25 Christmas Things To Do In Wilmington, NC

To help, check out our Wilmington, North Carolina Travel Guide filled with restaurant suggestions, advice on coffee and ice cream, recommendations for rainy day activities, and more.

Things To Do In Wilmington, NC At Christmastime

The majority of this list Christmas activities in Wilmington proper. A couple of them are in the greater Wilmington area, like in Carolina Beach, which visitors pretty much think is an extension of Wilmington anyway.

And a couple are in Brunswick County, NC because that’s borders Wilmington and some of the events are closer to downtown Wilmington than Carolina Beach is.

Watch a Christmas show at Thalian Hall

We love Thalian Hall (310 Chestnut St). We’ve seen a few really great productions there. There are a ton of theatrical performances and movies at the theater throughout the year. In December, there are a bunch of Christmas themed performances.

Thalian Hall’s Christmas schedule is as follows:

• Very Merry Christmas – Opera House Theatre Company – November 28 to 30
• A Christmas Carol – December 1 at 4 pm and 7:30 pm
• Seán Heely’s A Celtic Christmas – December 4 at 7:30 pm
• A Christmas Story (1983) – Thalian Hall Cinema Family Series – December 4 to 6
• Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker – December 5 and 6
• Black Christmas (1974) – Thalian Hall Cinema Cult Series – December 5 and 6
• Santa Claus Conquers the Martians – December 11 to 21
• Ebenezer! A Musical Christmas Carol – December 12 to 21
• Scrooged (1988) – Thalian Hall Cinema Vintage Series – December 14
• It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Thalian Hall Cinema Vintage Series – December 22

Tickets must be purchased ahead of time and you can get them here.

The Annual Lighting Of Thalian Hall

If those shows aren’t enough for you, head to Thalian Hall on December 1 for the annual lighting of the holiday lights on the front steps of the building (which, side note, is one of the haunted buildings in Wilmington).

The lights will turn on at 6 pm, in between performances of A Christmas Carol.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there.

Tour the Nights of Lights at The Bellamy Mansion Museum

The Bellamy Mansion Museum (503 Market St) hosts an annual event called Nights of Lights where you can tour the historic home while it’s decorated in traditional Christmas décor. We go every year and it’s such a nice holiday tradition. The home is beautifully decorated.

It’s a self-guided tour, although volunteers are stationed in various rooms in the mansion and will answer any questions about the history and time period, if you ask them. 

This year, the event is December 18 to 20 from 5 pm to 8 pm. Advanced tickets are not required, but it’s a first come, first serve event and it does get crowded. Donations will be accepted, but you don’t have to donate.

If you can’t make it during the free nights, you can see the decorations during the museum’s regular tour hours: Monday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets are required for that.

Visit the Burgwin-Wright House’s Holiday Open House

If you like the idea of a older home decorated for the holidays, and The Bellmany Mansion Museum isn’t enough for you, check out the Burgwin-Wright House’s Holiday Open House (224 Market St.).

On the second Saturday of December each year, the 1770 house-turned-museum opens its doors for a Holiday Craft Market in the garden from 9 am to 3 pm. There’s also crafts for kids, live music, and more. While you’re there, you can tour the home and see it’s decorations.

Admission is free, although donations are accepted.

View the decorations at the Wilmington Railroad Museum

The Wilmington Railroad Museum (505 Nutt St.) has a light show, Polar Express events, and Santa to celebrate the season. 

The Holiday Train and Light Spectacular, with over 25,000 lights, is $5 a person and run on November 28 to 30, then December 13, 14, 20, 21, and 22. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in attendance and available for photos. Each show is from 6:30 pm to 8 pm.

There’s also the Polar Express Readings on November 29 and 30, then Dec 13, 14, 20, and 21. Tickets are $5 and readings are at 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm. This is just a reading, with Santa in attendance, not a train ride.

