Wilmington, NC – November 2011 – Celebrate the season coastal-style and experience the color and pageantry of holiday events that reflect the traditions, creative culture and independent spirit of Wilmington, North Carolina's historic river district and island beaches. Visitors can choose from more than 40 holiday events to create a meaningful vacation or memorable getaway in Wilmington, N.C. and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach. Annual traditions include candlelight home tours, light displays, Colonial & Victorian celebrations, flotillas, cruises, parades, and fireworks. And that's not all-the arts are alive with music and theatre galore! To download a holiday events brochure, visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com/holiday or call 1-866-266-9690 to request a free copy. For holiday specials, featured events and experiences, visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com.
Here's a sampling of festivities from the river to the sea.
Nov. 24-Turkey Trot. 7:30am. 2.4-mile Turkey Trot or 1-mile Gobbler Family Fun Walk. Wrightsville Loop, Wrightsville Beach. Registration fee. 910-762-4744; www.wilmingtonturkeytrot.com
Nov. 25-Wrightsville Beach Tree Lighting Ceremony & Launch Party. Tree lighting (free) 5:45pm, Wrightsville Beach Park; Flotilla Launch Party (admission) 7pm, Blockade Runner Resort. 910-256-2120; www.ncholidayflotilla.org
Nov. 25-Dec. 17-Christmas by the Sea. Boardwalk lights up at 8pm on Nov. 25. Then on Saturdays from 5pm-9pm, enjoy family holiday activities & entertainment. Carolina Beach Boardwalk, www.boardwalkmakeover.org
Nov. 25-Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting. 5:30pm. Tree shines nightly through the holidays. Free. Water Street @ Market St., Wilmington. 910-343-4114; www.wilmingtonnc.gov
Nov. 25-Dec. 21 (each Thur., Fri. & Sat. & 19, 20, 21)-Enchanted Airlie. Lighted gardens, music, model trains, Santa, LEGO displays. Two sessions (5pm-7pm & 7pm-9pm). Advance ticket purchase required. No tickets at gate. Airlie Gardens, Wilmington. www.airliegardens.org; 910-798-7700.
Nov. 25-Jan. 4-Holiday Lighting of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. The Battleship NC is lit from the bow to the masts and stern. Nightly from dusk to 11pm. Best view from Downtown. 910-251-5797, www.battleshipnc.com
Nov.25-Dec.31-Island of Lights Festival. Holiday lights & events. Carolina/Kure beaches. www.islandoflights.org.
Nov. 25-Dec. 31-Light-Up Celebration & Walking Tours of Lake. 7pm.Ceremony (Nov. 25) begins "Island of Lights Festival," Carolina Beach Lake. Lit nightly for walks thru Dec. Free. 910-458-6885. www.islandoflights.org
Nov. 25-Dec. 24-Mayfaire Winter Wonderland. 6:30pm.Entertainment, Santa, decorations, Polar Express train rides.Mayfaire Town Centre, Wilmington. 910-256-5131; www.mayfairetown.com
Nov. 25-27; Dec.2-4 & 9-11-"Santaland Diaries." 8pm.City Stage presents this David Sedaris ‘anti-holiday' cult classic. City Stage Theatre, Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-342-0272, www.citystageatlevel5.com
Nov. 26-NC Holiday Flotilla & Day in the Park Festival. Lighted boat parade & fireworks, Banks Channel (6pm). Day in Park Festival (10am-4pm) w/crafts, bazaar, music, Wrightsville Beach Park. Free. www.ncholidayflotilla.org |
| Nov. 26-Dinner Cruise to view NC Holiday Flotilla. Board at3pm. Admission charge. Advance reservations. Royal Winner Princess, Carolina Beach Marina. 910-458-5356; www.winnerboats.com
Nov. 26-27-Wilmington Art & Craft Show. 10am-5pm. Juried art and craft show. Wilmington Convention Center. Admission charge. www.holidayartshows.com/wilmington-art-craft-show.html
Dec. 1-2-The Nutcracker Ballet. 7pm.Ballet for Young Audiences professional touring company 1-hour performance of a holiday classic. Admission charge. Thalian Hall, Wilmington. 910-632-2285; 1-800-523-2820, www.thalianhall.com
Dec. 2-Island of Lights Christmas Parade. 7:30pm. Extraordinary nighttime lighted parade announces Santa's arrival on the island. Lake Park Blvd/ Hwy 421 S, Carolina Beach. Free. www.islandoflights.org
Dec. 2-4-Cape Fear Festival of Trees & Wilmington Ballet Company's "Nutcracker" Ballet. Sat. 1pm (performance at 3pm) & 5pm (performance at 7pm). Sun. 1pm (performance at 3pm). Admission charge. Minnie Evans Arts Center, Wilmington. www.capefearfestivaloftrees.org
Dec. 2-23-Christmas Train & Light Spectacular. Fri. & Sat. eves. Fri. 6-9pm & Sat. 7:30-9:30pm. Train displays, lights, cider and Santa. Admission charge. Wilmington Railroad Museum, Wilmington. 910-763-2634; www.wrrm.org
Dec. 3-Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla. Lighted boat parade. 6pm. Carolina Beach Marina. www.islandoflights.org
Dec. 3-4-Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour. Downtown candlelight tour of historic homes/sites. Sat. 4pm-8pm, Sun. 2-6pm. Latimer House, Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-762-0492, latimerhouse.org.
