Events

🌾 Grain to Oven Discovery

📅 Monday, October 5

🕥 10:30 AM–12:30 PM

💲 $25 per participant (ages 5+) making a pizza

👶 Ages 4 & under FREE

Celebrate the harvest season by discovering how wheat becomes fresh flour before making your own pizza. This interactive experience combines agriculture, science, history, and delicious fun.

REGISTER FOR OCTOBER 5th HERE!

Create a one-of-a-kind mixed media canvas inspired by the Cape Fear River. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a sunset to inspire your work. All supplies will be provided, including canvases, tools, textiles, sponges and more. No experience is needed, and all ages are welcome. Registration is required here.

Meet the fierce, fearless, and legendary women who shaped Wilmington's colorful history—from rebels and revolutionaries to champions and legends. Their stories are funny, inspiring, and 100% true. Join us for this leisurely 90-minute walking tour of Historic Downtown Wilmington.

30-year resident Steven S. Little has led more than 500 local tours in just the last 3 years. This tour goes well-beyond the familiar landmarks to uncover remarkable lives too often left out of the history books. Perfect for locals and visitors alike.

Here are just some of the women you'll meet:

• The Spy and Her Final Voyage — A celebrated socialite risks everything for "the cause," but fate had other plans.

• The Woman Without a Name — An ordinary woman becomes an unwilling witness to the day Wilmington changed forever.

• The Two Elizabeths of the Port City — Two women from two different worlds become forever linked by one extraordinary mansion.

• The Undisputed World Champion - The remarkable woman who shattered barriers, capturing one of the world's most coveted titles.

Read more about - Badass Women of Old Wilmington A Historic Walking Tour

Come one, come all, and get lost at Trask Family Farms!

Our corn maze is family-friendly fun for all ages with over 4 miles of trails. the maze is made up of three different mazes that have three levels of difficulty, Children, Intermediate and Advance. The corn maze is 10 acres of endless turns with four different games you can play inside. If you solve a game, make sure to come back to the store to claim your prize! Every year, Trask Family Farms has a range of fall activities across 30 acres of fun including picking pumpkins, hay rides through the flower field and pumpkin patch, local honey, homemade ice cream, fields of flowers such as sunflowers and zinnias to u-pick, eating from local vendors, handmade goodies in the barn, live music and exploring our corn maze. Could there be a better way to spend the season?

Hours of operation for maze and fall activities

• Wednesday 10am to 6pm – $10

• Thursday 10am to 6pm – $10

• Friday 10am to 4pm – $10

• Friday 4pm to 7pm – $12 (Includes Hayride)

• Saturday 10am to 6pm – $15 (Includes Hayride)

• Sunday 10am to 5pm – $15 (Includes Hayride)

The Corn Maze opens September 19th and ends the first weekend in November.

Opening Day is April 18th!

Join us in celebrating our 23rd season as the heartbeat of Downtown Wilmington, where community and local flavor come together. We are dedicated to bringing you the freshest, locally grown produce, pasture-to-plate meats, farm-fresh eggs, and an array of delightful treats including local honey, roasted coffee, chocolates, fresh bread, muffins, cakes, jams and so much more.

We are a treasure trove of unique, handcrafted items from talented local artisans, ensuring that every visit reveals something special. We invite you to be a part of this cherished Wilmington tradition, where pride in our local culture and commitment to agricultural sustainability shine brightly. Come and discover the flavors of our community.

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• Located on Dock St. between 2nd St and Water St.

• Every Saturday, 8:00am – 1:00pm (rain or shine)

• Admission is free.

• Leashed pets welcome

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Thank you: Cumulus Media & Excite Credit Union

Make a tangible impact in our community by helping to maintain the peaceful grounds of historic Maides Cemetery. If you love spending time outdoors, working with your hands, and giving back to local history, this opportunity is for you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Debris Removal: Pick up trash, fallen branches, and leaves across the grounds.
• Grounds Maintenance: Weed whacking around headstones, fencing, and walkways.
• Vegetation Care: Prune overgrown bushes, low-hanging branches, and invasive vines.
• General Beautification: Assist with light landscaping and general site cleanup to keep the cemetery respectful and well-maintained.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Comfort working outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Physical capability to bend, lift, rake, and operate light yard equipment.
• A respectful attitude toward the cemetery grounds and community history.

Equipment & Tools

• BYO Tools Encouraged: If you own a weed whacker, pruners, work gloves, rakes, or general gardening tools, please bring them along!
• On-site tools and supplies will be available for those who do not have their own.

What to Wear & Bring

• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes or work boots.
• Durable work gloves.
• Weather-appropriate clothing you don't mind getting dirty.
• A water bottle and sun protection (hat, sunscreen).

Get to Know the Cape Fear’s Most Enduring Legends with This Special Cruise Charting the Stories That Don’t Always Get Told!

From the tunnels underneath the city to the colonial imposter who tempted fate by claiming to be royal, this cruise will traverse the last 250 years of local history to get at the heart of what’s fact and what’s fiction. Were rum runners captured on the river during Prohibition? Did Cornwallis occupy a downtown house and let his soldiers crash on the property while keeping Patriot prisoners in the basement? Hunter Ingram, historian at Burgwin-Wright House, will share these stories and more.