There will also be decorations outside (which you can see for free as you walk by) and the model layouts inside the museum will be a winter wonderland.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and military personnel, $8 for kids ages 3 to 12, and kids under 2 are free. So, if you can’t make one of the holiday events, you could still see the decorations at the museum on your own time.

We went to the museum a few years ago, when it was free during Smithsonian Museum Day and really enjoyed it. You can read our full Wilmington Railroad Museum review to see if it’s right for your family.

Grab a pint of Tiny Tim’s Christmas Ale at Front Street Brewery

Wilmington is filled with craft breweries, with Front Street Brewery (9 N Front St) being the oldest brewery. There are a ton of flagship beers at the brewpub, but of course, there are seasonal ones as well.

And come Christmas season, Tiny Tim’s Christmas brew is always on tap. It is usually released on Black Friday (with a full release party.

Last year, the Tiny Tim’s Vanilla Coffee Christmas porter (in collaboration with Hidden Grounds Coffee Shop, one of the coolest coffee shops in Wilmington) was released along with three variants that were available for Black Friday only (vanilla & blueberry, straight porter, and chocolate & bourbon). You can order the porter as a glass on draft or you can fill a growler with it to take home.

Shop at a Holiday Market

There’s the Kure Beach Holiday Market happening at Ocean Front Park from 9 am to 3 pm on November 22 and 29. There will be over 50 crafters, artists, and food vendors set up in the area. A nice little perk is that if you bring a new, unwrapped toy (or donate $5 cash for Toys for Tots), you can enter for a chance to win a raffle basket of items from the participating vendors.

The annual Belville Christmas Craft Festival will be December 6 from 10 am to 3 pm. There will be vendor tents set up. Later that day is the movie night at the park from 7 pm to 9 pm.

And there’s also the annual Holiday Market at the Brooklyn Arts Center on December 7. It’s only one day this year. In the past it has been three days.

Cool Wilmington hosts the Really Cool Stuff Holiday Market downtown at the end of November (no date released yet for 2025). Food and craft vendors will be set up on Dock Street between Front and 2nd St. This is where the Riverfront Farmers’ Market is typically held — which, fun fact, we used to be vendors at for years.

There’s also the Carolina Beach Holiday Market at Carolina Beach Lake (400 Lake Park Blvd South) — with no date for 2025 announced yet. This is where the Christmas lights are set up each year. They won’t be illuminated during the market, but you’ll get to see the displays.

Visit Santa

Santa makes some of traditional stops in the Port City. The big man is at Mayfaire Town Center (L135 – 865 Inspiration Dr and the Independence Mall (3500 Oleander Dr.).

The Cotton Exchange (321 N Front St) has Santa or the Grinch this year.

For other Santa sightings, check out our Where To See Santa Claus In Wilmington post.

Visit A Light in the Darkest of Nights & An 18th Century Christmas

The are two events at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site (8884 St Phillips Rd SE, Winnabow) that you don’t want to miss.

On Friday, December 12, from 4 pm to 7 pm, there’s the A Light in the Darkest of Nights event. Everyone is invited to the ruins of St. Philips Anglican Church to view its holiday decorations, complete with candlelight and greenery.  The event is free.

Later that weekend, on December 14, is the 18th Century Christmas event from 1 pm to 5:30 pm.

Costumed interpreters will give guided tours of the church ruins and attendees will enjoy 18th century inspired refreshments, participate in traditional games, make 18th century themed crafts, and more. There will be an authentic period candlelit service at 5 pm. This event is $5. Kids 12 and under are free.

Marvel at the Island of Lights Festival

One of my favorite annual traditions is the Island of Lights events at the lake at Carolina Beach (intersection of Atlanta Ave and Lake Park Blvd).

The annual tree lighting, the Lighting at the Lake (which we went to a few years ago), kicks off the festivities on November 28. It’s free to the public and starts at 6:30 pm. After the tree is lit, you’ll want to walk around the lake to check out the Christmas lights.

There’s also the Island of Lights Christmas flotilla with a boat parade on Saturday, December 6. The boats sail from Snows Cut to the Carolina Beach Boat Basin and back.

