Event Calendar Sept-Oct 2025

Looking to fill your social calendar? We've got the rundown on what to do this season.

For Music + Shows, check:

The Wilson Center at CFCC
wilsoncentertickets.com

Cameron Arts Museum (CAM)
cameronartsmuseum.org

Thalian Hall
thalianhall.org

UNCW Kenana Auditorium 
uncw.edu

CB100: Centennial Celebration
Aug 6–Sept 6
Celebrate the Carolina Beach Centennial with a season of special events, from a self-guided walking tour and chef-crafted menu items to a sand sculpture contest, music festival, and more. Start with a selfie at the “I Love Carolina Beach” sculpture and share with #CB100. Updates available on social media.

American Craft Walk
Sept 13
Stroll downtown Wilmington’s streets at the city’s largest outdoor art show and sale. Browse unique creations in various mediums from more than 100 local artists.

HDWM Artisan Market
Aug 10–Oct 26, Sundays
Browse handcrafted art, jewelry, and goods from more than 30 rotating local artisans at the Historic Downtown Wilmington Artisan Market, with live music each week. (Closed during Riverfest, Thanksgiving weekend, and June 8.)

Horror Films River Cruise
Sept 13
Cruise the Cape Fear River and hear spooky behind-the-scenes stories from Wilmington’s locally filmed horror movies, just in time for Halloween. Narrated by historian Hunter Ingram, the tour also covers more than 400 film and TV productions shot in “Hollywood East.”

Beach 5K & One Mile Fun Run/Walk
Sept 14
Kick off fall with a timed Seashore 5K or a family-friendly One Mile Fun Run/Walk. Both start and finish on the sand at Johnnie Mercers Pier—perfect for enjoying ocean views and the salty breeze.

26th Annual Landfall Foundation Art Show & Sale
Sept 17–19
View and purchase works from more than 100 North Carolina artists at the Country Club of Landfall Nicklaus Clubhouse. Admission is free, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. daily. Proceeds benefit local nonprofit grants in arts, education, and health.

Oakdale Cemetery Flashlight Tour
Sept 20
Explore Oakdale Cemetery by flashlight on a guided evening tour with local historians Chris Fonvielle, Hunter Ingram, and Robin Triplett. Hear stories of Civil War veterans, historic art, and notable residents. 

Swim the Loop and Mott’s Channel Sprint
Sept 21
Cheer on or join the 3.5-mile Swim the Loop and the 1.3-mile Mott’s Channel Sprint, both part of the Carolina Swim Series. Races start and finish at Dockside Restaurant, with shuttle and parking info available online.

5th Annual Mackerel Mania Fishing Tournament
Sept 26–28
Cast your line in the King and Spanish Mackerel tournaments, held simultaneously on a 1,200-foot pier. Enjoy fast-paced fishing action, browse tackle and gift shops, grab a bite, and take in the coastal views.

Fall Mystery Corn Mazes: Trask Family Farms
Sept 27–Nov 1
Navigate over four miles of trails across three corn mazes—Children’s, Intermediate, and Advanced—each with fun games and prizes. Enjoy the pumpkin patch, fresh flowers, homemade ice cream, and weekend hayrides. 

Waterman’s Oktoberfest
Sept 27
Celebrate Oktoberfest at Waterman’s Brewing with seasonal Festbier, German fare, and live music from a full-size authentic Blaskapelle band. Costumes encouraged—break out your lederhosen or dirndls for an afternoon of Bavarian fun.

YMCA Wrightsville Beach Sprint Triathlon
Sept 27
Featuring a 1,350-meter swim, 11.5-mile bike ride, and 5K run. Youth races also offered. This long-running event is one of the largest single-distance triathlons on the East Coast.

Oktoberfest on the Beach
Sept 28
Enjoy beer, polka, and coastal views at Carolina Beach Pier’s Oktoberfest. Festivities include live oompah music, a pumpkin patch, stein-holding contest, and German-inspired food and drinks. Family- and dog-friendly.

Carolina Beach Pier Pumpkin Patch
Oct 1–30
Celebrate fall at the seaside pumpkin patch with live music on select Friday and Saturday evenings. Perfect for picking pumpkins and enjoying ocean views all month long.

Oakdale Cemetery Tours
Oct 1–31
Explore North Carolina’s oldest rural cemetery on a guided two-hour Halloween-season tour. Hear true, often strange stories of notable residents dating back to 1855. Reservations required.

30th Annual Bark in the Park
Oct 4
Watch canine athletes soar during the Skyhoundz Hyperflite Disc Championships at 11 a.m. Enjoy this free event, vote for “Best Dressed” categories, and cheer on pups showing the most personality. Rain date: following Sunday.

