Fall Things to Do

FALL HAPPENINGS

In October, athletes can gear up for a challenge with the IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina triathlon. Or attend Riverfest, where you’ll find a street fair featuring exhibits, a Kid’s Play Zone, vendors selling handmade gifts, fireworks, food vendors and more. Mark your calendar in November for Cucalorus Festival, named one of the coolest film festivals in the world. Perfect for a Halloween getaway or any time during the fall, brave visitors to our actively haunted city can embark on a Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, Haunted Cotton Exchange Tour or Haunted Pub Crawl. Enjoy performances in Wilmington’s vibrant arts scene all season long. Visit one of the oldest, most beautiful theatres in the country, Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts, for a film showing, concert or play. Or, take in a Broadway show or concert at The Wilson Center, eastern North Carolina’s largest and most technologically advanced performance center. 

OUT AND ABOUT

Discover breathtaking blooms at the New Hanover County Arboretum, where you’ll find seven acres of scenic greenery including a koi fish water garden and a Japanese tranquility garden. Or, visit one of the South’s premier gardens, Airlie Gardens, to stroll along walking paths through 67 acres of formal gardens. Find nine sites along the NC Birding Trail in Wilmington, including Greenfield Park, where cypress trees, shrubs and magnolias offer a habitat for a variety of birds. Set sail for an eco-adventure aboard a catamaran or hop on a scenic sunset cruise to take in natural sights from the Cape Fear River. Catch some air at Ogden Park’s state-of-the-art concrete skate park, explore the park’s walking trail, playground and athletic facilities.

Explore nearly nine miles of trails wandering along the water and through long-leaf pines at nearby Carolina Beach State Park. Take a short nature walk along Fort Fisher State Recreation Area’s Basin Trail in Kure Beach, or walk or jog along the popular Wrightsville Beach Loop to take in scenic sound, channel and town sites.

ARTS AND CULTURE

Historic homes take you back in time for a journey through Wilmington’s storied past at Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, the Latimer House Museum, or Bellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design. Find more than 35 historically significant spots on a self-guided tour of Wilmington’s African American heritage. Explore the first city in the country to be designated an “American World War II Heritage City” at the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, moored across the river from downtown’s famous Riverwalk, or Cape Fear Museum of History and Science to dive deep into Wilmington’s role in WWII. All aboard for an adventure at the Wilmington Railroad Museum, with scale models and rail exhibits indoors, a life-size caboose and a 100-year old steam engine outdoors. Celebrate the arts at the Cameron Art Museum, where you can wander through the rotating indoor and outdoor exhibits and visit the full-service CAM Café.

UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS

Download the Wilmington History eTours App to embark on one of five self-guided walking tours of downtown’s National Register Historic District with 230-plus blocks of historic homes and buildings. Also known as “Hollywood East,” transport yourself back to your favorite TV towns with a self-guided walking tour of Dawson’s Creek or One Tree Hill filming locations. Found on the north side of downtown, the Brooklyn Arts District is anchored by the historic Brooklyn Arts Center + The Annex and is home to a variety of breweries, wine bars and art galleries. In South Front District, discover older buildings and warehouses transformed into restaurants and funky breweries. If you’re searching for antiques, Castle Street Arts & Antiques District is a must-visit stop when in Wilmington. Catch the container craze with shopping and dining in Wilmington's newest neighborhood, the Cargo District.

BREWS AND BITES

Autumn is the ideal time for outdoor dining in Wilmington, where you’ll find sidewalk seating, dockside dining and balcony bites to help you savor the comfortable temperatures and waterfront breeze. Experience local favorites, famous hotspots and coastal flavors during a Downtown Tasting Tour with Taste Carolina. Whether you’re a craft beer aficionado or searching for something new to sip, Wilmington has earned its spot as one of the country’s fastest-growing craft beer hubs. Embark on the Wilmington Ale Trail to explore the unique breweries, bars and bottle shops found around the coastal city and its surrounding island beaches. Take your evening up a notch with craft coastal cocktails from a local mixologist or tour Wilmington’s first craft distillery.