Celebrate the season coastal-style in Wilmington & North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast

Nov 19, 2009

Cape Fear Coast, N.C - More than 50 holiday events invite visitors to “Come & Play!” in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach. Annual traditions include candlelight home tours, light displays, cruises, Colonial & Victorian celebrations, flotillas, and parades. ‘Tis also the season when hotels and B&Bs offer super savings. And that’s not all—the arts are alive with music, dance and theatre galore! Here’s a sampling of festivities to help you plan your own holiday traditions. For more details, visit www.gocapefearcoast.com or call 1-866-266-9690 to request a Free 2009 Holiday Events Brochure or download it at www.gocapefearcoast.com/events and click on the Click Here <http://www.cape-fear.nc.us/resources/pdfs/2009holidaybrochure.pdf> button. 

Nov. 26-29
  • Thanksgiving Turkey-drawn carriage tours. 11am-4pm (Thur & Sun); 11am-10pm (Fri-Sat). Market & Water sts., Downtown Wilmington. www.horsedrawntours.com     
Nov. 27-Dec. 31
  • Light-Up Celebration & Walking Tours of Lake. Ceremony (Nov. 27) begins “Island of Lights Festival” at 7pm, Carolina Beach Lake. Nightly walks thru Jan. 1. Free. 910-458-6885. http://www.islandoflights.org/
Nov. 27-Dec. 22 (each Fri.&Sat. & 17, 21, 22)
  • Enchanted Airlie. Magical evenings return w/lighted gardens, music, model trains, Santa, and more. Two sessions (5pm-7pm & 7pm-9pm) each Fri. & Sat. evening; additional shows on Thurs. 17, Mon. 21 & Tues. 22. Airlie Gardens, Wilmington. Admission charge; Advance purchase required. No tickets at gate. 910-798-7700  www.airliegardens.org 
Nov. 27
  • Lighting of Downtown Christmas Tree.  5pm. Water Street @ Market St., Wilmington. Tree & entertainment presented by the Downtown Business Alliance. 910-343-4114; www.dbawilmington.com  
Nov.27–Dec.31
Nov. 27-29; Dec.4-6 & 11-13
  • “Santaland Diaries” City Stage presents this David Sedaris ‘anti-holiday’ cult classic. 7:30pm. City Stage Theatre, Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-342-0272, http://www.citystageatlevel5.com/
Nov. 27
Nov. 27-Dec. 24
  • Mayfaire Winter Wonderland. Entertainment, Santa, decorations, 6:30pm nightly. Mayfaire Town Centre, Wilmington. 910-256-5131; www.mayfairetown.com
Nov. 27-Jan. 1
  • Christmas by the Sea. Carolina Beach Boardwalk lit for holidays at 8pm on Nov. 27; nightly decorations & weekend family entertainment (5pm-8pm). Carolina Beach, http://www.boardwalkmakeover.org/
Nov. 28
  • NC Holiday Flotilla & Day in the Park Festival. Lighted boat parade & fireworks at Banks Channel (6pm). Day in Park Festival (10am-4:30pm) w/arts, crafts, food, bazaar, music at Wrightsville Beach Park. Free. 910-256-2120; www.ncholidayflotilla.org
  • Dinner Cruise to view NC Holiday Flotilla. Board at 3pm. Royal Winner Princess, Carolina Beach Marina. 910-458-5356; www.winnerboats.com
Dec. 3
  • World’s Largest Living Christmas tree.  Lighting ceremony at 5:45pm w/entertainment and Santa on Dec. 3rd (6pm-8:30pm). Tree lit nightly thru Dec. 31. Hilton Park, Castle Hayne Rd., Wilmington. Free. 910-341-7885. www.wilmingtonrecreation.com
Dec. 4
  • Island of Lights Christmas Parade. Extraordinary nighttime lighted parade announces Santa’s arrival on the island. 7:30pm. Lake Park Blvd/ Hwy 421 S, Carolina Beach. Free. 910-458-5507; http://www.islandoflights.org/   
Dec. 4–Jan. 6
  • Holiday Lighting of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. Battleship is lit from the bow to the masts and stern. Nightly from dusk to 11pm. Best view from Downtown. 910-251-5797, http://www.battleshipnc.com/
Dec. 4-6
  • The Nutcraker Ballet. Wilmington Ballet Company. Admission charge. Minnie Evans Art Center, Wilmington. 910-343-3664,  www.thalianhall.com
  • Holiday Time with Emile Pandolfi (pianist). 7:30pm Fri; 7:30 & 9:30pm Sat.; 3:30pm Sun. Thalian Hall Rainbow Room, Wilmington. 910-343-3664; http://www.thalianhall.com/  
Dec. 5-6
  • Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour. Downtown candlelight tour of historic homes/sites. Sat. 4pm-8pm, Sun. 2-6pm. Latimer House (126 S. 3rd St.), Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-762-0492, http://www.latimerhouse.org/
  • NC Symphony Holiday Concert. 8pm Sat.; 4pm Sun. Kenan Auditorium/UNCW. Admission charge. 910-962-3500, 800-732-3643; www.uncw.edu/kenan
Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19
