Image by congerdesign from Pixabay
Holiday Happenings Nov-Dec 2024
🎄 CAMmade Holiday Market ~ Cameron Art Museum
- November 9, 10am – 4pm
30 local artists, including artists from the Museum School and Museum Shop. For $5 only, enjoy a variety of handmade crafts, artworks, and holiday treasures while contributing to a good cause. Find unique gifts and support your community, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting CAM and its programs. A $5 fee includes entry to the market and a chance to win CAM goodies and membership.
🎄 Rudolph The Red‐Nosed Reindeer ~ Wilson Center
- November 16
Musical features Rudolph and the holly jolly cast of the iconic, longest running and highest rated holiday television special.
🎄 Mannheim Steamroller ~ Wilson Center
- November 21
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound including 15 musicians playing more than 20 instruments against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects
🎄 Cape Fear Festival of Trees ~ NC Aquarium
- November 22 – December 30
Set amidst the backdrop of the amazing aquatic displays Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s Festival of Trees features a forest of uniquely decorated trees is sure to delight all ages.
🎄 Holiday Market Kure Beach ~ Ocean Front Park and Pavilion
- November 23, 30
Handcrafted items such as soaps, jewelry, mosaics, paintings, photos, foods, sewn items, bird houses, cards, wreaths, wood art.
🎄 Lighting of the Lake Celebration ~ Carolina Beach
- November 29
Tree and displays will be lit the day after Thanksgiving. Santa will be there to hear Christmas wishes.
🎄 Enchanted Airlie ~ Airlie Gardens
- November 29 - December 21
Sparkling sights and festive sounds of the holiday season.
🎄 Merry & Bright, A Holiday of Lights ~ Poplar Grove Plantation
- November 29 – December 22
Visits With Santa, camp fires to roast marshmallows, holiday movie favorites, balloon-extraordinaire Mr. Twister, food trucks, vintage Carnival Games, the French Quarter Bar & Lounge, concessions, Holiday Hootenanny Tent, and themed nights.
🎄 Polar Express Holiday Show ~ Wilmington Railroad Museum
- November 30, and every weekend up to New Years.
Reading of The Polar Express, followed by a visit from Santa Clause and evening hot chocolate and cookies.
🎄 NC Holiday Flotilla ~ Wrightsville Beach
- November 30
Lighted Boat Parade with fireworks
🎄 Who Brought the Humbug? ~ Thalian Hall
- December 3
The show takes place at an ugly sweater party, where all the guests are joyful singers, incredible tap dancers, and high-energy musicians.
🎄 Celtic Angels Christmas ~ Thalian Hall
- December 4
Awe-inspiring show which encompasses vocal and instrumental seasonal and Irish favorites along with spectacular world class champion Irish dancing.
🎄 Holiday Tree Lighting ~ Riverfront Park Wilmington
- December 5
Witness the lighting of the Christmas tree and the arrival of Santa. Enjoy a special performance by the Roland-Grise Middle School KNIGHT Singers, followed by a heartwarming reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
🎄 Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker ~ Thalian Hall
- December 6 – 7
Guest dancers from local ballet studios alongside professional dancers from the New York Ballet for Young Audiences and Ballet Repertory of NYC.
🎄 City Ballet presents The Nutcracker ~ Wilson Center
- December 6 – 7
Based on the original tale by ETA Hoffmann, City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" features all your favorite ballet traditions like Drosselmeyer, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Marie and her Nutcracker Prince.
🎄 Nutcracker Tea Party ~ St. James Episcopal Church
- December 7
Christmas celebration with an assortment of delicious flavors of tea and a variety of delectable goods - tea sandwiches, fairy bread, scones, and cookies all prepared by local bakers. Entertainment provided by dancers performing selections from the holiday classic, The Nutcracker.
🎄 Holiday Parade ~ Downtown Wilmington
- December 8
Festive celebration as community groups and local businesses come together to celebrate the season.
🎄 North Carolina Symphony presents Holiday Pops ~ Wilson Center
- December 10
Celebrate the season with festive holiday favorites and the North Carolina Symphony. This annual performance features the songs you know and love.
🎄 A Magical Cirque Christmas ~ Wilson Center
- December 11
Variety show full of nostalgia, charm, and awe-inspiring performances for all ages.
🎄 Mary’s Art Explorers: A Wish to be a Christmas Tree ~ Cameron Art Museum
- December 12, 10am – 11am
A reading of A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe and illustrated by Michael Glenn Monroe. Afterwards, participants will create a Christmas tree-inspired craft. Pre-register to secure your spot.
🎄 Winter Wonderland Shadow Puppetry ~ Pine Valley Library
- December 13, 10:15am – 10:45am
Children ages 2-8 and their caregivers are invited to Join us for holiday themed storytelling with shadow puppets. Make your own shadow puppet after the show to take home. Shadow puppets give children a chance to continue working on early literacy skills at home as they create and narrate stories. Registration is not required.
🎄 Irving Berlin’s White Christmas Thalian Association Community Theater ~ Main Stage Thalian Hall
- December 13 – 22
Uplifting, wholesome musical that will delight audiences of all ages.
🎄 The Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts presents The Nutcracker ~ Wilson Center
- December 14 -15
Celebrated tale comes to life with intricate set designs, period costumes, and over 200 dancers including Conservatory students, local actors, and professional dancers.
🎄 Snowflakes ~ Northeast Library
- December 16, 3:45pm – 4:30pm
Children ages 9-12 are invited to the Makerspace to design and create Perler Bead snowflakes. Explore the science of real snowflakes for inspiration. Registration is required.
🎄 Mary’s Art Explorers: How the Grinch Stole Christmas ~ Cameron Art Museum
- December 19, 10am – 11am
Reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. After, participants will create a Christmas-inspired craft. Pre-register to secure your spot.
🎄 New Year’s Noon ~ Children’s Museum of Wilmington
- December 31, 9am – 12pm
Ring in 2025 with our new year's celebration at noon. Decorate a crown, create a streamer wand, reflect back on 2024, and toast to 2025 with a juice toast. The event culminates with an epic confetti toss at noon in the courtyard.
