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 12/18

• Christmas Trivia – Get into the holiday spirit with a Christmas-themed trivia night, free hot chocolate, and a shot at a $50 Mess Hall prize, hosted at Mess Hall.

• Michael Feinstein – Experience a multimedia evening of classic holiday songs performed by Grammy-nominated vocalist and pianist Michael Feinstein at the Wilson Center.

• Photos at Santa's Workshop – Visit Santa’s Workshop at The Element by Westin at Mayfaire for letters to Santa and festive photo ops available daily through December 24.

Friday 12/19

• Holiday Whoobie Whatty at Kure Beach – Celebrate Grinch-style with the Kure Beach Cheermeister announcement, movie screening, crafts, cookie decorating, and photos with the Grinch at Kure Beach.

• The Southern Lights – Stroll through dazzling Christmas lights, wagon rides, fire pits, an art walk, and more at Johnson Nursery and Public Gardens in this self-paced holiday experience.

• 5th Annual Ugly Sweater Party – Dance the night away with DJ Mr. NICE and compete for prizes in an outrageous ugly sweater contest at Bowstring - Bar & Live Music Venue.

Saturday 12/20

• Ornament Painting Workshop Cargo District – Paint two ceramic Christmas ornaments in a family-friendly workshop benefiting Paws Place Dog Rescue at Bookworm Pottery.

• Pop-Up Holiday Makers Market – Shop local makers and holiday goods in a festive market hosted by Lavender Rain Emporium at Tap Yard Wilmington.

• Corner Market – Browse local artisans, enjoy food, live music, and the Brooklyn Arts Social District vibes at Flytrap Brewing.

• Palate Christmas Market – Sip mulled wine and hot chocolate while shopping curated holiday vendors and enjoying live music at Palate Bottle Shop.

• Santa Bar Crawl – Dress in your best Christmas attire for a Carolina Beach–style bar crawl with live music, a costume contest, drink specials, and a charity raffle starting from Hurricane Alley's.

• Santa by the Sea – Meet Santa at Carolina Beach Lake, with live holiday music, a photo booth, balloon artist, storytelling, and more at Carolina Beach Lake Park.

• PokeKon-Fest All Pokemon Show - Celebrate all things Pokémon with battles, trading, cosplay, games, and more at Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

• Stained Glass Crash Course - Learn the copper foil method step-by-step and create your own handmade stained glass piece in this beginner-friendly class at The Cozy Bookwyrm.

Sunday 12/21

• White Elephant Gift Exchange – Bring a creative gift for a playful white elephant exchange and donate blankets for Coastal Horizons in exchange for free hot chocolate at Freya's Haus.

• Holiday History Tours with Soul Santa - Ride through downtown Wilmington to enjoy Christmas lights, local history, music, and treats with Soul Santa on the WilmingtoNColor bus (Venue: WilmingtoNColor).

• FIlm on Tap: How the Grinch Stole Christmas - A special Films on Tap screening of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Flytrap Brewing.

• Christmas Sushi Class - Roll festive Christmas-themed sushi, learn traditional techniques with a holiday twist, and enjoy all-you-can-eat sushi plus a drink ticket at Hi-Wire Brewery.

• FINAL DAY! The 12 Bars of Christmas – A multi-day Dec 10–21 bar crawl at The Eagles Dare where you grab a $5 Santa List, support local nonprofits, and score holiday perks and a limited-edition t-shirt.

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 - 12/24 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.

12/18-1/5 The Great Hall-idays: Harry Potter Mini Golf - Good Lie Mini Golf Bar transforms into a holiday wizard world with Harry Potter–themed mini golf, movies, potions, game nights, and more running throughout the month.

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!

1/31 - UNCW Intercultural Festival - Representatives from more than 25 countries come together to celebrate world cultures through music, dance, art, booths, and performances.

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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