Week of October 2, 2023 - October 8, 2023

Riverfest

  • Friday, October 6th - Sunday, October 8th
Wilmington

Second only to the springtime Azalea Festival in terms of size, activities and attendance, the annual Riverfest is an all-encompassing festival that celebrates life by the water. Featuring a lineup of events that include exhibits, vendors, competitions, kid activities, fireworks, and so much more, this family-friendly event ignites the Wilmington downtown area with miles of fun to go around.

Week of October 16, 2023 - October 22, 2023

North Carolina Oyster Festival

  • Saturday, October 21st - Sunday, October 22nd
Ocean Isle Beach

Hungry visitors will want to bring along a big appetite for the North Carolina Oyster Festival, which is a popular annual event that offers a whole lot more than the staple shellfish. Featuring everything from BBQ and pizza, to music, arts, and crafts, this extensive festival has plenty of ways to delight attendees of all tastes, and of all ages.

Week of October 23, 2023 - October 29, 2023

Voracious & Rare Beer Festival

  • Friday, October 27th
Wilmington

Calling all brew fans – the Voracious Rare Beer Festival is the prime opportunity to discover a world of new flavors without ever leaving the heart of downtown Wilmington. Appropriately held in the month of October, this annual festival features plenty of great tastes to go around, with dozens of participating breweries and eateries, and ample reasons to raise a pint and toast the town.

Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival

  • Saturday, October 28th
Wilmington

The world of hops, grapes and grains is at your fingertips at the annual Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival – a fun event that features plenty of delectable tastes from the Cape Fear area and miles beyond. Held at the North Waterfront Park in the heart of Wilmington, this full afternoon-long festival features more than 100 craft breweries and wineries to discover, making it one of the most anticipated events for wine and beer lovers throughout the North Carolina coastline.

Week of October 30, 2023 - November 5, 2023

Taste of Wrightsville Beach

  • Saturday, November 4th 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Wrightsville Beach

The Cape Fear area has its own unique style when it comes to food and fun, and visitors can get a big helping of this food-centric atmosphere by attending the annual Taste of Wrightsville Beach. Celebrating its 11th year in 2023, this festival that is perpetually growing in popularity features dozens of samples, tastings, contests, and more, which allows newcomers to dive into the local Wrightsville Beach food scene with gusto.

Polish Festival

  • Saturday, November 4th 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Castle Hayne

The Cape Fear region is a unique coastal community that’s known for its variety of global influences, and visitors can get a first-hand look at this worldly flavor by attending the annual Polish Festival. Held in the smaller region of Castle Hayne, this family-oriented and fun festival features a wealth of food, music, arts and crafts, beverages, and more to provide a hefty sampling of everything this distinctive culture and heritage has to offer.

Festival Latino

  • Saturday, November 4th - Sunday, November 5th
Wilmington

There’s a world of fun to discover at the Festival Latino, which is an event that celebrates a multi-cultural atmosphere with a wealth of food, music, and entertainment. From special activities designed for kids to dancing lessons and live music, this lively event is a great way to discover the unique global flavors and influences that are found right in the heart of the Cape Fear area.

Week of November 13, 2023 - November 19, 2023

Carolina Beach Wine & Beer Walk

  • Saturday, November 18th 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Carolina Beach

Discover all the great tastes that Carolina Beach has to offer by signing up for the Carolina Beach Wine & Beer Walk. This popular annual event allows visitors to take a self-guided tour of area restaurants while enjoying plenty of samples long the way. With lots of delicious wines and beers to discover that are offered by some of the community’s top restaurants and establishments, this fun event is a crowd pleaser that will appeal to all visitors with great taste.

Kure Beach Holiday Market

  • Saturday, November 18th - Saturday, November 25th 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Kure Beach

Holiday shopping is a whole lot more fun with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, and the annual Kure Beach Holiday Market combines a stellar location with a delightful mix of locally crafted and truly one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your Christmas list. Held during Thanksgiving week, with music, food, and more enticements for visitors, the Kure Beach Holiday Market is a great way to get into the spirit of the season while simultaneously getting a jump start on your holiday shopping.

