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JanuaryAnniversary of the
Capture of Fort Fisher The fall of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865, by
Federal forces is commemorated each year in mid-January with an impressive
living history reenactment program. In addition to tours, displays and
demonstrations, cannon are fired throughout the day. Bring your ear plugs
and dress warmly. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
March and Commemoration Martin Luther King Jr. Day has special resonance to
Wilmingtonians because (among other reasons) Dr. King was scheduled to speak
here the day he was assassinated. Wilmington honors his memory on the third
Monday of January with a commemorative parade from Fifth and Castle streets
to Williston Middle School, 401 S. 10th Street, beginning at 11 AM. A
cookout sponsored by the Wilmington Sportsman's Club follows at 11th and
Castle streets. In the morning, the NAACP hosts a breakfast. Additional
programs are held throughout the day, with food, entertainment and speeches.
On the Sunday prior to Monday's march, an ecumenical service sponsored by
the ministerial round table is held at a rotating location. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration January 18-19, 2009. Southport typically celebrates
Martin Luther King Day on the Sunday and Monday before the holiday. On
Sunday, the annual Memorial March begins at 2 PM in the parking lot of the
I. L. A. Hall at the corner of 10th and Lord Streets. A program including
singing and a keynote speaker follows at the hall. On Monday a round-table
breakfast is held honoring the legacy of Dr. King. This breakfast includes
speakers, and attendees participate in discussions. The annual Walter Welsh
Award, recognizing the recipient's work in promoting racial harmony,
tolerance and understanding, is presented at the breakfast. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration January 19, 2009. This celebration takes
place in the Ocean View Missionary Baptist Association. The program features
a march, speakers, a rendition of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and
favorite songs and hymns of Dr. King. Greater Wilmington Antique Show If you love antiques, this show is for you! Sponsored
by North Carolina Junior Sorosis, the event hosts 30 dealers from North
Carolina and throughout the Southeast who will tempt you with quality
antiques, including glass, silver, china, jewelry, Oriental rugs and more.
Hallmarks of this show are the high-quality items for sale, with only a
limited number of reproductions permitted. Admission is $5. Held the last
weekend in January, hours are Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and
Sunday noon to 5 PM. Proceeds contribute to a full scholarship to UNC-Wilmington
and area charitable organizations. Cape Fear Model Railroad
Club, Inc. Show & Sale Sponsored by the Cape Fear Model Railroad Club, this
annual weekend event is held in late January. Voted one of the top 20
January events by the Southeast Tourism Society, it's a must-see for both
novice and experienced model-train enthusiasts. You'll be treated to awesome
displays of operating model-train layouts in three different scales (sizes),
numerous vendors with more than 40 tables of train-related items for sale,
and free clinics in model-train display techniques. Hours are 10 AM to 5
PM Saturday and 10 AM to 4 PM Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for
children; kids younger than 5 get in free.
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FebruaryNorth Carolina Jazz Festival January 31 through February 3, 2008. The performers
roster of the North Carolina Jazz Festival over the years reads like a Who's
Who in Dixieland and mainstream jazz. The 2008 event includes the UNCW Big
Band playing swing, and B.E.D. from the West Coast with Becky Kilgore, Eddie
Erickson, Dan Barrett and Joel Forbes on bass. Other musicians include: John
Cocuzi on piano and vibes, Herman Burney on bass, Bucky Pizzarelli on
guitar, and young jazz violin prodigy, 12-year-old Jonathan Russell. Things
kick off Thursday night in the grand ballroom in the downtown Hilton hotel.
A cabaret setting in the ballroom enhances the mood for the Friday and
Saturday evening's performances. The Patron's Brunch, held Saturday noon at
the Hilton, features a pro-am jam session for patrons who play instruments.