Our boat, The Wilmington, has comfortable seating for up to 49 passengers, refreshments for all ages at the bar and a restroom on board. This is a 90 minute cruise $40 adults, $20 children. Boarding is 15 minutes prior to departure.

The Fire in the Pines festival focuses on environmental education and highlights the importance of fire on our native, longleaf pine forests. This free to attend event is open the public and has something for everyone!

Kids activities including crafts, games, and educational opportunities

Fire equipment, including multiple fire trucks, a bulldozer, a marshmaster and more!

Hay-rides throughout the park

Fire, nature, and other conservation related tables and displays

Live music by Folkstone Stringband

Food trucks

Entertainment including jugglers and honey sampling!

And for the finale, a live fire demonstration!

Parking is located at LifePoint Church (on College and 17th St) and a free trolley is available for a ride to the park.

Date: Saturday, October 10th from 10am-12pm

Trask Family Farms

Pick, Print, and Paint!

Learn the antique art of Cyanotype Printing, invented in 1842 and more popular than ever today! Wilmington artist Katie Elzer-Peters will guide you through creating a practice print and two 5×7 cyanotype prints that you can then paint with watercolor or take home as-is. You’ll also get to pick the flowers you paint AND take your bouquet home with you. It’ll be a perfect morning of creativity, experimentation, and frolicking in the flowers.

All supplies are provided and beginners are welcome! We can’t wait to create with you!

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.

Homeschool Learning Series: Homeschool in The Gardens – August 26th

August 26 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina

🌿 Homeschool in The Gardens

📅 Wednesday, August 26

🕙 10:00 AM–2:00 PM 💲

$25 per family

Pack your homeschool books, a picnic lunch, and a blanket for a relaxing day of outdoor learning. Families are invited to complete schoolwork while enjoying the beauty of The Gardens. Throughout the day, we’ll offer optional scavenger hunts, nature activities, crafts, read-alouds, guided garden tours, and opportunities to connect with other homeschool families.

$25

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

A magical display of serious kite flyers sharing their sky art at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area for the 20th Annual Cape Fear Kite Festival presented by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce. See incredible shapes, sizes, styles and of course colors as they float, soar and ride the air. Book a stay at one of our many hotels, motels and rental properties!

​Free Admission. Free parking and transport from Blakeslee Air Force Base Recreation Area Saturday & Sunday. Handicap accessible with support from Ocean Cure!

Festivities begin at Friday afternoon at the​ Kure Beach Pier with a sneak peak of kites in flight! Friday evening at dusk on the Carolina Beach Beachfront catch ‘CB Aglow' featuring lighted ground displays, fairy flutter flags, bubble waves and the 'Sand Glow Disco' neon dance party and a drone show!

Over 80 professional flyers display kites of all shapes and sizes! These larger than life creations take flight and fill the sky Saturday and Sunday in Kure Beach at historic Fort Fisher. The view just over the dunes is visible all the way to the NC aquarium.

Saturday & Sunday enjoy a boutique festival featuring music, local food trucks, wine, locally-brewed craft beer and locally-distilled craft rum tastings. Kids activities and fun food round out the festival.

Check social media for updates.

In partnership with New Hanover County, the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees will be distributing 1,000 native canopy trees—free of charge!—to NHC residents!

This giveaway is focused first on Murrayville, a community with one of the sparsest tree canopies in New Hanover County. With canopy covering only about 13% of the area, Murrayville falls dramatically short of the 30–40% canopy often recommended for communities like it. Priority will be given to Murrayville residents until 11 AM. After 11 AM, the giveaway will open to all New Hanover County residents while supplies last. Visit our website acftrees.org to see the trees that will be available.

Largest International Latino Festival in North Carolina!
Free Admission, 2-day Event
Best Kids Fiesta! Pinatas and Mexican Hat Race every hour and tons of huge Inflatables!
Over 20 Food Vendors, Music, Dancing, and much more!

You don't want to Miss it!

November 14, 2026 - November 15, 2026

Ogden Park

Bring the kids (ages 0–8) for a FREE day of fun at the 12th Annual Smart Start Family Festival on Saturday, November 14, from 10am to 1pm at Long Leaf Park. Families will enjoy hands-on activities, live entertainment by the Broccoli Brothers Circus, raffle prizes, and more! Discover local resources and enjoy quality time together in a festive, family-friendly setting.

Questions about participating or sponsoring? Contact Jennifer at 910-815-3731 or jennifer.gallo@newhanoverkids.org.

The Southern Lights at The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina

A Holiday Tradition You’ll Look Forward to Every Year

Experience the magic of the season at The Southern Lights, where thousands of twinkling lights, festive displays, delicious food, and unforgettable moments come together to create one of Eastern North Carolina’s favorite holiday traditions.

Wander through beautifully illuminated botanical gardens, climb aboard our Elf Quest Wagon Ride, explore the Holiday Maze, challenge your family in the Snowball Arena, roast s’mores by the fire, and enjoy an evening filled with holiday cheer.

Whether you’re continuing a cherished family tradition, planning a festive date night, or gathering with friends and coworkers, The Southern Lights offers a memorable Christmas experience for guests of all ages.

Every ticket purchased supports The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina, a nonprofit botanical garden dedicated to improving lives by cultivating inspiration.