Happy Thanksgiving Weekend & the unofficial kick off to the holiday season! We’re sending the newsletter out early.

Table of Contents

• Top 3 Events this Weekend

• More Unique Events

• Plan Ahead - Upcoming Events You Should Know About …

Top 3 Events this Weekend

More Unique Events

Thursday 11/ 27 - Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving 🦃

• Bluewater Waterfront Grill, The Bridge Tender, Elijahs, Fork N Cork, Front Street Brewery, La Duna Paradiso, Oceanic, Pilot House, Pinpoint Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Solstice Kitchen + Cocktails, Steam Restaurant and Bar, The Harp, Michaels Seafood, Casey’s Buffet.

Friday 11/28

• Live Oak Bank Holiday Classic - This multi-day college basketball event features UNCW and visiting teams at Trask Coliseum.

• Winter Wonderland Kick Off Party - Celebrate the holiday season with festive drinks, decor, and a snowflake competition at Flytrap Brewing.

• Black Friday Market - Shop handcrafted items and sip festive drinks from local vendors at Cryptid Den on Chandler’s Wharf.

• Downtown Wilmington Holiday Tree Lighting - Enjoy live entertainment and a countdown to the ceremonial holiday tree lighting at Wilmington Riverwalk.

• A Very Merry Christmas: Brian Whitted - Brian Whitted brings jazz and holiday classics to life in this festive concert at Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts (Nov. 28–30).

• Island of Lights: Lighting at the Lake – Celebrate the start of the Island of Lights Festival with a tree lighting and Santa meet-and-greet at Carolina Beach Lake Park.

Saturday 11/29

• Kure Beach Holiday Market - Browse handcrafted coastal gifts and artisan goods with ocean views in Kure Beach.

• Holiday Maker's Market - Discover handmade art, vintage finds, and more from local makers at this festive pop-up event.

• NC Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach - Watch a sparkling boat parade and enjoy family-friendly holiday festivities at Wrightsville Beach.

• The Southern Lights – A walk-through holiday light show with fire pits, s'mores, wagon rides, and more at Johnson Nursery and Public Gardens.

• Custom Ornament Making Workshop – A pottery class for creating ceramic ornaments at Bookworm Pottery in the Cargo District.

• Really Cool Stuff Holiday Market – Shop local artisans and support small businesses in downtown Wilmington on Dock Street

Sunday 11/30

• Benny Hill Jazz Brunch - Enjoy a jazz-filled brunch with renowned saxophonist Benny Hill at True Blue Butcher and Barrel.

• A Very Potter Christmas - A cozy Harry Potter movie night series kicks off at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

• Live Music & Drink Specials - Enjoy live music from Brandon Tise and Ethan Hanson with great drink specials at Wilmington Distillery.

Plan Ahead - Upcoming Events You Should Know About​

11/15 - 12/23 Southern Lights the most magnificent display of dazzling lights and holiday activities. Enjoy lights, wagon rides spotting elves, fire pits + s’mores, 12 days of Christmas art walk, snowball fights, the Grinch’s maze, character meet and greets + more!

11/26 - Photos at Santa’s Workshop - Step into the festive world of Santa Claus this season when you visit Santa at Santa's Workshop at the Element by Westin Hotel in Mayfaire. Fill out your Dear Santa Letter, take your annual photo with the man in red himself, then don't forget to drop off your letter in Santa's mailbox.

12/5-12/13 Glide into the holiday season at Southport’s first-ever Pop-Up Ice Skating experience, which will transform the Fort Johnston Tennis Courts into a winter wonderland from Friday, December 5, through Saturday, December 13. Open to all ages for festive fun, skaters can enjoy the ice for a $15 admission fee which includes skate rental.

12/10-12/21 Get ready to deck the halls from December 10th through 21st with the 12 Bars of Christmas event! Grab your $5 Santa List at any participating bar to unlock exclusive holiday events, with all proceeds directly benefiting that bar’s chosen non-profit organization. Complete your list to score a limited-edition 12 Bars of Christmas t-shirt and enjoy this season of giving and good cheer!

3/28 - 3/29 Feast Food & Drink Festival - Annual food and beverage festival that celebrates the region's culinary scene by featuring local chefs, breweries, wineries, and mixologists through various events like the Riverside Pier Party, Craft+Cuisine, and Brunch Elevated. All-inclusive tickets cover food, drinks, and entertainment. Tickets are 25% off until December 24th.

Thanks for reading! Talk to you again next week 👋 - Meg

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