SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday is a weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, pop-up markets and more.
Now that the holiday season is here, expect plenty of events centered on the Christmastime, Hannukah and other holiday celebrations. Kicking off Thanksgiving weekend is the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla, Poplar Grove’s annual lights and displays, as well as a cabaret-style holiday revue with Brian Whitted, “A Very Merry Downtown Christmas.”
All events featured below were scheduled as of Thursday; however, it’s wise to check in ahead of attending any one. Inclement weather, changes in schedules and unforeseen circumstances may shift for organizers at the last minute.
Thursday, Nov. 28
Cape Fear Holiday Turkey Trot
Wrightsville Beach Park, 321 Causeway Drive • Registration: $45
Ahead of putting on the elastic pants for the big feast, make sure your running shoes and turkey costumes are laid out for the annual 5-kilometer and 1-mile run held annually on Harbor Island come Thanksgiving Day.
Across the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge, around 3,500 racers will meet at Wrightsville Beach Park to run and walk the Loop and side roads near island residences, all to raise funds for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. Past trots have helped procure upward of $100,000 for the nonprofit.
Packet pickup is at 6:45 a.m., with costume contest judging from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The 1-mile race starts at 8 a.m. and the 5K starts at 8:30 a.m.
Parking will be available first-come, first-serve at these locations: Wrightsville Beach Museum, Redix Parking Lots, Wrightsville Beach Baptist, Wrightsville United Methodist, U.S. Post Office.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Happy Thanksgiving! — If you’re still looking for places to dine to enjoy Turkey Day, check out Port City Daily’s list here.
Friday, Nov. 29
North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
Wrightsville Beach Park and Banks Channel • Free
The 41st annual Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach will get underway Saturday morning at the town complex with a festival in the park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, an antique car show and award ceremony, a play area for children with many large inflatables, festival food and more.
The flotilla — a lighted boat parade — will follow beginning at 6 p.m. Hundreds of lights and displays decorate vessels that travel down the Intracoastal Waterway to Motts Channel to Banks Channel and then to the Coast Guard Station. Directly after the boat parade, a firework display will take place which can be seen from a variety of locations over the Intracoastal Waterway.
The event is free for all spectators, but prepare for high volumes of traffic and arrive early for parking. Learn more here.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
City of Wilmington Tree Lighting — The city’s tree lighting on the Riverwalk takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving at 5 p.m. in downtown Wilmington. Participants should head to the foot of Market Street overlooking the Cape Fear River. There will be live entertainment, vendors, and Santa.
Wrightsville Beach’s Tree Lighting — The ceremony will be held at town hall, 321 Causeway Drive. The Performance Club’s Elf Patrol will sing at 5:30 p.m. with Santa’s arrival scheduled for 5:45 p.m. The Wilmington Celebration Choir will perform at 6 p.m. Cookies and hot cocoa will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting United Methodist Church youth program. The event is free for all to attend.
Holiday Train Expo — Annually, the Cape Fear Model Railroad Society sets up a holiday display in the Dillards wing of Independence Mall to showcase the wonderland of the holidays. There will be 12 layouts featuring more than 30 trains, dressed for the season. The expo is open beginning Black Friday, Nov. 29, noon to 5 p.m. The event takes place Nov. 29, Dec. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28; closed Christmas Eve and Day. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for children ages 3-12, and free for 3 and under, at Independence Mall, 3500 Oleander Drive.
Island of Lights Lighting at the Lake — Pleasure Island lights up Friday, Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m., around the lake. The lighting of the Chritsmas tree and holiday displays take place, open for free to the public. There will be music and Santa will be on site. The lake is located at Atlanta Avenue and Lake Park Boulevard.
A Very Merry Downtown Christmas — It’s back! Opera House Theater Company is hosting a cabaret-style holiday show with Broadway veteran Brian Whitted at the Brooklyn Arts Center, 516 N 4th St. Whitted will bring on other guest performers each night to engage in a variety of holiday tunes, backed by a seven-piece band. The show will take place Nov. 29, 30, or Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show are $32 and are available here.
Saturday, Nov. 30
Lake Linda’s Christmas Lights
218 Old House Rd., Hampstead • Free
Having appeared in “The Great Christmas Light Fight” in season eight (episode six), Lake Linda’s Christmas Lights has become a southeastern North Carolina tradition for many every holiday season.
Located in Hampstead, the Register family strings thousands of lights on their farm property and around the lake, featuring holiday displays and decorations, secular and religious alike. The community is welcome to walk through and visit the CHRISTmas Shoppe for concessions and gifts. Santa also makes appearances.