Week of November 20, 2023 - November 26, 2023

Kure Beach Holiday Market

  • Saturday, November 18th - Saturday, November 25th 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Kure Beach

Holiday shopping is a whole lot more fun with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, and the annual Kure Beach Holiday Market combines a stellar location with a delightful mix of locally crafted and truly one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your Christmas list. Held during Thanksgiving week, with music, food, and more enticements for visitors, the Kure Beach Holiday Market is a great way to get into the spirit of the season while simultaneously getting a jump start on your holiday shopping.

Week of December 25, 2023 - December 31, 2023

Island of Lights New Year's Eve Celebration

  • Sunday, December 31st
Carolina Beach

The aptly-named Pleasure Island is the place to be in the Cape Fear region to ring in the new year, thanks to a hopping beach boardwalk, music and dancing, plenty of refreshments, and a beautiful backdrop next to the Atlantic Ocean. The Island of Lights New Year's Eve Celebration lives up to its name with a traditional fireworks show and a grand beachside party that is sure to have everyone in the family ready to ring in the new year with style.

Week of February 26, 2024 - March 3, 2024

NC Rice Festival

  • Friday, March 1st - Saturday, March 2nd
Belville

Head to the small town of Belville for this enticing festival that will delight visitors of all ages. The NC Rice Festival is a fun and engaging waterfront celebration that features plenty of activities for everyone in the crew. From arts and crafts vendors, to live music, to a cooking contest where rice is the star ingredient, this day-long festival brings a lot of downhome community spirit to a pretty corner of coastal North Carolina.

Week of March 11, 2024 - March 17, 2024

St. Patrick's Day Festival

  • Saturday, March 16th 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Wilmington

Head to the scenic Riverfront Park in the heart of Wilmington to celebrate St. Patty’s Day with style by attending the annual St. Patrick's Day Festival. A local tradition for roughly 20 years, this annual event features a world of ways to show your Irish spirit thanks to a bustling combination of food, drinks, music, activities, and plenty of great times to go around.

Week of March 18, 2024 - March 24, 2024

Thalian Hall Bluegrass Bash

  • Saturday, March 23rd
Wilmington

The elegant Thalian Hall turns a little country during the annual Thalian Hall Bluegrass Bash, which is a fun event that features a wealth of ways to get into the spirit of the music, fun, and activity in the heart of the downtown area. Held on the grounds of Thalian Hall, this fun concert and festival features a wealth of talented musicians from all across the Port City and beyond, as well as plenty of ways to enjoy everything that Wilmington has to offer.

Cape Fear Craft Beer Week

  • Sunday, March 24th - Tuesday, April 2nd
Wilmington

Beer lovers can enjoy a full week of sampling brews, food, live music and more when they pop into an event or two that corresponds with the Cape Fear Beer Week. Held annually in the spring, this week-long event takes place at venues, breweries and restaurants all across the Wilmington area and beyond, and is a fine opportunity for beer lovers to explore all the tempting flavors of the Cape Fear region.

Week of March 25, 2024 - March 31, 2024

Cape Fear Craft Beer Week

  • Sunday, March 24th - Tuesday, April 2nd
Wilmington

Beer lovers can enjoy a full week of sampling brews, food, live music and more when they pop into an event or two that corresponds with the Cape Fear Beer Week. Held annually in the spring, this week-long event takes place at venues, breweries and restaurants all across the Wilmington area and beyond, and is a fine opportunity for beer lovers to explore all the tempting flavors of the Cape Fear region.

Southport Spring Festival

  • Friday, March 29th - Saturday, March 30th 10:00 AM
Southport

Celebrate the arrival of warm weather and sunny days along the waterfront with a stop at the always engaging Southport Spring Festival. This two-day festival that takes place in late March features a wealth of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages, and is sure to be a highlight of any getaway to the coastal Cape Fear region.