This is truly an extraordinary opportunity, as these amateurs get to sit in
with the professional musicians who'll be appearing during the first weekend
each February. This event is popular, but a few last-minute tickets are
usually available. Wilmington Garden Show Get an early jump on the long North Carolina growing
season by viewing what's new in landscape design and know-how. Exhibits,
vendors, lectures and demonstrations present innovative products, designs
and techniques for improving the surroundings of your home or business. The
show offers plenty of gift items that gardeners and landscapers would enjoy.
The two-day show is sponsored by the New Hanover County Cooperative
Extension Arboretum Foundation, Inc. By the way, the Arboretum is itself a
wonderful place to visit any time of the year (see our
Attractions chapter). Cure by Design A fund raising gala and fashion show,
this event benefits the American Cancer Society. It includes a silent
auction, a fashion show with clothing (some of which is auctioned off)
modeled by cancer survivors - including children, heavy hors d'oeuvres and
dessert buffets, wine and champagne, entertainment and dancing. Survival
stories of each model are announced as they walk the runway. There is a
candlelight ceremony, as well, in which those who have died of cancer are
remembered.
Fort Anderson Civil
War Encampment February 14-15, 2009. Fort Anderson, located
at Brunswick Town State Historic Site hosts a Civil War event where staff
and volunteers in period Civil War clothing interpret the events leading up
to and following the battle of Fort Anderson on February 19, 1865. Included
are cannon and musket firings, small arms drilling, special guided tours,
hands-on activities for kids, equipment, flags and uniform talks, guest
speakers including Dr. Chris Fonvielle and Dr. Max Williams. Costumed
interpreters give guided tours. The program runs 10 AM to 4 PM each day.
Admission is free. Please call ahead to confirm these details. Wilmington Chocolate
Fantasy Benefiting the New Hanover County Senior
Center, this annual event began in 2003 and has expanded each year, offering
sumptuous treats to chocolate lovers. With more than 30 exhibitors, the
weekend-long event features a Chocolate Fantasy Gala, wine tastings, live
music and all sorts of sugary goodness. A great weekend for young and old
alike, anyone with a hankering for sweets will fall in love at first sight.
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 5 through 12 and kids younger
than 5 get in free.
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The Art of the Table |
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In March, the Bellamy Mansion Museum hosts over
30 creatively decorated tabletops and mantles assembled by local boutiques,
artists, florists and interior designers. Displayed throughout 12 of the
mansion's period rooms, the event will also extend to an elaborate ten set
up on the grounds. In addition to viewing the uniquely themed tablescapes, guests will also have the opportunity to tour one of North
Carolina's premier historic treasures. Built on the eve of the Civil War,
the Bellamy Mansion is a spectacular example of antebellum architecture and
a stewardship property of Preservation North Carolina. Tickets are sold at
the mansion in advance and on the day of the event. |
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Associated Artists of
Southport Spring Art Show The Spring Art Show hangs in Franklin Square Gallery
for the entire month of March. It's a great chance to see the two and
three-dimensional artwork of the many talented artists of Southport and the
surrounding area and to compare the awards given by the judge to your own
thoughts about the art. Admission to the gallery is free, and artwork is for
sale. Be A Tourist In Your Own Home
Town Day This popular annual event is a great opportunity for
area residents to rediscover and savor New Hanover County attractions,
including those in Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and
Kure Beach locations. Best of all, this Sunday event is free for
residents. Contact the Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau at
the number listed above for a list of participating attractions.
Remember to carry proof of county residency for admission. New Hanover County
Residents' Appreciation Day This popular annual event is a great
opportunity for area residents to rediscover and savor New Hanover County
attractions, including those in Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina
Beach and Kure Beach locations. Best of all, this Sunday event is free for
residents. Contact the Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau at the
number listed above for a list of participating attractions. Remember to
carry proof of county residency for admission.