Annually, the decorations change and increase to due to community sponsorships, donations, sales from the farm’s CHRISTmas Shoppe, and fundraisers. But visitors never pay to enjoy the event. An official 501(c)3 nonprofit, Lake Linda’s also accepts donations for Toys for Tots and Autism Support and Programs (ASAP).
The lights go live for 14th season at 5:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving night and welcome families through New Year’s; lights shutter nightly at 10 p.m. The CHRISTmas Shoppe is open from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, as well as Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Christmas Train and Light Spectacular —The trains are coming to life at the downtown Railroad Museum, Nov. 29-30, Dec. 13-14, 20-23, at 505 Nutt St. The Wilmington Railroad Museum will transform into a winter wonderland, as their holiday festivities kick off Friday evening. More than 35,000 lights will light up the museum, as well as musical animations and twilight model train displays. Santa plans to be hanging out, with treats also available like apple cider and other goodies. The festivities will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at the door only. In addition to the spectacular, there will be readings of “The Polar Express” offered, served with complimentary cookies and cocoa. Readings, $5, are at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 1, Dec. 14-15 and 21-22, and reservations are required by calling 910-763-2634.
Kure Beach Holiday Market — Kure Beach is also getting into the holiday market game. Taking place Saturday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees will shop through 50 or more talented artists, crafters, and food vendors on site. Also accepted will be an unwrapped toy or minimum $5 cash donation for Toys for Tots at the Town of Kure Beach booth; a ticket will be given to be entered to win a raffle basket of items donated by the vendors.
Santa By the Sea — Carolina Beach Parks and Recreation Department will host Santa on Nov. 30, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., around Carolina Beach Lake, 400 Lake Park Blvd. There also will be music from blues artist Randy McQuay, a photo booth, storytelling by the campfire, glitter tattoos, and holiday characters from Fairytales and Dreams by the Sea. Plus, there will ornament crafts set up and candy cane, cookies, and hot chocolate to enjoy for free. All activities and events are weather permitting.
Sunday, Dec. 1
Merry and Bright: A Holiday of Lights at the Grove
Nov. 29-Dec. 22, Poplar Grove Plantation, 10200 Hwy 17 • Admission: $10
Historic Poplar Grove Plantation is hosting their annual holiday festivities beginning Friday, Nov. 29.
The grounds will be decorated with a Christmas lights display and a number of events and activities will also take place, including live music. This weekend it will feature Dear Maribella on Saturday and Folkstone String Duo on Sunday
Admission to the grounds includes: photo opportunities for the family, a USO letter-writing station, vintage carnival games, Santa’s mailbox, Grinch’s junk shop, campfires to roast marshmallows, Christmas movies, food trucks, and concessions. Visits with Santa in the gazebo are until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Manor House is also open, decorated in traditional Victorian holiday decor.
The event runs Thursday and Sunday, 5-p.m. – 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here or at the gate; they’re half-priced for kids on Sunday, though Santa isn’t on site on those days.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Breakfast with Santa — The Carolina Beach Pier is hosting plenty of opportunities for kids to cozy up to ol’ Saint Nick this holiday season. Breakfast with Santa will take place in the pier’s High Tide Lounge, 1800 Carolina Beach Ave. N. Dates include Saturdays, Dec. 7, 14, and 21, 9 a.m. to noon, and Sundays, Dec. 1, 8 and 15, 10 a.m. – noon. Admission is $12 which includes cookies and milk for four people; breakfast is available and priced separately. Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit each table to hear holiday wishes and pose for photos.
Sunday Jazz Jam — Fermental in the Cargo District is hosting a Jazz Jam by local artist Jay Killman, who will be joined by Jon Hill, and Gabrielle Sánchez. All levels of performers — students, professionals, and beginners — are welcome to join the session. Bring your instrument at 6 p.m. Los Compas Taco Zone food truck will be on site at 5 p.m.
Cape Fear Festival of Trees — From Nov. 22 through Dec. 30, the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher welcomes back Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s Cape Fear Festival of Trees. Businesses and organizations sponsor more than 50 trees that are decorated in various themes; some honor loved ones who have passed, others embrace the spirit of the holiday. Visitors can also add a name to the Memory Dove Tree to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. The trees are set against the aquatic backdrop and the display is included with aquarium admission. Lower Cape Fear LifeCare receives no proceeds from admission sales, so donations are appreciated, with funds helping the organization provide end-of-life and supportive services to people community-wide. N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 900 Loggerhead Road. Festival included with aquarium admission.
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