SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — For those who celebrate, Holy Week is here and it culminates in the Easter holiday taking place Sunday, April 20.
There are plenty of sunrise services happening in area parks, on beaches, and even at the Battleship, as well as spots open for brunch, lunch and dinner to celebrate with friends and family afterward.
Port City Daily has devised a list to help those planning ahead of the holiday. Want to add to it? Email info@portcitydaily.com.
Sunrise Services
The Bridge Presbyterian Church — It’s the fifth anniversary of the Easter Sunrise Service from The Bridge in Leland. The service will take place at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday at Belville Riverwalk Park; all are welcome and encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Covenant Church — The community is welcome to worship on Easter in Wrightsville Beach at 6:15 a.m. at access #43. Blankets and chairs are welcome.
First Baptist Church — Sunrise service is held at Airlie Gardens, 300 Airlie Road, 7 a.m. The celebration takes place under the 400-year-old Airlie Oak. Chairs and blankets are welcome.
First Baptist Church of Boiling Springs Lake — The sunrise service is scheduled for 6:35 a.m. at Spring Lake, 210 Pine Road, Boiling Spring Lakes. Breakfast will follow in the fellowship hall at 45 E. Boiling Spring Road, Southport.
First Baptist Church of Carolina Beach — Fellowship can be enjoyed at the sunrise service hosted on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk at 6:15 a.m.
First Baptist Church of Oak Island — The service will be held at 6:30 a.m. at Ocean Crest Fishing Pier on Oak Island, and chairs and blankets are welcome.
First Christian Church — The church will hold its sunrise service in Long Leaf Park, 914 Pine Grove Road, at 6 a.m. There will be prayer, a sermon and communion. Chairs and blankets welcome. If there is inclement weather, the service will move to First Christian Church, 2035 Oleander Drive.
First Presbyterian Church — The Presbyterian’s sunrise service begins at 6 a.m. at Wrightsville Beach Access #34. Chairs and blankets are welcome.
Fort Caswell — A long-standing tradition near Oak Island and Southport, Fort Caswell will open at 5:30 a.m. for its Easter sunrise service, to begin at 6:30 a.m. There will be music along the waterfront, led by Wendy Greemon, and Daryl Trexler will provide the Easter message; chairs and blankets welcome. Should it rain, the service will move into Hatch Auditorium.
The Gathering in Surf City — Sunrise service begins at 6:30 a.m. at Surf City Beach Access #13, located behind the fire department. Chairs and blankets welcome and afterward the church will host a worship at Soundside Park at 10 a.m. A shuttle will run from the church location to the events as well for those who want to park at the church.
Grace Baptist Church — The 6 a.m. sermon will take place at Wrightsville Beach Access #8 for song and observing the Lord’s supper. Afterward there will be donuts and coffee at the church, 1401 N. College Road, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Kure Beach First Baptist Church and Kure Memorial Lutheran Church — Chairs and blankets are welcome to the Kure Beach Ocean Front Park and Pavilion, located beachside at 105 Atlantic Ave. in Kure Beach. The sunrise service is a joint effort between the Lutheran and Baptist churches and takes place at 6:30 a.m.
Life 90.5 Sunrise Service — The Christian radio station in town also welcomes worshippers to Crystal Pier, 703 S. Lumina, in Wrightsville Beach at 7 a.m. Towels and chairs welcome to enjoy worship, puppetumes, coffee and biscuits and an Easter message from Jeff Loman.
Pine Valley Baptist Church — Annually, the church hosts its sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. on the Battleship downtown. It’s open to everyone. There will also be Sweet D’s croissants served.
Wrightsville United Methodist — Pastor Julia Hayes is delivering the Easter sermon on Wrightsville Beach at 6:30 a.m. It takes place at the end of Oxford Street on Wrightsville Beach. Blankets and chairs are welcome.
Restaurants open for Easter
Beau Rivage — The golf club’s restaurant will have two seatings in its third-floor ballroom for Easter brunch: 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Breakfast items include feta, tomato and spinach frittata, French toast, eggs, sausage and assorted pastries, as well as lunch items such as carved prime rib, glazed ham, shrimp and grits and sides including sweet potatoes, cinnamon apples and mac and cheese. Plus, there will be a kids menu of corn dogs, chicken nuggets and grilled cheese. The price is $45 for adults, $15 for children 4-10 and kids 4 and under are free.
Bluewater Grill — The restaurant on the Intracoastal Waterway on Wrightsville Beach is hosting brunch and the Easter bunny will make an appearance. There will be a brunch buffet offered on the second floor with a classic brunch menu offered on the first dining room floor, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The buffet will include a breakfast scramble, French toast, assorted quiche, sausage, salmon with lemon-herb butter, apple glazed pork, mac and cheese, green beans and more sides, along with a variety of desserts. Reservations are accepted by calling 910-256-8500. Dinner begins at 4 p.m.
Brasserie du Soleil — Lamb chops and blueberry French toast is on the menu at one of Wilmington’s French restaurants, Brasserie du Soleil, now open for Sunday brunch. Enjoy the eatery’s croque madame or mariniere mussels and frites, escargot or onion soup gratinée. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and mimosa flights are also served. Brasserie is located at 1908 Eastwood Road, Unit 118.