Bid for Literacy Mardi Gras
Auction In southeastern North Carolina, Mardi Gras arrives on
the first weekend in March. The largest of two major fund-raisers for the
Cape Fear Literacy Council, this lavish annual event has become a popular
evening out in historic downtown Wilmington. Decorated and built around a
festive Mardi Gras theme, the evening begins with a bounty of hors d'oeuvre
donated by area restaurants, donated beer and wine, and a silent auction. A
recent addition to the evening's festivities is live entertainment and an
opportunity for dancing after the vocal auction. The vocal auction is the
centerpiece of the evening, with all items donated from area merchants,
professionals, local artists, the film community, restaurants and corporate
sponsors. Past items won by lucky bidders have included cars, cruises to
tropical islands, weekend getaway packages, celebrity items (The Harlem
Globetrotter's Meadowlark Lemon made a surprise appearance in 2006, signing
basketballs up for bid!), signed movie scripts and film memorabilia
(including Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill items), signed
local art and much more. Tickets cost $50 per person, with reserved tables
for ten available for $500. (Tables sell out so early reservation is highly
recommended.) Make your reservations through the Cape Fear Literacy Council
or purchase individual tickets at the door. Kid's Art Day This event is held from 10 AM to 2 PM beneath
Southport's venerable live oaks in Franklin Square Park. There are
activities for children, music and stage entertainment, a magician, a
mime, face-painting and a fun day for all. Volunteer members of the
Associated Artists of Southport provide nine different hands-on art
activities for kids geared to stimulating an interest in art. The
Brunswick Arts Council provides a grant for the event, which is also
sponsored by the Associated Artists of Southport, Brunswick County Parks
and Recreation, Southport Parks and Recreation, and Partnership for
Children. Admission is free. Poplar Grove Herb & Garden Fair Does spring fever have you itching to get into the
garden? If so, join other garden and herb enthusiasts at Poplar Grove
Historic Plantation. This annual spring event features a full day of
interesting and informative workshops and speakers on the subject of
herbs. (Pre-registration and pre-payment are recommended.) Another
highlight of the fair is a garden and plant sale featuring live herbs
and herbal products, perennials, shrubs, gardening accessories and more.
For reservations or information on the class schedule and fees, call the
number listed above.
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AprilCoastal Living Show An annual tradition for 28 years, this show features
more than 100 exhibitors with everything for the home and garden —
stonework, cabinets, fix-up, clean-up, jewelry, clothing, stained glass,
spas, books and product demonstrations. Artisans create their crafts in the
adjacent courtyard. Sponsored by the Wilmington Woman's Club, it's held at
the C.F.C.C. Schwartz Center. Admission is $5. Southport Spring
Festival & Azalea Sale April 10-11, 2009. On Easter weekend come out and
welcome spring in style at the Southport Spring Festival. Running from 10 AM
until 5 PM both days, this festival features more than 100 crafters,
vendors, Encore Azaleas and bedding plants for sale, and local talent on the
stage. Saturday features the Robert Ruark Chili Cook-off Contest, so get
your taste buds ready to vote for the People's Choice Award. This festival
is sponsored by Downtown Southport, Inc., and the Southport-Oak Island
Kiwanis Club.