Week of April 1, 2024 - April 7, 2024

Cape Fear Craft Beer Week

  • Sunday, March 24th - Tuesday, April 2nd
Wilmington

Beer lovers can enjoy a full week of sampling brews, food, live music and more when they pop into an event or two that corresponds with the Cape Fear Beer Week. Held annually in the spring, this week-long event takes place at venues, breweries and restaurants all across the Wilmington area and beyond, and is a fine opportunity for beer lovers to explore all the tempting flavors of the Cape Fear region.

North Carolina Azalea Festival

  • Wednesday, April 3rd - Sunday, April 7th
Wilmington

For more than 75 years, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has reigned supreme as one of the biggest and best festivals along the southeast coastline, and newcomers are welcome to join in the fun to experience full days of vendors, live music, parades, and other events that shine a spotlight on the lively city of Wilmington. Founded in 1948, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has emerged as one of the most anticipated events in the state, and the celebration attracts visitors from all over the world who want to discover how enchanting the Cape Fear region can be.

Victory Beach Vacations

Victory Beach Vacations

Visitors who are on the hunt for the postcard-perfect vacation rental in the heart of the Carolina Beach or Kure Beach area will find an enticing selection and plenty of friendly customer service when they rent through Victory Beach Vacations. Based in Carolina Beach in the coastal Cape Fear region, Victory Beach Vacations has more than 100 vacation rentals in all shapes and sizes to ensure that every vacationing family can find their dream home away from home on the beach.   When you book your Cape Fear getaway with Victory Beach Vacations, the fun doesn’t end when you leave the beach, it continues with an array of privately-owned properties outfitted with all of the amenities needed for a fabulous beach vacation.   Jenna Lanier, General Manager, explains that her family first opened the rental and property management business in 2002. At the forefront of Victory Beach operations is Lanier’s mother, Caroline Meeks. Meeks is both the Broker in Charge and co-owner with husband, Buck Meeks, who manages the Field Services team with Lanier’s husband, Scott.   For nearly 20 years, the Victory Beach team has worked tirelessly to establish a network of top-of-the-line rental properties for Cape Fear visitors to enjoy. “As far as our properties go,” explains Lanier, “they are all updated, well-furnished and appointed. “We have always performed post-cleaning inspections and since the pandemic, have put freshly laundered duvets over all of the comforters between rentals.”   Lanier emphasizes how important the guests experience is “we strive to give our guests a relaxing, stress free, memorable vacation.” This emphasis on customer service has led to Victory Beach Vacations having a 4.8 Google rating with over 300 reviews by happy owners and guests.In addition to Victory Beach’s superior sanitation practices, the company offers properties for every type of visitor. Choose from luxury oceanfront houses and condos to more reasonbly priced 2nd row properties with oceanviews. Many properties include pools and hot tubs as well, perfect for outdoor entertaining, and many are dog friendly.   Lanier also notes that all properties are within walking or driving distance to Pleasure Island’s main attractions – Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. The former, as described by Lanier, is the more commercialized of the two destinations and features a boardwalk, outdoor dining options and a plethora of weekly activities including fireworks, live music, amusement park pop-ups, and movies under the stars. Kure Beach offers a more residential feel with its fishing pier, intimate restaurants and family favorite, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.More water fun awaits, too. “There is a harbor and a canal that feed into the intercoastal. We have several properties on the harbor so guests can bring their boat, kayak, [or jet ski] and travel between islands,” says Lanier.   A stay with Victory Beach Vacations is an annual pilgrimage for most. “A large percentage of guests are previous guests. Some even reserve the same property for the next year as they’re checking out,” Lanier says. “It’s almost like it’s their personal vacation home.”   Even before guests arrive at their vacation destination, the Victory Beach Vacations’ website greets them with a live beach cam and exquisite aerial footage of both Carolina and Kure Beaches. See for yourself by scanning the QR code and call Victory Beach Vacations at 910.458.0868 to book your Cape Fear getaway. Start making your memories today! —Grace Silipigni