WINTER THINGS TO DO IN WILMINGTON, NC

Holiday HAPPENINGS

Go caroling with Santa in historic downtown on a Christmas Carriage Ride Dec. 15-16 or Dec. 22-23. Get on board Wilmington Water Tours for a Spirit of the Holidays cruise and enjoy seeing the city lights along the scenic Riverwalk. Marvel at more than one million twinkling lights and holiday flowers at the annual Enchanted Airlie through Dec. 21. For those who missed purchasing tickets to the sold-out event, the Blockade Runner Beach Resort and Lumina on Wrightsville Beach, a Holiday Inn Resort are both offering holiday packages with admission to the event. All aboard for the Wilmington Railroad Museum’s magical wonderland during the Christmas Train & Light Spectacular select days through Dec. 23.

Catch Christmas classics like “The Nutcracker” Dec. 1-2 and “ELF the Musical” Dec. 7-17 at historic Thalian Hall. Hear the sounds of the holiday season during the North Carolina Symphony’s Holiday Pops Concert Dec. 3 at The Wilson Center. Celebrate the transition of the seasons and the year’s end at Cameron Art Museum’s “Illumination 2023” exhibition Dec. 2, 2023 – Jan. 14, 2024. This exhibition features lanterns created by artists across the country using unique materials like silk, clay, recycled plastics and more.

ISLAND FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Tour a winter waterland with more than 50 uniquely decorated trees transforming the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher into an enchanted forest during the Cape Fear Festival of Trees through Jan. 1, 2024. Bring the family to Wrightsville Beach Park Dec. 1 for an outdoor viewing of the classic film, "The Grinch." Catch a water-based parade on the Intracoastal Waterway in Carolina Beach at the Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla Dec. 2. Escape to Whoville in Kure Beach at the Holiday Whoobie Whatty featuring family-friendly Grinch-themed activities, movie showing and more Dec. 15 at Ocean Front Park & Pavilion.

RING IN THE NEW YEAR

Welcome 2024 with a variety of things to do in Wilmington and its nearby beaches. Bring the family to New Year’s Noon at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington. Head to Kure Beach’s Ocean Front Park & Pavilion to catch the Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Celebration and watch the giant beach ball drop at midnight followed by a fireworks display. SeaWitch Café & Tiki Bar’s New Year’s Eve Bash in Carolina Beach returns with live music from Machine Gun, party favors, complimentary champagne split and more. Whether you’re looking for a riverfront hotel close to city sights, an oceanfront view at one of our full-service resorts and hotels or a vacation rental with all the conveniences of home, there are plenty of lodging options to choose from. Or, opt for a stay at a boutique inn or historic Bed & Breakfast that embraces the tradition of days gone by.

HOLIDAY MARKETS & LOCAL SHOPPING

Escape the stress of typical holiday shopping with gift-worthy finds from boutiques and holiday markets to pedestrian-friendly shopping villages. Shop handcrafted jewelry, coastal home décor and more from more than 100 artisans and retailers at Blue Moon Gift Shop. Historic downtown’s Cotton Exchange is home to more than 30 local shops selling jewelry and shoes to pottery and handmade soaps. Discover chic boutiques with home goods and clothes at charming Lumina Station or shop big name brands in an outdoor setting at Mayfaire Town Center. Discover seasonal specialties at A Christmas Shoppe, Wilmington’s only year-round Christmas store. Unearth vintage treasures in a historic setting with artisans, plus food trucks at the Brooklyn Arts Center’s Holiday Flea Dec. 1-3. Wander through Colonial gardens at the Colonial Christmas Open House & Craft Market at the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens Dec. 9. Put a coastal twist on Christmas shopping at the Carolina Beach Holiday Market at Carolina Beach Lake Park Dec. 2.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Bask in the feel-good glow of the sunshine at our nearby island beaches: Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach. Hike one of Carolina Beach State Park's nine trails, two of which are wheelchair accessible, or visit on Saturdays at 10 a.m. to go on a park-ranger led hike to learn about the park's diverse ecosystems. In Kure Beach, visit Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and embark on a winter hike along the Basin Trail, a popular 2.2-mile trail for birding and hiking. In Wrightsville Beach, walk or jog along The Loop, a 2.5-mile trail that encircles the island providing scenic views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Banks Channel.