Events

October 10th

A Day to Remember

Tournament Format: Coed 4-person

Organization: A Day to Remember is celebrating 23 years of fundraising for individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Proceeds from the tournament and raffle are donated to the New Hanover County Senior Center for Alzheimer’s and Dementia related programs. This tournament is held in Memory of William H. Musser, also foundly known around here as “Capt’n Bill”.

Come meet the candidates for New Hanover County Board of Commissioners and hear them discuss their perspectives on key policy issues in a moderated, non-partisan forum. Presented by Braver Angels Wilmington.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is hosting a fundraiser for Canines For Service! Come grab a bite October 7, 5-8PM. Let the employees know you're with Canines For Service and they will donate 20% of proceeds to Canines For Service.

Join us at Dead Crow Comedy Room for our renowned Open Mic Comedy night, where both seasoned comedians and fresh faces take the stage to deliver their best material. This is your chance to witness the raw energy and creativity of performers testing new jokes and honing their craft in an intimate setting.

Admission is free, and seating operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to secure your spot. Whether you're an aspiring comic ready to share your humor or an audience member eager for a night of spontaneous laughter, this event promises an unforgettable experience filled with surprises and entertainment.

Join us at Alcove Beer Garden on October 10 for a beginner-friendly mat Pilates class led by Empower Method, with puppies from paws4people joining us during and after class. Then stick around for complimentary coffee from Azalea Station, time with the puppies, and a chance to learn more about the work paws4people is doing in our community.

Tickets are $35 per person, with proceeds benefiting paws4people. Space is limited to 30 spots.

We are thrilled to host the 6th Annual Pets in the Park event scheduled for SATURDAY October 10, 2026, from 10 am-2 pm at Carolina Beach Lake Park.

​Pets in the Park celebrates and promotes local pet-centric businesses and services, features local creators, and highlights many animal non-profits & adoption organizations.

Admission is $5 (free for kids under 10). The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce donates back a portion of the admission fees to local pet rescues every year!

LET’S DANCE is a Vinyl DJ Dance Party held every Saturday Night at The Underfront Co. in Downtown Wilmington NC on Front Street — ft. Pop, Disco, Boogie, Hip-Hop, House, Indie, R&B, Latin, Electronic, etc. hits from past six decades — brought to you by Fort Lowell Records. Music starts at 8:00pm and goes until 1:00am. A $5.00 cover charge will be collected at the door upon entry paid via Cash, Credit Card, Venmo, or CashApp. 💃

STOWE will be the featured Deejay on Saturday, October 10th.

LEARN MORE: https://www.instagram.com/letsdanceilm/

Mark your calendars now for a day filled with football, adoptables, games & prizes. We’re back w @thecasaclubilm for this one & are pulling out all the stops in support of @wagontailsfarm. Plan to be there! Sunday, 10/11 at @theriftilm from 12-3. 💎

Celebrate World Mental Health Day with Canines for Service at Zoomies for a Cause, a dog-friendly 1-Mile Walk and 5K dedicated to supporting Veterans and raising awareness for mental health.

Whether you’re an avid runner, casual walker, or simply looking for a meaningful way to spend the day with your four-legged friend, this event offers something for everyone. Bring your family, friends, and leashed dogs to enjoy an afternoon of community, wellness, and purpose.

Every registration helps Canines for Service provide highly trained service dogs to Veterans nationwide living with service-connected PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, military sexual trauma, and mobility limitations. These life-changing canine partnerships are provided at no cost to the Veteran and without any fundraising obligation.

We’re SO excited to host the 2nd Annual Pumpkins & Purrs! 🎃🐾

Join Beauty & Bloom and All4Cats, along with an amazing lineup of local vendors for a district-wide celebration! We’ll be shutting down the street to make room for shopping, activities, and plenty of festive fall fun for everyone.

100% of the pumpkin patch proceeds go to All 4 Cats Rescue. There will be adorable cats for adoption! Lots of local vendors and tasty treats! Hosted by Beauty and Bloom!

Want to be a vendor? Apply here: https://forms.gle/CTrNScEvTQS2eukR8

Ocean Fest Gala "Oysters & Pearls"

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Ocean Fest Gala, where good vibes, community spirit, and a love for the Mother Ocean come together. Dress in your finest black-and-white formal attire and get ready for a night of fun, fresh oysters, tastings from local restaurants, a live auction, DJ, cocktails, a 50/50 raffle, and plenty of stoke!

