Wilmington Events Jan-Feb 2024

Event Calendar

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

MUSIC + SHOWS

The Wilson Center at CFCC
Wilsoncentertickets.com

Debussy’s La Mer, Jan 11
Come From Away, Jan 16-18
John Crist, Jan 20
Elvis Costello, Feb 2
River Rhapsody, Feb 3
Cirque Mechanics: Zephyr, Feb 5
The Cher Show, Feb 14-15
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Feb 19
The Simon & Garfunkel Story, Feb 20
Bored Teachers, Feb 22
Keb’ Mo’, Feb 23
Saint Georges’ Sword and Bow, Feb 25
Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: Sing and Swing, Feb 27

Brooklyn Arts Center + The Annex
brooklynartsnc.com

An Evening with Donna the Buffalo, Jan 20
Made in NC Market, Feb 24-25

Cameron Arts Museum (CAM)
cameronartmuseum.org

Doug Irving Legacy Ensemble, Jan 4
Floating Lantern Ceremony, Jan 7
Illustrated lecture with Joel Cook, Jan 18
3 Artists 3 Films: Opening reception and screening, Jan 28
Jazz at CAM: Sean Higgins Trio, Feb 1

Thalian Hall
Thalianhall.org

The Holdovers, Jan 8-19
Annie Jr., Jan 11-14
Anatomy Of A Fall, Jan 15-17
T.S. Monk, Jan 20
Bug Story, Jan 27
Joshua Lozoff–Life is Magic, Feb 2
Steel Magnolias, Feb 9-18
Death of a Salesman, Feb 22-Mar 3

EVENTS

Blizzard Bowl at the Beach PRO/AM Disc Golf
Jan 14
Join the fun of the Blizzard Bowl at the Beach, a PDGA Pro/Am Disc Golf Tournament at Joe Eakes Park! Featuring a unique flat and wooded layout with sand fairways a few minutes’ walk from the beach, this well-maintained course can prove challenging for both Professionals and Amateurs with blind shots on both short and long holes. Many of the holes have multiple sharp lines around, under and over scrub oaks and beach trees. Walk-ups Day of Event usually need to come prior to 9am.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade and Commemoration
Jan 15
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has special resonance to Americans, as well as to Wilmingtonians, because Dr. King was scheduled to travel to Wilmington for a speaking engagement on the day he was assassinated. Wilmington honors his memory with a week of events dedicated to him and his work ending with Monday's commemorative parade. Additional programs include assorted venues with food and entertainment, a gospel concert, banquets, and speeches.

Greenfield Lake Family Nature Walks
Jan 20
Join knowledgeable guides from Cape Fear Bird Observatory and their partners for a family-friendly, fun nature walk! Meeting at the Greenfield Lake boathouse (near tennis courts) for an informational session usually beginning at 9am followed by a narrated 60-minute stroll around the lake looking at interesting birds, plants, mammals, reptiles, and other fascinating wildlife. All are welcome! No registration required. Please bring sunscreen, insect repellent, water, and comfortable walking shoes.

New Universe Views: Hubble Space Telescope
Jan 20–June 23 
Explore exciting space views when NASA's traveling interactive exhibit immerses you in the Universe and introduces you to the Hubble Telescope's successor, the James Webb Space Telescope. Featuring a large-scale model of the original Hubble along with activity stations, enjoy hands-on experience with the technology that allowed Hubble's distant galaxy gaze. Marvel at the fascinating cosmic images and exciting data relayed by the Telescope. You will never look at the night sky the same way! Additional details available closer to the event.

Castle Hayne Pro/Am Disc Golf Tournament
Jan 21 
Join the fun at a PDGA sanctioned tournament played at Northern Regional Park. Featuring a nationally recognized, well-maintained course that proves challenging for both Professionals and Amateurs, it’s sure to be an exciting tournament. 

East Coast Shag Classic
Jan 25-28
Spend a special beach music weekend with several live bands performing nightly at Carolina Beach. Along with these great concerts and live music from Band of Oz, The Catalinas, Entertainers, there are lots of events including a welcome luau, social hour mixers, complimentary shag and line dance lessons, a Comedy/Variety Show with dessert reception, and even a Sunday Morning Devotion Gospel continental brunch with Steadfast Quartet. All events are held at the Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach Oceanfront and nearby locations. This will be a fun-filled oceanside weekend!

Coffee Crawl in Brooklyn Arts District
Jan 27
Come for a caffeinated celebration in the Brooklyn Arts District! Enjoy the fun Coffee Crawl and a leisurely stroll on historic North Fourth Street, sampling special offerings of the magic bean in a wide variety of venues ranging from a brewery, restaurant, bottle shop, art gallery, and more! More details and participating venues will be announced closer to the date.

NC Jazz Festival
Feb 1-3 
Enjoy one of the largest traditional jazz festivals in the Southeast. This musical weekend begins on Thursday evening and continues both Friday and Saturday nights with four-and-a-half-hour concerts featuring seven sets with six or seven musicians per set, each with a different leader. Experience fantastic musicians from around the globe.

Johnnie Mercers Pier Dogfish Classic
Feb 03
Join in the fun with the annual Johnnie Mercers Pier Annual Dogfish Tournament, loved by both dedicated and new fishermen with many families returning every year. Cash prizes will be distributed to the top three anglers with the three biggest dogfish, as well as unique raffle prizes. Please note that all fish entered must be released alive to be considered for prizes. Join the family-friendly fishing catch-and-release fun outside followed by a celebration inside after the fishing ends to congratulate the winners.