And finally, there’s the Tour of Homes on Saturday, December 13 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. It’s a ticketed event to go around and check out the holiday lights on some of the homes on the island.

See the lights at Enchanted Airlie

Each year, Airlie Gardens (300 Airlie Road) hosts Enchanted Airlie. The entire botanical garden is filled with lights, snow machines, and more. You walk through the lights to get to a tent that sells hot chocolate, cookies, and other small treats, then walk through the garden, past the famous Live Oak and the singing trees. Don’t miss the butterfly garden.

Admission is $35 per carload, and tickets must be reserved ahead of time. It’s the hottest ticket in Wilmington and sells out so quickly. In 2023, the event sold out in 15 minutes when tickets went on sale to the public (garden members are able to get tickets prior to public sales).

We went four of the last five years and it’s amazing every time.

Check out our full Enchanted Airlie review for more details.

Ride with Santa on his horse drawn carriage

Santa and his “reindeer” do the horse drawn carriage tours in Wilmington in December.

The tour starts at Market and Water Streets in downtown Wilmington. There are blankets to keep you warm while you ride around downtown, hear about the city’s history, and check out Christmas lights in Wilmington, NC’s downtown area.

Even better, there will be Christmas Caroling on some of the rides.

Recreate Hallmark’s “USS Christmas”

A few years ago, a new Hallmark movie, USS Christmas, was filmed in Wilmington. The majority of the plot takes place at the USS North Carolina in Wilmington.

You can visit the USS North Carolina (1 Battleship Road) and recreate scenes from the movie, tour the battleship, and learn its history.

Even better, during some nights during the holiday season, the Battleship will be illuminated in green and red as part of the Brilliant Battleship Holiday Lights. We saw it last year on the drive home from Enchanted Airlie and it was beautiful.

The light schedule is: November 29 and 30, December 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 24, 25, 31, and January 1.

Watch The Nutcracker

You have two options to see The Nutcracker at The Wilson Center this year.

You can see City Ballet’s The Nutcracker on December 6 and 7 or you can see Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts’ The Nutcracker on December 13 and 14.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Check out the Cape Fear Festival of Trees

This year, the Cape Fear Festival of Trees, which is usually held at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (900 Loggerhead Rd, Kure Beach), has to be moved this year due to the aquarium’s renovations.

It will be at Thalian Holiday Cabaret on December 9 and 10, Brian Whitted’s A Very Merry Downtown Christmas (which includes a holiday petting zoo) on December 11, and The Davis Community Holiday Market on December 12.

After these events, the trees can be viewed at Cornelia’s, the Davis Community’s on-site restaurant.

The Festival of Trees is, basically a bunch of trees decorated by local businesses. Some are themed to match the business, like a car wash would have small cars, car cleaning products, etc. on it. Visitors can purchase wreathes and ornaments, plus vote on their favorite tree.

The festival is held daily from 9 am to 5 pm (during aquarium hours). Tickets for the aquarium must be purchased online in advance of your visit.

Leave a letter for Santa at the Cotton Exchange

Santa has a lot of dates and times when he’ll be at The Cotton Exchange (321 N Front St) and they’re all listed above. But if you miss the big man, don’t worry. You can still let him know what’s on your Christmas wish list.

There’s a mailbox for Santa located within The Cotton Exchange and kids can drop off their letters anytime the building is open.

Donate to a family in need

The church we attend, the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary in Downtown Wilmington, has an angel tree up each year and parishioners are able to purchase gifts for families in need. Even if you’re not a parishioner, you can still head inside the church, take a leaf off the tree, and sponsor a family in need.

There’s a similar tree at our local Walmart, which makes it so easy to grab a tag, buy the gift instore, wrap it, and donate it.

Finances are really hard on almost everyone this year, so if you can’t donate by purchasing gifts, you might want to donate your time.

Look at the lights in Leland

Leland is the town over from Wilmington, but often gets overshadowed by its larger neighbor. But, not to be outdone, Leland has its own light display.