  • Polar Express Program. 4:30pm & 6:30pm. “Polar Express” story time, visits with Santa, cocoa, and more. Wilmington Railroad Museum. Admission charge. 910-763-2634; http://www.wrrm.org/  
Dec. 5
  • Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla. Boats &pleasure craft decorated with thousands of lights in a spectacular parade. 6pm. Intracoastal Waterway, Carolina Beach. Free. 910-458-0211; http://www.islandoflights.org/
  • Colonial Christmas Open House. Colonial decorations, music, food, tours, costumed guides. Brunswick Town State Historic Site, Winnabow. 910-371-6613; www.nchistoricsites.org/Brunswic
Dec. 6
  • Wilmington Holiday Parade. 5:30pm. Downtown Wilmington. Free. 910-341-4602, http://www.wilmingtonrecreation.com/
  • Candy Land Christmas Celebreation. 1pm-5pm. Visit with Santa, make gingerbread houses, crafts, caroling at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-254-3534; http://www.playwilmington.org/
  • Poplar Grove Plantation Christmas Open House. Victorian décor, craft demo, handmade gifts, refreshments. Noon-5pm. Free. Poplar Grove Plantation, Hwy. 17 N. 910-686-9518, http://www.poplargrove.com/
Dec. 10
  • Breakfast w/Santa. 9am. Independence Mall. Admission charge. 910-392-1776.
Dec. 11-12 & 19-20
Dec. 11
  • Cape Fear Chordsmen Barbershop Chorus. Roland Grise School, Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-329-1512.
Dec. 11-23
  • Trolley Tour of Holiday Lights. 45-minute tours of Wilmington’s decorated neighborhoods. Departs Downtown at Dock & Water sts. (6pm & 7:30pm). Admission charge. 910-763-4483; http://www.wilmingtontrolley.com/. 
Dec. 12
  • North Pole Cruise to pick-up Santa. Boards at 9:30am; depart 10am. Admission: 6 cans nonperishable food/per person. Henrietta III Riverboat, Dock & Water sts.-Downtown. 910-343-1611, www.cfrboats.com  
  • Moravian Candle Tea. 10am-2pm. Covenant Moravian, College Rd., Wilmington. Free. 910-799-9256.
  • Island of Lights Holiday Home Tour. 4pm–9pm, Pleasure Island. Tickets available at island merchants. Admission charge includes map.  910-458-7116; http://www.islandoflights.org/
  • Holiday Kids @CAM. 12pm-3pm. Holiday art, gifts, decorations and Santa visits. Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-395-5999; http://www.cameronartmuseum.com/
Dec. 12-13
  • Be a Child during the Holidays. Adults get kids’ prices! Holiday crafts, programs, games, movies & Scuba Santa! Admission charge. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach. 910-458-8257; www.ncaquariums.com   
Dec. 13
  • “It’s A Wonderful Life” film screening 2pm. Kenan Aud./UNCW. Free. 910-962-3500, www.uncw.edu/kenan
Dec. 17
  • Sounds of the Season: Music @CAM. 7pm. Wilmington Choral Society’s holiday concert. Admission charge. Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington. 910-395-5999; http://www.cameronartmuseum.com/
Dec. 18-24
  • Caroling by “Reindeer” Drawn Trolley/Carriage. Horse-drawn carriage tour & caroling Downtown. 7pm-10pm. Departs at Market & Water sts. Admission charge. 910-251-8889, www.horsedrawntours.com
Dec. 19-20
  • Colonial Christmas Celebration. 18th Century music, dancers, hot wassail. Burgwin-Wright House, Wilmington, Sat.10am-4pm &Sun. 12-5pm. Admission charge. 910-762-0570; http://www.burgwinwrighthouse.com/
Dec. 31
  • New Year’s Noon Downtown! 12noon. Ring in the New Year at noon with noisemakers, confetti and more. Children’s Museum of Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-254-3534, www.playwilmington.org  
  • Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Countdown Party. 9pm-12am. Music, fireworks, lighted beach ball drop. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Free. 910-458-5507; www.islandoflights.org
  • New Year’s Eve Cruise w/music, dancing, hors d’oeuvres, champagne. Prepaid reservations only. 9pm-12:30am. Henrietta III Riverboat, Dock St. at Water St., Wilmington. 910-343-1611, http://www.cfrboats.com/


Event details often change without notice. Please confirm event date, time, place before traveling any distance. For a FREE Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast Visitors Guide and 2009 Holiday Event Brochure, please call 910-341-4030 or toll-free at 1-866-266-9690, or visit www.gocapefearcoast.com for a complete Calendar of Events & Holiday Package Deals. For last-minute travel discounts, visit http://www.sunnysavers.com/  

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Contact
Connie Nelson
910-341-4030
cvbpr@capefearcoast.com