More than just a celebration, Ocean Fest is about protecting the place we all love and keeping our year-round mission strong. Every ticket, every bid, and donation helps to support keeping our mission thriving and Ocean Fest a free community tradition for everyone to enjoy.

So gather your crew, trade your flip-flops for your finest, and join us for a night of coastal elegance with a little island soul. Raise a glass, catch up with neighbors, and help us keep making waves for Mother Ocean

📍 The Topsail Island Moose Lodge: 13175 NC-50, Hampstead, NC 28443
📅 17 October 2026
🕒 6:00 -10:00 PM

This October, the undead return to the Port City… this isn't your typical 5K - This is a Race through history where runners will try to outrun the undead! From the primitive terror of Cave Zombies in the Stone Age to ruthless Cyborg Zombies of the future, each section of the course will throw you into a new chapter of survival.

Dress to distress in your favorite zombie era - come witness history unfold or sprint for survival in the 5k or Monster Mile. We'll travel through ancient civilizations, medieval chaos, revolutionary battles, and futuristic destruction as the zombie outbreak evolves through the ages.

Can YOU survive history's deadliest timeline? Grab your team, lace up your running shoes, and prepare to outrun the apocalypse - one era at a time.

💀 Special Effects to Last the ages:

• Race T-shirt for all who dare to enter
• Creepy on-course surprises inspired by the eras of civilization.
• Zombie Survivor Medal for the first 100 Zombie Run Survivors
• A family friendly run/walk Monster Mile where kids can bring their Halloween baskets to trick-or-treat with their family and take pictures with the Zombies along the course.

4:30pm: Monster Mile - $20 registration fee

5:30pm: 5K - $35 registration fee

The Historic Wilmington Foundation invites you to an evening of preservation, community, and delicious dining at The Little Dipper.

Whether you’re a fan of savory cheese, premium dippers, or decadent chocolate, your appetite will be helping us protect the historic charm of Wilmington.

A portion of all proceeds goes directly to HWF's mission to protect and preserve the historic irreplaceable architecture of the Wilmington region!

The Cellar, Sea & Shore Event (Use Code CHECKWHATSGOOD at checkout for 20% off)

Fri, Oct 23 at 6-9 PM

Think specialty craft beers, full wine bars, champagne, oysters and other delectable delights from your favorite eats in town! This is an event for the true aficionado of life; come try some new things. Tickets are extremely limited.

Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/the-cellar-sea-shore-tickets-KLS7TW?unii-trigger-open=KLS7TW&unii-discount-code=CHECKWHATSGOOD

Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival (Use Code CHECKWHATSGOOD at checkout for $10 off)

Sat, Oct 24 at 12:00-5:00 PM

The largest beer and wine festival in the southeast! The widest variety of beers from more breweries than you can ever taste, jammin' live music, food and more!

Tickets: https://www.universe.com/events/lighthouse-beer-and-wine-festival-tickets-SDX3BT?unii-trigger-open=SDX3BT&unii-discount-code=CHECKWHATSGOOD

The Cause

The Carousel Child Advocacy Center, a non-profit organization committed to assisting victims of child abuse, and providing critical care services to children from throughout southeastern North Carolina. The Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival has grown to be an integral part of the Carousel Center’s yearly budget. This festival helps the Carousel Center so they can continue to help those in need in our surrounding counties and cities.

Use Code CHECKWHATSGOOD for $10 off

https://www.universe.com/events/lighthouse-beer-and-wine-festival-tickets-SDX3BT?unii-trigger-open=SDX3BT&unii-discount-code=CHECKWHATSGOOD

The Beer & Wine Festival

Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival, benefiting the Carousel Child Advocacy Center, downtown Wilmington North Carolina!

Join us October 24, 2026 from 12:00PM-5:00PM

Lighthouse Beer and Wine puts on this fantastic event once a year, always in the wonderful month of October. Mark your calendars for October 24, 2026 for the Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival, benefitting the Carousel Child Advocacy Center. This is the beer and wine event of the year– more breweries, wineries, and delights than you can possibly sample in a day. Don’t forget to try some delta drinks, chill with some live music and delicious food, all in one amazing venue. Upon entry, you will receive your tasting cup to responsibly taste and find your favorites! No tokens, just unlimited responsible samples! VIP grants you access earlier and allows you to experience the delights with a limited number of fellow lucky VIP ticket holders.