Dec. 3-4, 11, 17-18-Polar Express Program. 4:30pm & 6:30pm. "Polar Express" story time, visits with Santa, cocoa, and more. Wilmington Railroad Museum. Admission charge. Advance tickets. 910-763-2634; www.wrrm.org
Dec. 4-Holiday Kids@CAM. 12pm. Holiday art, gifts, decorations and Santa visits. Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-395-5999; www.cameronartmuseum.com
Dec.4-Wilmington Holiday Parade. 6:15pm. Downtown Wilmington. Free. 910-341-4602, wilmingtonrecreation.com
Dec. 4-Candy Land Christmas Celebration. 1pm-5pm. Visit with Santa, make gingerbread houses, crafts, caroling at the Children's Museum of Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-254-3534; www.playwilmington.org
Dec. 4-Poplar Grove Plantation Christmas Open House & Holiday Craft Fair. Victorian décor, crafts, handmade gifts, refreshments. Noon-5pm. Free. Poplar Grove Plantation, Hwy. 17 N. 910-686-9518, www.poplargrove.com
Dec. 4-Philadelphia Brass Holiday Concert. 6:30pm. St. James Parish, Wilmington. Tickets required. 910-343-1079; www.chambermusicwilmington.org.
Dec. 6-Fort Fisher Holiday Open House. 10am-5pm. Wassail, decorations and music from Civil War era. Fort Fisher State Historic Site, Kure Beach. Free. 910-458-5538; www.friendsoffortfisher.com
Dec. 8 & 11-Christmas @CAM V. 7:30pm. Wilmington Choral Society concert. Admission charge. Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington. 910-395-5999; www.cameronartmuseum.com
Dec. 9-Victorian Concert with Susan Savia. 6:30pm. Susan Savia performs seasonal classics and period pieces that date back 150 years. Bellamy Mansion Museum, Wilmington. 910-251-3700; www.bellamymansion.org
Dec. 10-Santa Claus Food Drive Cruise. Boards at 9:30am; departs 10am. Admission: 6 cans nonperishable food/per person. Henrietta III Riverboat, Dock & Water sts.-Downtown. 910-343-1611, www.cfrboats.com
Dec. 15-23-Trolley Tour of Holiday Lights. 6pm & 7:30pm.Tours of Wilmington's decorated neighborhoods. Departs Downtown at Dock & Water sts. Admission charge. 910-763-4483; www.wilmingtontrolley.com
Dec. 15-The Office Holiday Party-Comedy Dinner Theatre. 6pm. Wear a fun holiday sweater to this interactive dinner theatre. Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington. Advance tix/reservations. 888-512-7469; www.porchtheatre.com
Dec. 16-24-Caroling by "Reindeer" Drawn Trolley/Carriage. 6-10pm.Horse-drawn carriage tour & caroling Downtown. Departs at Market & Water sts. Admission charge. 910-251-8889, horsedrawntours.com
Dec. 17-18-Colonial Christmas Celebration. Sat.10am-4pm & Sun. 12-4pm. 18th Century music, dancers, hot wassail. Burgwin-Wright House, Wilmington. Admission charge. 910-762-0570; www.burgwinwrighthouse.com
Dec. 17-Santa's Seacret Supper. 6pm. Kid-friendly dinner with Santa, scavenger hunt, crafts, cookies. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach. 910-458-8257; www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher
Dec. 21, 22, 23-Holiday Elf Camp. 9:30am-3:30pm. Holiday crafts/activities, aquarium tour for kids ages 5-12 while parents shop. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach. 910-458-8257; www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher
Dec. 23-"It's A Wonderful Life" 35mm screening. 7:30pm. Admission charge. Thalian Hall. www.thalianhall.org
Dec. 31-New Year's Noon Downtown! 11am. 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
Dec. 31-Island of Lights New Year's Eve Countdown Party. 9pm-12am.Music, fireworks, lighted beach ball drop. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Free. www.islandoflights.org
Dec. 31-New Year's Eve Cruise w/music, dancing, hors d'oeuvres, champagne. 9pm-12:30am. Prepaid reservations only. Henrietta III Riverboat, Dock St. at Water St., Wilmington. 910-343-1611, www.cfrboats.com
Event details often change without notice. Please confirm event date, time, place before traveling any distance. For a FREE Wilmington, NC & Island Beaches Visitors Guide, email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com. To download a 2011 Holiday Event Brochure, visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com/holiday. 'Tis also the season when hotels and B&Bs offer super savings. For holiday specials, featured events and experiences, visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com. For last-minute travel discounts, visit www.sunnysavers.com.
Media Contact: Wilmington / Cape Fear Coast CVB Connie Nelson Communications/PR Manager 910-341-4030 ext. 120, or 866-266-9690 | The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Wilmington / Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization of New Hanover County that stimulates economic development through the promotion of travel and tourism. |
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