Discover new and upcoming additions in Wilmington, a must-visit Southern destination where rich history meets evolving offerings. In 2024, enjoy the best of the Carolina coast as you embark on fresh adventures that enhance the timeless charm of this riverfront city. Explore these new offerings and make your trip truly unforgettable:
Fresh Local Flavors
Experience the inaugural Feast Wilmington March 22-24, 2024, at Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park. This waterfront weekend food and drinks festival will showcase the city's culinary scene featuring renowned chefs, talented mixologists, immersive experiences and more. From the VIP kickoff to the Pier Party highlighting local seafood, Feast Wilmington will impress even the most discerning foodies. Craft beer fans will love the festival’s Craft + Cuisine (formerly Cape Fear Craft & Cuisine), which matches 20 local breweries with 20 distinguished chefs for an exceptional sampling experience.
In addition, the city’s thriving food and drinks scene is welcoming exciting additions. Dine on prime cuts in a sophisticated setting at G Prime Steak & Cellar, a steakhouse curated by the esteemed restaurateur Giorgio Bakatsias. Meanwhile, Tequila Comida and Cantina is set to further elevate the northern end of Wilmington’s Riverwalk with a new two-story location featuring an extensive collection of premium tequilas and mezcals.
Wilmington’s up-and-coming neighborhoods bring their own culinary flair and unique additions. In the growing Cargo District, Concept Kitchen Co., a new pop-up kitchen at End of Days Distillery, allows chefs to showcase their culinary innovations on a rotating basis. The emerging Soda Pop District recently welcomed The Ibis, an innovative cocktail and coffee bar doubling as a listening lounge with live music from a DJ, along with a selection of records available for purchase. Rx Chicken & Oysters, located in the Castle Street Arts and Antique District, recently reopened with a reimagined concept that includes harvesting its own oysters and spearfishing for lobster and the invasive Lionfish.
New Exhibits and Tours
The Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, a Smithsonian Affiliate, will feature two captivating exhibits in 2024. Let "Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe," a traveling NASA exhibit, transport you to Hubble's mission. Another exhibit, "Science + You," helps kids fall in love with science through hands-on problem solving and experimentation.
Embark on a fresh journey into the past this year. The historic Burgwin-Wright House will host the Outlander in Cape Fear Walking Tour, a specialty guided tour exploring Scottish heritage, while Wilmington Water Tours will offer the Outlander in the Cape Fear River Cruise. For those interested in history and pirate legends, the Wilmington Pirate Walk is a family-friendly tour led by a charismatic pirate guide.
Explore Wilmington's refreshing waters and wildlife through Wilmington Outdoor Adventures’ new guided kayak tours. Glide along scenic waterways on the Wrightsville Beach Waterloop Tour. On dry land, breathtaking Airlie Gardens now offers monthly Accessible Bird Outings on select dates. These outings consist of guided tram rides to bird hotspots in the 67-acre gardens – and the program is suitable for birders of all experience levels including those who have limited mobility.
Film Industry Star Power
Cinephiles will be delighted to hear that CineSpace, formerly known as EUE/Screen Gems Studios, is expanding its studio space in Wilmington to accommodate the anticipated growth in production. Additionally, the city's annual Cucalorus Film Festival, recognized as one of "the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" by MovieMaker, is celebrating its 30th anniversary during this November’s event.
Several upcoming productions are confirmed to film in Wilmington and its three island beaches – including the highly anticipated fourth season of Netflix's "Outer Banks" and the third season of Amazon Prime TV's "The Summer I Turned Pretty." These productions further enhance Wilmington’s reputation as a premier filming location and a destination for visitors interested in the growing trend of "set-jetting" – visiting film sites from their favorite shows and movies.
Upcoming Accommodations
Those looking for a place to stay will find plenty of options that combine comfortable amenities with Southern hospitality. ARRIVE Wilmington, a stylish boutique hotel, is expanding with an additional building to add more than 50 new rooms, with plans to open by the end of 2024. Element by Westin, conveniently located at the Mayfaire complex within Wilmington’s Midtown, is anticipated to open by the end of the year with more than 130 rooms. Hotel LELA Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is slated to open this spring and is located just minutes away from Wilmington International Airport. Also scheduled to open this spring, Tru by Hilton Wilmington will offer 107 rooms conveniently located 10 minutes from both downtown Wilmington and the airport.
With its abundance and variety of new attractions and offerings, Wilmington is sure to provide a memorable experience in 2024. Whether you're indulging in culinary delights at a festival or a new hotspot, or exploring history and nature through new tour offerings, plan a trip this year and find your new Wilmington favorites.
Wilmington’s three nearby island beaches are also welcoming a wave of offerings in 2024. Check out what’s in store for Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.
For ongoing updates about these offerings and future additions in Wilmington, visit this webpage.