Fire in the Pines Festival
Oct 4
Celebrate Wilmington’s fire forests with live animals, kids’ activities, food trucks, live music, and, weather permitting, a controlled burn. Meet Smokey Bear on his 80th birthday and mascot Burner Bob for photos and fire safety fun.

First Cut Horror Film Festival
Oct 4
Get in the Halloween spirit with short horror films, from macabre to obscure, plus guest speakers from the film industry. Wilmington’s spooky film legacy includes Scream, The Black Phone, and more. Tickets available closer to the date.

Oktoberfest Under the Bridge
Oct 4
Enjoy live Bavarian oompah music, German food trucks, stein-holding and keg-squatting contests, and a “Best Dressed” competition. Celebrate with a chorus of Ein Prosit and plenty of gemütlichkeit.

Riverfest
Oct 4–5
This street fair features local art, crafts, food, a car show, and appearances by the Riverfest Queen and Teen. Vendors line Front Street from Chestnut to Brunswick.

5th Annual Pets in the Park
Oct 5
Celebrate pets with K9 demos, a costume contest, pet parade, rescue groups, and “DOGA” yoga at this lakeside festival. Food trucks for humans and pups. All well-behaved pets welcome.

Pier-2-Pier Open Water Swim Race
Oct 5
Swim 1.7 miles between Johnnie Mercers Pier and Crystal Pier at Wrightsville Beach. Starting point depends on currents.

Seashore Full Moon Petting Zoo Party
Oct 6
Enjoy a moonlit night at Carolina Beach Pier with goats, a mini pig, and a mini cow. Pick a pumpkin, savor food and drinks, and enjoy family-friendly fun.

Brass Concert: US Navy 250th & Battleship’s Arrival
Oct 10
Celebrate the Navy’s 250th anniversary and the Battleship’s arrival with a brass band concert featuring patriotic, classical, swing, and Broadway tunes by Wilmington Virtuosi Brass.

Wilmington Boat Show
Oct 10–12
The largest coastal boat show between Annapolis and Tampa features boats, gear, fishing, and sailing exhibits at the Convention Center and along the Cape Fear River.

Back Door Kitchen Tour: Residents of Old Wilmington
Oct 11
Step “through the back door” to see historic homes’ kitchens and living spaces. Docents share history, renovations, and original features like heart-pine floors and fireplaces. Built as early as 1872, each home has unique charm.

Halloween Beach Bash: Back to the 80s
Oct 11
Celebrate Halloween ’80s style at Carolina Beach Pier with live music from Dirty Blonde Band, a costume contest, retro gaming, and a pumpkin patch. Family-friendly fun on all three levels, from kids’ activities to adult nostalgia.

NC Oyster Month: NC Oyster Trail
Oct 15–Nov 15
Follow the NC Oyster Trail to taste fresh, farmed, and wild oysters at markets and restaurants statewide. Learn about oyster farming, enjoy raw bars, and savor dishes from chefs who cultivate their own oysters.

Voracious Rare Beer & Wine Festival
Oct 17
Sample rare and limited-release beers from 50 breweries and 20 hand-selected wines at Live Oak Bank Pavilion. Includes light bites, live music, and brewer meet-and-greets. Ages 21+. This popular riverside event sells out.

Monster Dash 5K
Oct 18
Run or walk a pine-lined 5K trail through Carolina Beach State Park with scenic water views. Part of Great State Trails Day, open to all ages and abilities.

Pleasure Island Surf Fishing Challenge
Oct 18–19
Fish Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher for a chance at over $30,000 in prizes in this premier land-based surf fishing tournament.

Zombie Run 5K and Monster Mile
Oct 18
Dodge costumed zombies in a 5K flag-belt run, or join the family-friendly Monster Mile with trick-or-treat stations and photo ops. Prizes for survivors. Ages 12+ for
the 5K.

Oyster Roast for the Coast
Oct 24
Enjoy steamed NC oysters, low country boil, and Southern favorites in the gardens of the NHC Arboretum. Proceeds support oyster reef restoration in the Cape Fear River. Rain or shine.

IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina
Oct 25
From beach to battleship, IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina features a 1.2-mile swim in Wrightsville Beach, a 56-mile bike ride through the coastal countryside, and a 13.1-mile run looping around Greenfield Park before finishing in historic downtown Wilmington across from the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. Voted “Best Swim Course” in the IRONMAN 70.3 Athletes’ Choice Awards, the 2025 race also offers qualifying slots for the 2026 World Championship. This event sells out quickly, so plan ahead.

Villaween One Tree Hill (OTH) Style
Oct 31
Spend Halloween night at TRIC nightclub, filming location of One Tree Hill, with celebrity guests, photo ops, and themed events. Daytime tours available for fans arriving early.