Founders Park (113 Town Hall Drive) is usually completely decked out with lights. Leland In Lights kicks off with the Grand Illumination, where Santa attends and there’s a train ride around the park, then you can check out the Candy Cane Forest, a waterfall of lights, forest critters, and more until new years.

​Construction on the park was on going for the last two years, which means the light display was only at Town Hall with a few animatronics scattered throughout the town. The rumor is the town is getting the park back in 2025 and will have lights.

The Grand Illumination, with Santa and the mayor, is still happening on December 6 at Town Hall at Founders Park at 6 pm.

Check out our full Leland In Lights review for more.

Visit the downtown Christmas tree

The Christmas tree in downtown Wilmington (at the corner of Water and Market Streets) is being lit during the tree lighting event on November 28 at 6:25 pm.

There will be live entertainment, free hot cocoa, a visit from Santa, local vendors, and more beginning at 5 pm.

We went a couple years ago and the event was really nice, but the tree lighting itself felt very uneventful. The tree will be lit all throughout December, though, so if you miss the tree lighting, you’ll still have a ton of opportunities to see downtown lit up with lights.

Shop at the German Christmas Market

We went to a German Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt) at Dirtbag Ales in Fayetteville, NC a few years ago and it was so much fun. So I have high hopes for the German Christmas Market at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (612 South College Road) on November 22 from 10 am to 4 pm.

There will be German food (like bratwurst and German potato salad) and beverages (like beer and gluhwein), German music, and more. Plus, you can do a lot of shopping because there will be vendors and crafts. It’s a really family-friendly event thanks to the crafts for children, petting zoo, dry slide, and visit from Father Christmas.

This is one of the first events of the holiday season, so it’ll get you in the Christmas mood.

Check out the Holidays on Water Drone Christmas lights

Two years ago, for Riverfest, one of Wilmington’s annual festivals, we got to witness the first drone show in North Carolina. It was amazing.

And it’s back.

For four Saturdays in December (December 6, 13, 20, and 27) a holiday drone show is happening at 7 pm on Water Street over Wilmington’s Riverfront. The town is calling it Holidays on Water.

The one in October was set to music although it was nearly impossible to hear unless you were next to a speaker. So hopefully the sound gets fixed before these shows start.

See Christmas lights at Poplar Grove

Poplar Grove Plantation (10200 US Highway 17 North) is hosting the Merry & Bright Festival where you can see the manor house decorated and see the grounds decorated.

There will be campfire stations for s’mores, adult drinks for sale, Santa, a letter writing station for the USO, and more.

Tickets are $10 (ages 3+). You can purchase a family package (2 adults and 2 kids under 13) for $35. Santa isn’t there on Sunday, so kids tickets are half off that day.

Festival dates are November 28 to 30, then December 4 to 7, 11 to 14, and 18 to 21.

We’ve been to Poplar Grove to work the farmers’ market and for a fall event a few years ago. It’s a beautiful space and definitely worth checking out if you have the time.

Watch the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach

The annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla is happening on November 29. It begins with a Day in the Park at the Wrightsville Beach Town Complex from 10 am to 4 pm, with a car show and local arts and crafts vendors selling items.

At 6 pm, the boat parade starts and fireworks end the night.

If you’ve never checked out any of the holiday flotillas, this one is not to be missed. All different types of boats are decked out in lights and they sail down the river. It’s a sight to be seen.

You can see a recap of the 2021 North Carolina Holiday Flotilla here.

Check out the lights at Jeff Gordon Chevrolet

If you don’t live in Wilmington, you probably don’t expect one of the best light displays in the area to be at a car dealership. But if you live in Wilmington, you know Jeff Gordon Chevrolet (228 College Rd) does a great job.

All of its lots are decorated with an uncountable number of lights (well, last count I heard was 450,000 lights). And you can drive by them, or pull into the lot and walk through them, and enjoy them.

But wait. There’s more.

