Fall Things to Do in Wilmington, NC

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, Tour Old Wilmington 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.

Parks, Gardens & Trails

Discover seasonal 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. Stroll through the 67 acres of Airlie Gardens, one of the South’s premier 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 uninhabited island on an eco-adventure or hop on a scenic sunset cruise with Cape Fear River Boats or Wilmington Water Tours to take in natural sights from the Cape Fear River.

Find natural beauty in our island beaches from a state park to protected shorelines. Explore nearly nine miles of trails strolling or hiking along the water and through long-leaf pines at nearby Carolina Beach State Park. Take a 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.

Historic & Island Tours

Wilmington's historic homes take you on a journey through the city's storied past via interactive exhibits or guided tours 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. Discover World War II history and explore the country's first “American World War II Heritage City” by touring Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, moored across the river from downtown’s Riverwalk. Celebrate the arts at Cameron Art Museum visiting the rotating indoor exhibits and outdoor art park. Be sure to visit the museum’s United States Colored Troops (USCT) Park, the nation's first dedicated park honoring the USCT soldiers who once fought on museum grounds during the Civil War Battle of Forks Road.

Cruise along the waterways of Carolina Beach on an island-style floating Tiki Boat or sip and pedal while taking in the sunset views with Sea Legs Pedal Pub. Set out on a private charter to an uninhabited island to experience a catered seafood boil with Epic Excursions in Wrightsville Beach. Sail the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway with Wrightsville Performance Sailing or Blockade Runner Sailing Center. Join Kayak Carolina in Kure Beach for a guided sunrise paddle tour or rent kayaks and embark on your own adventure to Zeke’s Island, a National Estuarine Research Reserve home to a variety of waterbird nesting areas, local wildlife and salt marshes.

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.