Events

Join the fun, fantastic night as breweries pour their rarest and most sought beer and wine along with a champagne bar, oyster stations and more as the sun sets into the river. A precursor to the much larger Saturday tasting event with hundreds of beers, this ultimate date night includes a tasty…

Spend the weekend exploring the world of hops, grapes and grain. For the true beer aficionados, the Voracious Festival is a 'must attend' on Friday evening. Then on Saturday afternoon, the Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival opens with more breweries wielding more delights than you can possibly sample…

Enjoy festive family-friendly activities in this container filled enclave boasting delicious refreshments from their food court and fall goodies from local boutiques, all a short drive from historic downtown. At the Cargo District's Fall Festival get ready for a fun filled day of carnival games…

Experience Halloween in the Alley aka Alley-Ween hosted by the Dive Restaurant and Bar in Carolina Beach. This block party is a two-for-one with a family portion during the day from 4-7pm with vendors, mini golf, game booths and more. After 7pm the party turns into an adults only party where you…

Get ready for the exciting Wilmington PokeKon Fest, a celebration of all things Pokemon with games, cosplay, and more in historic downtown. Join in on a day filled with Pokemon battles, trading, fan meet and greets, and more! Participate in tournaments, maybe even catch a rare Pokemon or two, and…

Join fellow art and nature lovers as North Carolina artists and artisans show their two and three dimensional creations throughout the splendor of the seven acre gardens, including sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, photographs, and more. There will also be over 80 booths providing a wide variety of…

Join the fun as serious kite flyers create sky art at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area for the Cape Fear Kite Festival, presented in partnership with the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce. This is the final kite event of the professional kite flying season with much more than average kites…

If you missed the annual Feast Festival earlier in the year, now is your chance to taste test incredible bites from twelve of the region's most talented chefs in a beautiful fall setting at Canterbury Stables. Fall Feast: Autumn in the South is one incredible night filled with live music, seasonal…

Enjoy a fun filled afternoon featuring authentic Polish food a few minutes drive from historic downtown, filled with fun kids activities and entertainment including a full size authentic Blaskapelle band, a craft sale, raffles and more. You are invited to try delicious Polish Foods: Kielbasa…

For the ultimate seafood lover, indulge in the Out to Sea NC Seafood Festival in beautiful Wilmington, NC on November 8 through 10. Hosted by Seabird, who's owner and head chef Dean Neff is a James Beard Foundation finalist. This festival features a variety of talented local chefs at various…

Come enjoy the vibrant multi-cultural weekend celebration when the International Festival (previously known as Festival Latino) returns, filled with even more family fun, music and terrific food for the 26th Anniversary. The Kids Fiesta Area will keep the young entertained for hours with carnival…

Enjoy the flavors of Wrightsville Beach restaurants on the waterfront. The Taste of Wrightsville Beach festival celebrates the island's diverse and delicious fare on and around the beach with over 40 food, wine and beer tasting booths under a huge tent equipped with heaters. (See website for a…

Explore a vibrant all day celebration during the BAD (Brooklyn Arts District) Music & Arts Festival. Listen to tunes from an even bigger sound stage than last year featuring bluegrass, funk, reggae, and more with headliners The Revivavalists and Grace Potter with support from other hot bands like…

Join the celebration for one of the largest American film festivals in the South at the Cucalorus Film Festival. Cucalorus is recognized by Moviemaker as one of the "Coolest Film Festivals in the World" and one of "50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" and more. Known for its quirky setting at…

Kick off the holiday season the German way at the Wilmington 9th Annual Christkindlmarkt German Festival! Enjoy free admission and a cheerful lineup of activities. Visit the petting zoo with the little ones, sip authentic German beer, savor delicious seasonal treats, and browse more than 55…

Join the Holiday festivities as historic Poplar Grove Plantation's beautiful grounds shimmer with a magical Christmas light display and more. Surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights, get in the Christmas spirit with the barn bustling with arts, crafts and gift vendors, a libations tent and…

Celebrate and support small, local businesses and artisans at this fantastic holiday gathering on Small Business Saturday, November 28th. The Really Cool Stuff Holiday Market takes place on Dock Street between Water and Second Streets, bringing together over 60 artists and creators from the…

Celebrate the holidays coastal-style at the annual NC Holiday Flotilla. A local delight since 1983, the celebration kicks off Friday night with the Wrightsville Beach Tree Lighting Ceremony that is open to the public. The fun continues Saturday with the Festival in the Park featuring over 100 arts…

Dress in your best Whoville attire and join in a Grinch-themed outdoor holiday celebration. The evening will start with the announcement of the 2026 Kure Beach Cheermeister followed by a viewing of the 2000 animated film "The Grinch." While the film is playing, everyone can visit different…

Enjoy one of the largest traditional jazz festivals in the Southeast, the 47th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival. This musical weekend starts on Thursday evening and continues both Friday and Saturday night with four and a half hour concerts featuring seven sets with six or seven musicians per…

Laissez les bons temp rouler! Let the good times roll! Once a year favorite blues/roots musician Randy McQuay assembles the talented Port City Players: filled with the best fiddle, washboard, trumpet, trombone, guitar, keyboards, and bass players for an evening of unforgettable Mardi Gras…

Taste, sip, savor and celebrate your way through the exciting Food & Drinks Festival, featuring over 60 of some of the most creative chefs, Feast Wilmington at the beautiful waterfront venue Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park! Experience historic downtown filled with flavor. Choose either a…

Recently ranked in the top ten national Flower Festivals by USA today, join the excitement as The North Carolina Azalea Festival celebrates Wilmington's exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its days of pageantry. Celebrate Spring Southern style with colorful parades…