The lights are actually set to music. They’re synced with the holiday music on 99.3 FM, so you can set your radio, drive in, and enjoy the festivities.

If you can’t make it there, you can check out the Jeff Gordon Chevrolet’s Holiday Music Light Show on YouTube.

Check out the tree lighting at Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park (10 Cowan St) is a little confusing if you don’t live in the area. During the day, it’s known as Riverfront Park, a public, city owned park. At night, sometimes, it changes over to Live Oak Bank Pavilion, a Live Nation-run, open air music venue where touring bands come.

By December, the concert season is over (because it’s too cold to sit outside, on the water, watching a band). But you can still go for the annual City of Wilmington tree lighting.

That’s December 4 from 6 pm to 8 pm.

There will be a reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Stay after to see Santa and enjoy some light refreshments. 

Keep in mind that this is all outdoors, so you want to dress warmly.

Check out the Wilmington Holiday Parade

Ask Pete. I love a good parade. I also love a bad parade. It doesn’t matter. If there’s a parade, I’m in. The Wilmington Holiday Parade is such a good one, so you definitely should be in too.

It’s a lighted parade, so it happens at night and the floats are all decorated in Christmas lights. If you’ve never been to one before, you have to go. My mom and I went the last couple years and just absolutely love it.

The parade is December 7 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. The parade route starts at North Front and Walnut Streets, traveling south on Front to Church Street. We brought small chairs last year and sat on a corner and had a great view.

Drink Around The Cargo District With “The Twelve Bars Of Christmas”

The Cargo District is one of the most fun areas of Wilmington. There’s a food hall, a barcade, coffee shops, bookstores, and more.

And, of course, bars.

Those bars are collaborating to host “The Twelve Bars Of Christmas” from December 10 to 21. Stop into any of the bars and, for $5, you can pick up your Santa List, filled with events, festive cocktails, and more.

As you drink or attend an event, you can cross off your list. Then, you can use that to enter for a chance to win prizes.

Plus, proceeds from each Santa List purchased goes towards a nonprofit.

Lounge In An Igloo At The Rift

It snows sometimes in Wilmington (we got a ton this year), but not enough to make an igloo. So, if you’re looking for one this season, you’re only gonna find one at The Rift (2144 Wrightsville Ave).

The Rift is one of my favorite bars in town. You open the front door and it looks like a kitchen. Yes, a home kitchen. Open the fridge and walk through to see the bar and beer garden. It’s super cool.

This year, there are giant plastic igloos on the lawn, filled with furniture. They have heat lamps in them (although the day we went, our igloo’s propane tank was missing, so I’m not sure if they remove them every day or what happens).

I hung out in one of these with a working propane heater when I was in Washington and they do get really warm on chilly nights, so definitely check it out.

They’re available on a first come, first serve basis now, although the bar is toying with the idea of reservations if people stay too long.

Where can you see Santa in Wilmington, NC?

If you’re trying to figure out where Santa is, we have you covered with this list of where to see Santa in Wilmington, NC.

More Christmas things to do in the South:

Wilmington is a short road trip away from a bunch of other fun cities in the South that annual Christmas events as well. So, if you live in Wilmington and you’re looking for something to do outside the Port City, or if you’re visiting and want to explore a little more, we have some other lists you might want to check out.

There are Christmas Things To Do In Fayetteville, NC, where you’ll find carriage rides, Christmas beers at local breweries, a German Christmas Festival, and more. The Christmas things to do in Myrtle Beach, SC are visits with Santa, drive in movies at Ripley’s Aquarium, tree lightings, and more.

Charleston is known for its charm, and that charm is dialed up a notch during the Christmas season. Homes are decorated, trees are lit, and markets switch to holiday gifts. There are tons of holiday things to do in the area.

Check them out in our Christmas things to do in Charleston, SC post.

And finally, Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, SC is an annual must see. There are over 2,500 candles, countless lights, holiday carolers, and more at the botanical garden.

Which of these 25 Christmas things to do in Wilmington, NC are you looking most forward to? Let us know in the comments.