North Carolina Azalea
Festival No matter what the weather, spring isn't official until the North Carolina Azalea Festival in early April, signaling the opening of the season in Wilmington and the southern coast of North Carolina. This lavish annual Wednesday-through-Sunday celebration, one of the largest in the region, attracts more than 300,000 visitors from all over the United States and Canada. This annual rite features scores of musical and theatrical performances by local and national talent, celebrity guests, the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, garden and home tours throughout historic Wilmington and area beaches, and, naturally, a wonderland of blooming azaleas. The Azalea Festival garden tour, an annual
fund-raising event for the Cape Fear Garden Club, is conducted Friday
through Sunday. Proceeds from this tour are returned to the community
through horticultural grants and UNC-Wilmington scholarships. Home tours are
conducted on Saturday and Sunday. An admission fee is charged for both tours
and proceeds benefit both the Azalea Festival and the Garden Club. Contact
the North Carolina Azalea Festival office for admission information and a
current list of featured homes and gardens. Don't miss Saturday morning's
three-hour grand parade downtown, which kicks off a weekend of free outdoor
entertainment. A lively street fair along the Cape Fear River waterfront is
held on Saturday and Sunday. This beloved Wilmington tradition features food
vendors, several entertainment venues, art and craft booths, interactive
exhibits, a children's area and thousands of friendly people. Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off Taste chowder entries prepared by some of the area's
finest restaurants and vote for your favorite at the Annual Chowder Cook-Off
held in Carolina Beach. Live entertainment for music enthusiasts and some
children's activities are available also. Hours are 11:30 AM to 6 PM. There
are free trolley rides from the Federal Point Shopping Center to the
Carolina Beach Lake. The Chowder Cook-Off is hosted by the Pleasure Island
Chamber of Commerce. Bald Head Island
Regatta April 18-19, 2009. Scheduled for the convenience of
those interested in Key West, Miami, Charleston and Southern Bay Race Weeks,
this regatta includes nine anticipated classes, including H20, B235, J24,
J60, J105, B36.7, C&C 115, CF38 and J120. Offshore and protected inland
racing is offered. Food and recreational activities are available on shore
for non-race support staff. Ask about free dockage, launching, and boat and
trailer storage. A Day at the Docks April 25-26, 2009. Ever hear of a Bopple Race? Care
for a free ride on a charter fishing boat? Combine these with live
entertainment, crafts, free Coast Guard boat inspections, a sunset boat
parade and a blessing of the boats, and you've got Holden Beach's way of
welcoming the return of spring, always the last weekend of April.
Something of a floating festival, the event offers various
entertainments at ports of call along the island; thus, the free boat
rides. All the food on sale is prepared by local restaurateurs as a
showcase of local fare. The festival is sponsored by the Greater Holden
Beach Merchants Association, and admission is free. (By the way, a
bopple is an apple boat that is assigned a number and three randomly
selected crew. The bopples are dropped from the bridge into the
Intracoastal Waterway, and the one that passes the finishing line first
earns its crew cash prizes.) All proceeds are channeled into community
volunteer groups and community projects. And the event is fish-friendly,
too; all the bopples are retrieved. Museum of Coastal
Carolina Family Day April 11, 2009.
Free and low-cost activities including music, face painting and temporary
tattoos, a shark-tooth hunt, crafts, a touch tank and live snakes
are examples of the entertainment geared to the whole family at this annual
event. Hot dogs, chips and drinks are available for purchase.
Women Anglers in
Training Weekend (WAIT) April 25-26, 2009.
This workshop, sponsored by Oak Island Parks and Recreation and NC
Sportsman Magazine, offers a stress-free environment where women
anglers, from beginners to advanced, can ask questions and try their hands
at a variety of angling activities. Introduction to surf, pier and bottom
fishing, tying lures, casting, net casting, trolling, using bait and
maneuvering boats are included in the class. The event concludes with a
day-long fishing trip.
Dreams Center for Arts Education’s Dreams Center for Arts
Education helps fund its non-profit arts education programs for children
through this self-guided tour of area artists' studios. A two-day event with
over 35 participants, this peek at the inner spaces of glass blowers,
painters, sculptors, photographers, weavers, potters and other creative
types provides insight in to the artistic process. Both ACME Art Company and
Independent Art Company participate, and Dreams also features work created
by the program’s participants.
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May Airlie Gardens Concert Series From May 2 until October 3, Airlie Gardens hosts a
popular concert series the first and third Friday evening of each month. For
just $8 per person (children 5 and younger get in free) or free for members,
you can enjoy two hours of jazz (first Fridays) or Beach Dance music (third
Fridays) while relaxing in these lovely Southern gardens. Bring a picnic, a
blanket and your favorite person, but leave your pets at home, please.
