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 November 13, 2023 - November 19, 2023

Cucalorus Film Festival

  • Wednesday, November 15th - Sunday, November 19th
Wilmington

The Cucalorus Film Festival has been going strong for more than 25 years, and this annual film festival is well known as one of the biggest and best of its kind in the Cape Fear region and well beyond. Renowned as one of the largest film festivals in the southern United States, this multiple day event features a wealth of films, shorts, live entertainment, music, and many more ways to celebrate Wilmington’s reputation as the Hollywood of the East Coast.

Week of November 20, 2023 - November 26, 2023

Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting

  • Friday, November 24th 5:30 PM
Wilmington

Start the holiday season with style and plenty of community spirit by attending the annual Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting in the heart of Wilmington. This annual event is a community celebration that features plenty of music, refreshments, and a glittering tree lighting, and is a great opener to the festive spirit of Wilmington during the holidays.

Island of Lights: Lighting at the Lake

  • Friday, November 24th 7:00 PM
Carolina Beach

Once the Thanksgiving feasting and festivities are complete, head over to the heart of Carolina Beach for this annual tradition that signifies the beginning of the holiday season for Pleasure Island residents and visitors alike. The Island of Lights: Lighting at the Lake celebration lives up to its name as the official light-up ceremony that starts a long season of celebration in Carolina Beach and miles beyond.

Week of November 27, 2023 - December 3, 2023

Island of Lights Christmas Parade

  • Friday, December 1st 7:30 PM
Carolina Beach

Pleasure Island residents and visitors of all ages are invited to join in the fun and celebrate the start of the season at this event which is always a crowd-pleaser, and a surefire way to get into the holiday spirit. The Island of Lights Christmas Parade always features a wave of creative and colorful floats, bands, and holiday cheer, and is a free and fun event that lights up the heart of the Cape Fear coastline.

Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla

  • Saturday, December 2nd 6:00 PM
Carolina Beach

Pleasure Island is inherently known for celebrating life on the water, and at this holiday event, spectators and participants alike will enjoy a glowing show in one of the prettiest corners of the waterfront Cape Fear region. The Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla is an annual tradition that rings in the holidays with plenty of dazzling style, and which is sure to charm and delight anyone with a front-row seat along the Intracoastal Waterway.

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 January 22, 2024 - January 28, 2024

East Coast Shag Classic

  • Thursday, January 25th - Sunday, January 28th
Carolina Beach

Get ready for an event that will have you dancing the night away at this special affair that is celebrating its 11th year in 2023. The East Coast Shag Classic is a celebration of classic and North Carolina-based beach music and dancing with a host of events that range from raffles to social mixers to concerts to keep everyone entertained and on the dance floor.

Week of March 18, 2024 - March 24, 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.

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.

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