In just the last 5 years, the Carousel Center has seen an average of 450 children a year between the ages of birth and 17 from New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties. Most of these children have been referred to them by local law enforcement or the County’s Department of Social Services. Since their doors opened in January of 2000 they have provided Certified Medical Exams to well over 10,000 children and have facilitated over 15,000 child trauma therapy sessions.

All Proceeds benefit All 4 Cats Rescue!

$25 for a haunted premium car wash ($30 value) with a deep cleaning, waxing, and a shine that's to die for! But beware the creatures lurking inside!

Hosted on October 23, 24, 30, and 31 from 7PM-10PM at Mako Express Wash - Wilmington, NC.

Want to support without the spook? Put your hazards on to keep our scarers away! 👻

LET’S DANCE is a Vinyl DJ Dance Party held every Saturday Night at The Underfront Co. in Downtown Wilmington NC on Front Street — ft. Pop, Disco, Boogie, Hip-Hop, House, Indie, R&B, Latin, Electronic, etc. hits from past six decades — brought to you by Fort Lowell Records. Music starts at 8:00pm and goes until 1:00am. A $5.00 cover charge will be collected at the door upon entry paid via Cash, Credit Card, Venmo, or CashApp. 💃

LEARN MORE: https://www.instagram.com/letsdanceilm/

Get Ur Freak On with us Halloween at The Underfront Co.! Fort Lowell Records will be hosting a very special Halloween Edition of their LET'S DANCE Vinyl DJ Party!

LET’S DANCE is a Vinyl DJ Dance Party held every Saturday Night at The Underfront Co. in Downtown Wilmington NC on Front Street — ft. Pop, Disco, Boogie, Hip-Hop, House, Indie, R&B, Latin, Electronic, etc. hits from past six decades — brought to you by Fort Lowell Records. Music starts at 8:00pm and goes until 1:00am. A $5.00 cover charge will be collected at the door upon entry paid via Cash, Credit Card, Venmo, or CashApp. 💃

Costumes are encouraged, but not required.

LEARN MORE: https://www.instagram.com/letsdanceilm/

The Arty Party is BACK! Join us on November 7 from 6–9 PM for our signature arts fundraiser. Enjoy a night of art appreciation, live performances, music, food, and drinks. You won’t want to miss this year’s “Café des Artistes." Mark your calendars and get ready to party! 🥂🎨

Celebrate 60 Years of Preservation with the Historic Wilmington Foundation!

Toast to six decades of preservation! Join the Historic Wilmington Foundation for an evening celebrating the community that keeps Wilmington’s irreplaceable history alive. Help us honor our past and raise funds to build a vibrant, inclusive future for the next sixty years!

Chick-fil-A Mayfaire is hosting a Giving Tuesday Fundraiser for Canines For Service on December 1. Place a mobile order using code "canines" and Chick-fil-A will donate 20% of proceeds to Canines For Service! This a great way to spend time with friends and family while celebrating Giving Tuesday

Holiday Open House

December 10 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Join us for our annual Holiday Open House to learn more about our mission and watch a service dog training demonstration at our facility. Tours available upon request. Light bites and beverages will be provided. RSVP to mblackmon@caninesforservice.org kindly requested, but not required.

Holiday Market for Heroes

December 12 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Join us for the Holiday Market for Heroes on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 12:00–4:00 p.m. at Tap Yard! Shop local and find the perfect holiday gifts from a wide variety of vendors while supporting a meaningful cause.

Bring the whole family including your leashed, four-legged friends, for an afternoon of festive fun featuring a holiday raffle, photos with Santa Paws, and the opportunity to meet Canines for Service service dogs in training. Every purchase and donation helps support Canines for Service’s mission of providing highly trained service dogs to Veterans with service-connected disabilities at no cost.

Interested in becoming a vendor? We’d love to have you join us! Please contact Erin at elewis@caninesforservice.org for vendor information and registration.

Come shop, celebrate the season, and help change the lives of Veterans—one service dog at a time.

Multiple level tickets available. VIP includes Friday night meet and mingle with multiple independent authors and readers. Saturday multi-author signing event with 70 authors and bookish vendors. Includes breakfast with the authors, swag bag, event lanyard. Saturday night themed party.