Hold Your Honey Tight Fright-Night Ghost Walk
Feb 9-10
Hold your honey tight tonight for a fright-night Valentine treat with the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington! The tours include true stories of Wilmington and reminisce about true (and often tragic) love the weekend before Valentine's Day. View the latest details on their social media. Tickets are available online or in person at The Black Cat Shoppe on Market Street. It's a lot of fun, especially if you're a bit tired of the same old “flowers and a box of candy” Valentine's celebration. Please plan ahead; this event is usually a sellout. Tickets available closer to the event date.

Outlander in the Cape Fear Walking Tour
Feb 09
Turn back time with a special walking tour of historic downtown as seen through the events depicted in the beloved book and video series Outlander. Walk in the footsteps of the main characters Claire and Jamie Fraser, led by local historian and Assistant Manager of the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens Hunter Ingram on a tour based on his hit podcast Burgwin-Wright Presents...Outlander in the Cape Fear. The ninety-minute tour will depart from the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, cover historic streets and return to the starting place. Please call to reserve your spot for this popular tour.

Romantic Valentine Carriage Ride
Feb 09
Treat your sweetheart to an incredibly romantic carriage ride for two. Surprise them with a red rose, a box of chocolates, and your private French evening coach for an unforgettable tour on the historic streets of downtown Wilmington. These romantic rides are by advance reservation only. Please plan ahead to book the time of your choice.

Cape Fear Heart Ball
Feb 10 
Celebrate the collective success in driving change, funding science, and improving behaviors, regardless of where or how we gather. In more than 150 communities across the country, Heart Ball supporters unite with a shared purpose to raise critical funds, ensuring our work continues. The evening at the Country Club of Landfall includes a social reception, formal dinner and auction, as well as dancing. Tickets are available at heart.org/capefearheartball

Battleship 101
Feb 10
Join the fun when special volunteers are stationed throughout the top levels of the ship to help history come to life, sharing their expertise about specific battleship subjects during Battleship 101. Some of the areas they are knowledgeable about are the gunnery, radar, sickbay, galley, engineering, and daily shipboard life. Kids and the young at heart can try on helmets, raise signal flags, “text” using semaphore flags, tap out your name using Morse code, and more. This event is sure to interest all ages. Enjoy a unique opportunity to speak one-on-one with someone who knows about what life was like aboard a WWII Battleship.

Wrightsville Beach Valentine Run: 5K, 10K, 15K
Feb 10
What better way to start your Valentine’s Day than with a heart-themed race. Bring along your Valentine and your festive gear for a morning of fun and take your pick between the 5K, 10K, or the Double Trouble 15K around beautiful Wrightsville Beach. They even have a Valentine's Costume Contest for the runners! You'll have spectacular Wrightsville Beach waterway views along both courses—so put on your red, white and pink and bring your Valentine or Galentine for a festive fun run. Please see the website for registration.

Swan Lake: World Ballet Series
Feb 16
Experience the legendary Swan Lake performed by a multinational cast of professional ballet dancers from ten countries who bring this famous love story to life. See the iconic Dance of the Little Swans, count the 32 fouettes performed by the Odile all the while immersing yourself in Tchaikovsky’s magical music. Thrill to the World Ballet's fresh representation of this timeless classic featuring richly detailed, hand-painted sets as well as over 150 radiant costumes.

20th Annual Special Olympics Polar Plunge
Feb 17 
Show your strength at the 20th Annual Polar Plunge and 5K Run-N-Plunge or one-mile fun walk for all abilities. This flat course is stroller, wheelchair, and dog friendly. Be one of the brave and participate as plungers to conquer cold conditions while diving into the chilly Atlantic Ocean. Contestants are encouraged to dress up, find their inner superhero, and can opt for the 5K Run-N-Plunge, a one-mile fun walk, or just the Plunge. You can even take the Plunge with your pooch! Regardless of your choice, the day promises music, vendors, games, and food trucks. 

Anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge
Feb 24 
Celebrate the Patriot victory of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, their first victory before the Declaration of Independence, Halifax Accord, and War for Independence, with a full weekend of festivities. Witness entire battle reenactments (including cannon/musket firing) usually on Saturday at 12pm and 3:30pm, and then again on Sunday at 1pm and 3:30pm. See history come alive with soldier encampments, including food eaten by colonial soldiers and militia, with reenactors ready to answer questions. The latest updates are available on social media. Activities both days include demonstrations of musket and cannon firing, as well as colonial activities like blacksmithing, candle dipping, spinning, cooking, colonial toys and games, live music, and much more! Details available closer to the event.

Novant Health Wilmington NC Marathon
Feb 24 
Experience marathon running from Pier to Port like never before. Drawing runners from all over the country, this event is a Boston Marathon qualifier and a USATF certified qualifier. The full marathon course starts Saturday morning at Johnnie Mercers Pier in Wrightsville Beach and runs through Wilmington, ending in historic downtown Wilmington at Riverfront Park. Latest updates are on social media. Make plans now to join the run or watch the excitement.

Tidewater Camellia Club Show & Sale
Feb 24
Be surrounded by beautiful blooms during a special celebration of all things Camellia! Each year this historic show has grown with exhibitors and judges from all over the Southeast, making it one of the largest and best-attended shows in the US. Camellia experts will display hundreds of blooms for evaluation by the American Camellia Society Judges. Activities include tours and experts on hand to answer your Camellia questions with camellia plants also be available for purchase. Family Activities and Children's Art will be available usually from 12:30pm until 4pm. Additional details available closer to the event.