Casey’s Buffet — Homemade country cookin’ is always available at Casey’s, whose buffet is stocked with turkey and dressing, ham and fried chicken, oxtails and seafood, and don’t forget the sides — mashed potatoes, squash casserole, turnip greens, green beans and more. It’s finished off with multiple choices of pie, cake or banana pudding. The buffet is open from 11 a.m. to. 9 p.m. on Easter Sunday.
Cast Iron Kitchen — Located at 8024 Market St., the restaurant will open for brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., but reservations are not accepted. Easter specials will be served.
Ciana Ristorante Italiano — Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ciana, located in the Target area strip mall. The menu features everything from quiche ($14) to Bennies ($15 and up), Bananas Foster French toast bread pudding ($15) to biscuits and gravy ($16). Reservations are recommended by calling 910-399-5620.
Crown and Fiddle — The newest restaurant at 3317 Masonboro Loop Road will have specials for Easter, including a full Irish breakfast, chicken and pancakes, ham and gruyere omelet and French toast. It’s open for Easter lunch and dinner from noon to 8 p.m.
Far From France — Also open for brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Far From France in the Pointe at Barclay will have a variety of offerings on Easter — such as ratatouille or tuna bistro bowls, smoked salmon Benedict or souffle au fromage. Check out menu and pricing here.
Henry’s — Located at 2508 Independence Blvd., Henry’s opens for brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again for dinner from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant offers three-course $35 dinners (soup or salad, choice of entree — totteloni, Shepherd’s Pie or NY Strip — and choice of dessert) on Sunday nights. But beforehand, they’re serving a speciality brunch menu with items including lemon-blueberry-ricotta French toast ($16), quiche ($16), Monte Cristo ($17), chicken and waffles ($17), rack of lamb ($38), Easter ham ($27) and more. Reservations accepted here; see menus here.
Junction 421 — Open at 5104 S. College Road, Junction 421 also will serve an Easter menu from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 20. Items include roasted leg of lamb ($27), glazed ham ($23), lasagna ($21), beef roast ($32), lobster ravioli ($32) and champagne chicken ($28). Reservations are suggested: 910-392-3490.
Kornerstone Bistro — Wilmington’s Italian restaurant located in the northern part of the county will have a brunch buffet from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. on Easter Sunday. A variety of items will be offered, from ham, shrimp and grits, chicken marsala and mac and cheese to smoked salmon, eggs Benedict, French toast, and more. Reservations are encouraged: (910) 686-2296.
Little Dipper — With Sunday brunches on deck, Little Dipper (138 S. Front St.) will be open Easter as well from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant has eight new chocolate and cheese creations and fun brunch cocktails. Cheese fondue choices include everything bagel, French toast, Benedict, and truffle and chive, served with sausage links, ham, rosemary potatoes and other brunch dippers. Dessert dips include lemon-blueberry cheesecake, cinnamon roll, praline peach and strawberry nutella, served with fruits, waffles, donut holes and other items.
Oceanic — From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. an oceanfront Easter brunch will be served at Oceanic. The restaurant will feature its new spring menu, including breakfast tacos, brunch grit cake, and bread pudding French toast, as well as the chef’s Easter specials, such as the Mediterranean lamb chops. Oceanic is located on Wrightsville Beach at 703 Lumina Ave. and offers pier dining.
Perla Raw Bar — Located in the Renaissance on Military Cutoff Road, Perla is open for Easter brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed for dinner). The restaurant is known for its oysters, served a litany of ways, but also offers other fresh seafood items like swordfish dip and grilled Spanish octopus. It also has a menu of handhelds, including the best shrimp burger and a lobster roll or smashburger, as well as entrees such as North Carolina fish stew or steak frites. Prices are $11 to $30.
Rx Chicken and Oysters — This brunch spot on Castle Street elevates Southern cuisine to new heights and serves items like North Carolina pork belly, with cheese grits and sunny-side egg or smoked ham Monte Cristo, North Carolina shrimp and crab quiche or their famed oyster burger. Reservations are recommended for Easter and can be made here; the restaurant is located at 421 Castle St.
Savor Southern Kitchen — Savor is also hosting an Easter buffet, priced $35.95 (half price for children ages 4-10 and free for under 4), featuring breakfast, lunch, sweets and savory items. There will be salmon and shrimp and grits, as well as corned beef hash and pecan praline French toast, plus roasted lamb and glazed ham, with baked mac and cheese, garlic mash, seasonal veggies and an assortment of desserts. Savor is located at 3704 Carolina Beach Road.
Steam — Located in downtown’s Embassy Suites downtown, Steam will open for brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a menu including fun starters, such as house beignets ($11), and a menu of entrees like the Fried Green Tomato Benny ($22) or Millennial toast ($16), Belgian waffles ($18) or seafood tacos ($18). Steam also opens for dinner from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations are accepted by calling 910-726-9226.
three10 — Open in the Brooklyn Arts District, three10 will serve Easter supper from noon to 5 p.m. The restaurant is serving its spring dinner menu which includes sesame-crusted seared yellowfin tuna ($32) and tomahawk pork chop ($41-$45), as well as items from their raw bar and small plates menu. It’s located at 1022 N. Fourth St.
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