Alcohol is permitted, and wine is available for purchase. Concerts begin at
6 PM under the awesome Airlie Oak. Battleship North Carolina Memorial Day
Observance Memorial Day is observed aboard the monumental
Battleship North Carolina with music, special guests and other
special events. A tradition since 1968, the ceremony features a high-ranking
military guest speaker, all-service color guard, a gun salute by Marines,
taps and a memorial wreath dropped into the water. The ceremony begins at
5:45 PM and is free to the public. The event typically has hundreds of
people in attendance. See our
Attractions chapter for information about touring the ship during
regular hours. Greek Festival The Greek Festival is a wonderful opportunity (and for
some people the only opportunity) to sample homemade moussaka, baklava and
other Greek delicacies. Live Greek music, cultural presentations, cooking
demonstrations, souvenirs, a tour of the church and a Greek-style
marketplace round out this gala weekend-long celebration. Suggested donation
for admission is $2 for adults. Children younger than 12 get in free. Fees
are charged for food. The festival opens daily at noon. Weekly Summer Fireworks at
Carolina Beach You don't have to fight the crowds on July Fourth to
get a spectacular fireworks display at Carolina Beach. Each Thursday from
May 22 through August 28, a free fireworks display takes place on the
beach in front of the Courtyard Marriott, weather permitting. The display
gets underway once the sun has set, so be sure to get there early to get a
good spot. The schedule is subject to change without notice. Merchant Marine Memorial Service Attending this event in late May is one way to learn
about the importance of maritime commerce on the Cape Fear River. This day
serves as an opportunity for the community to honor past and present members
of our nation's Merchant Marine. Highlights of the day's activities include
a dockside Maritime Day Memorial Ceremony and port and vessel tours.
Maritime businesses as well as historical and environmental agencies have
exhibits as well. Because the Port of Wilmington has played such a vital
role in the region's history and remains tremendously important to the area
economy, residents and visitors alike find this a truly fascinating
experience. Hours are 11 AM to 5 PM. Enter through the gate at 2202 Burnett
Boulevard. Boiling Spring Lakes
Community Fun Day May 17, 2008. This festival runs from 10 AM
until 2 PM. The day begins with a blast from THOR, the Southport historical
society's ceremonial cannon, and just gets better from there. All day
entertainment includes choral groups, dance troupes, feats of strength,
songs, canine demonstrations, magicians and more. Food and crafts are
available as well. Brunswick Concert Band
and May 9, 2008. The Brunswick Concert Band and
Brunswick Big Band give a formal spring concert in Hatch Auditorium in
the Baptist Assembly at the easternmost tip of Oak Island. The blend of
ages of the individuals who make up this enthusiastic group and the
blend of music, from jazz to show tunes, country, patriotic and swinging
1940s music, always provides listening pleasure to the audience. Leukemia Cup Regatta May 16, 17 & 18, 2008, May 15, 16 & 17,
2009. The annual fund-raising Regatta event, always held the third weekend
in May, begins with the first of three sailing races and a competitive power
boat challenge on Saturday. An auction is held that evening along with a
catered dinner and musical entertainment. Sunday brings two more races and
an awards celebration and barbecue. Both sail and power boats compete in the
races with categories including Harbor 20, J24, PHRF Non-Spinnaker and PHRF
Spinnaker. The Regatta weekend was expanded in 2008 to include even more
events to attract people of all boating and non-boating levels. In 2007 the
event raised a record $58,000 that went directly to the Eastern North
Carolina Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to fund patient
services and research in pursuit of a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins
lymphoma and myeloma. For more event or sponsorship information, call Rob
Wartchow at (910) 523-2212. Relay for Life of
Brunswick County May 2-3, 2008, May 1-2, 2009. The Relay for
Life opens on Friday evening with a Survivors Lap as cancer survivors walk,
run or wheelchair the first lap. This event raises funds for the American
Cancer Society as well as celebrating survivorship and empowering
individuals to fight back against the disease. During the event teams walk
or run laps to raise funds for cancer research, awareness, education and
patient and family care.
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