Wilmington, NC Night Life Events - 2023 Schedule

Going strong for more than 30 years, the Carolina Beach Music Festival ushers in the summer season with a full day and night of great music that is just steps away from the sand. Billed as the "the biggest and only beach music festival actually held on the beach on the North Carolina coast" by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce, this annual festival is a great way to experience the sights, sounds, and all-around fun of this popular beach town while enjoying some great music along the way.

The Cape Fear Blues Festival is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated music festivals of the summer season in North Carolina, and newcomers will find plenty of reasons to celebrate at this multiple-day event that has plenty of soul. Featuring local musicians as well as national headliners, the annual Cape Fear Blues Festival lights up the town with plenty of great music at multiple venues, and ample fun to go around for music fans everywhere.

Revered as one of the oldest Independence Day celebrations in the state, the North Carolina 4th of July Festival is a big event that attracts visitors from all along the coastline and miles beyond to the charming town of Southport. Boasting a parade, a fair-style collection of vendors, a myriad of shows and activities, and a stunning display of fireworks over the water, this annual event lives up to its reputation as one of the most beloved 4^th of July celebrations on the coast.

Revered as one of the oldest Independence Day celebrations in the state, the North Carolina 4th of July Festival is a big event that attracts visitors from all along the coastline and miles beyond to the charming town of Southport. Boasting a parade, a fair-style collection of vendors, a myriad of shows and activities, and a stunning display of fireworks over the water, this annual event lives up to its reputation as one of the most beloved 4^th of July celebrations on the coast.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Get ready for an event that will have you dancing the night away at this special affair that is celebrating its 11^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.