Southern food experts can put their taste buds to good work at the Annual Step Up For Soldiers Backyard BBQ Cook-off – a yearly event that focuses on a competitive yet fun BBQ competition. Held along the lake at Carolina Beach, this fundraiser is a great way to enjoy a big helping of local eats, an array of great music, and plenty of good times with fellow food fans.
For nearly 20 years, Wilmington locals and visitors alike have flocked to the edge of the waterfront downtown to enjoy one of the town’s favorite springtime celebrations, the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. This yearly celebration has become a favorite way to ring in St. Patrick’s Day with style, and is a wonderful precursor to Wilmington’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival, which immediately follows the colorful parade.
Head to the scenic Riverfront Park in the heart of Wilmington to celebrate St. Patty’s Day with style by attending the annual St. Patrick's Day Festival. A local tradition for roughly 20 years, this annual event features a world of ways to show your Irish spirit thanks to a bustling combination of food, drinks, music, activities, and plenty of great times to go around.
Beer lovers can enjoy a full week of sampling brews, food, live music and more when they pop into an event or two that corresponds with the Cape Fear Beer Week. Held annually in the spring, this week-long event takes place at venues, breweries and restaurants all across the Wilmington area and beyond, and is a fine opportunity for beer lovers to explore all the tempting flavors of the Cape Fear region.
Beer lovers can enjoy a full week of sampling brews, food, live music and more when they pop into an event or two that corresponds with the Cape Fear Beer Week. Held annually in the spring, this week-long event takes place at venues, breweries and restaurants all across the Wilmington area and beyond, and is a fine opportunity for beer lovers to explore all the tempting flavors of the Cape Fear region.
For more than 25 years, Poplar Grove Plantation has been the site of one of the most anticipated events for gardeners in the spring season – the Annual Herb and Garden Fair. This yearly event features a wealth of plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and green goodies of all varieties, and is a great first stop for local and visiting gardeners alike who are eager to ring in the spring season.
For more than 70 years, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has reigned supreme as one of the biggest and best festivals along the southeast coastline, and newcomers are welcome to join in the fun to experience full days of vendors, live music, parades, and other events that shine a spotlight on the lively city of Wilmington. Founded in 1948, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has emerged as one of the most anticipated events in the state, and the celebration attracts visitors from all over the world who want to discover how enchanting the Cape Fear region can be.
Celebrate the arrival of warm weather and sunny days along the waterfront with a stop at the always engaging Southport Spring Festival. This two-day festival that takes place in late March features a wealth of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages, and is sure to be a highlight of any getaway to the coastal Cape Fear region.
Kids of all ages will have a ball while learning a little bit more about our precious planet at the annual Earth Day Celebration which is held in the heart of Wilmington. During this special afternoon event, the Hugh MacRae Park in the central region of the Port City will be transformed into a fun, festival atmosphere complete with exhibits, drinks, food, and live music, which all combine to provide an educational yet entertaining day that kids and adults alike will adore.
Enjoy a full day of feasting, live music, entertainment, games, food, and so much more with a fun-filled stop at the at the Kure Beach Street Festival. This enticing street fair that’s put on every year by the Town of Kure Beach showcases the beauty of this small coastal town, as well as all the fun things that are found in this hopping vacation destination.
Indulge in a city that’s full of great tastes at the annual Wilmington Wine & Food Festival. Partnering with a number of corresponding events, including a Bourbon & BBQ Derby Cocktail Party on Friday and a Bubbles, Brews and Street Eats on Sunday, this multiple day festival celebrates all things delicious in the Port City.
Going strong for more than 20 years, the Annual Orange Street ArtsFest is a great way for newcomers to discover the myriad of talented artists who live, work and thrive in the coastal Cape Fear region. Featuring dozens of artists, live entertainment, food, and many more enticements, this annual festival that celebrates its 25th year in 2020 is a must for art lovers everywhere.
A world of flavor and fun is waiting at the Wilmington Greek Festival, which is one of the most unique and anticipated global events of the year in the Cape Fear region. Featuring an abundance of authentic food, music, dancing and more, this weekend-long festival is a fun way to discover the Greek culture while enjoying an engaging time that will delight family members of all ages.
Going strong for more than 30 years, the Carolina Beach Music Festival ushers in the summer season with a full day and night of great music that is just steps away from the sand. Billed as the "the biggest and only beach music festival actually held on the beach on the North Carolina coast" by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce, this annual festival is a great way to experience the sights, sounds, and all-around fun of this popular beach town while enjoying some great music along the way.
The Cape Fear Blues Festival is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated music festivals of the summer season in North Carolina, and newcomers will find plenty of reasons to celebrate at this multiple-day event that has plenty of soul. Featuring local musicians as well as national headliners, the annual Cape Fear Blues Festival lights up the town with plenty of great music at multiple venues, and ample fun to go around for music fans everywhere.
