battleship admission!Watch and interact with World War II living history interpreters as they bring the Ship to life by re-enacting daily duties and drills.  A great event for all ages.  Bring your questions and cameras!

The Wrightsville Beach Museum of History invites you to participate in the 5K Jingle Bell Run. This celebratory holiday event, encourages race participants and spectators to dress in holiday apparel (i.e. Santa costumes, antlers, snowmen, etc.). Runners who register in time always receive some creative Holiday Swag.  Historic cottages and beautiful winter marshes are part of the scenery as you meet the challenge of this special 5K alongside beautiful Wrightsville Beach.Electronic Registration available in August, 2018

• Presented By:  Wrightsville Beach Museum of History
  
• Time:  2018 Times TBA
  
• Price:  Registration begins in August, 2018