Events

Shellebrate NC Oyster Month in October!

Join us each October as we “shellebrate” the history, culture, economy, and ecology of oysters in North Carolina!

Oysters play an important role in coastal communities. In the environment, oysters improve water quality and create habitat for other animals. Their unique flavor makes them a desirable dish, supporting the livelihoods of watermen and local economies across the state. Each October, the NC Oyster Trail, North Carolina Sea Grant, the NC Coastal Federation, and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources partner to bring you a full month of oyster facts, resources, and programming.

See our EVENT CALENDAR for everything happening during NC Oyster Month.

During NC Oyster Month on social media, share your love for our state’s shellfish using the hashtags #NCOysterTrail #NCOysterMonth #NCOysters #GiveAShuck #KeepShuckin’.

For NC Oyster Month 2026, we’re excited to introduce the NC Oyster Trail passport.

Pick up your passport at any participating NC Oyster Trail location. This is a new way to explore, discover, and experience more of what the Trail has to offer. Collect a sticker for your passport as you visit each site, and have some fun along the way with interactive activities, oyster trivia, and educational pages.

Launching October 1 just in time for NC Oyster Month, the passport is designed to be your companion for exploring the NC Oyster Trail all year long.

And there’s an extra incentive to get out and explore: complete our Trail survey or share your Oyster Month adventures on social media using #NCOysterTrail for a chance to win 50 FREE OYSTERS!

Curated Speed Dating is back! ❤️

Join us on Tuesday, October 6th at @jessesrestaurantandbar for our next Curated Speed Dating event, this time for singles ages 45+!

We’ll be selecting a balanced group of men and women for a night of short one-on-one dates, followed by time to mingle afterward 🍸

Interested in participating? Apply through the link here, or nominate a single friend who you think would be a great fit 👀

Selected participants will receive a private invitation to purchase their ticket.

Limited spots available ✨

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.

Get ready for a night of great whiskey, delicious bites, and plenty of fun! Join us on Wednesday, October 7th at 6:30 PM for an Old Forester Bourbon Tasting & Social featuring an exciting lineup of pours, pairings, surprises, and more.

Your Ticket Includes:

🥃 4 Old Forester Expressions

🍸 Welcome Cocktail

🍴 Hors d’oeuvres

🎁 Giveaways & Old Forester Merchandise

Special guest Austin Dain, Executive Bourbon Steward, will lead a fun, casual tasting, taking you through the rich history, stories, and bourbon-making tradition behind Old Forester—the first bottled bourbon.

Whether you're a longtime whiskey lover or simply looking for a fun night out, this is an experience you won't want to miss.

🎟 Tickets are limited, so reserve your spot early and come raise a glass with us!

David Hessel with Jake Beamer and Radford Carrick

7:30 PM–No cover

potatoes on Friday, Oct 16 from 6–9pm.

Join Ponysaurus Brewing Co. for a fall Oyster Roast in the beer garden on Friday October 16th! From 6–9pm (or until the oysters are gone), enjoy all-you-can-eat oysters, locally sourced by Three Little Spats, served with corn on the cob and red potatoes.

🍺 Our beloved Oyster Saison is returning for the occasion, brewed with actual oyster shells!

Tickets include unlimited food are available now through October 13 or until they sell out! This is a casual, outdoor event perfect for seafood lovers and fall evenings in downtown Wilmington.

Enjoy a splendid afternoon at the historic Dudley Mansion. We will have hors d'oeuvres, specialty cocktails from our friends at Cook's Mill Whiskey, and live acoustic music by Raphael ​Namé. You can also bid on exciting silent auction items including:

• A 3-night getaway to the exclusive Palmetto Bluff resort

• A trip to NYC with Broadway tickets

• One-of-a-kind fine art

• Special keepsakes to treasure forever

All ticket and auction proceeds support preservation of the Bellamy Mansion Museum and its two historic buildings. Our next big restoration project will be repairs to the east side porch!

🦪🍻The 𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩 𝐎𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐂𝐨. 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤! Mark your calendars for 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕𝐭𝐡 from 𝟏-𝟓 𝐩𝐦 for an afternoon of fresh local oysters, crisp craft beers, live music, and good times in the Pumpkin Patch.

✨𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 on the Seaview website—𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨!

🌊𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐜𝐤 (around 25)— $𝟐𝟓
🌊𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐜𝐤 (around 50)— $𝟒𝟎

𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐲-𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 $𝟑𝟓 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 / $𝟓𝟎 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥

A portion of oyster sales will benefit the 𝐍𝐂 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, helping support the health and future of our coast! 💙

•𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝐑𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐫 🍺
•𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐-𝟓 𝐩𝐦 🎶

⚠️𝐏𝐑𝐄-𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄⚠️ When checking out on Seaview’s website, it says “Midtown Market In-store Pickup.” 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭. You DO NOT need to pick up your pre-sale orders. 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭! 🦪🍻🎃

We’re back with our popular Full Moon Parties this season!

A relaxed, coastal gathering where the beauty of the full moon meets the rhythm of the ocean.

Enjoy stunning moonrise views over the water, chill music, and a laid-back atmosphere perfect for all ages. This free, family and dog-friendly event invites you to grab a drink, dinner, or ice cream and soak it all in.

This is a free event for our bar patrons—no tickets, no cover charge.

SAVE THE DATES:

Monday, October 26

Monday, November 23

(Always 7-10pm)

If the weather shifts, the vibe continues indoors at our High Tide Lounge but follow us for day of updates!

Come for the moon. Stay for the atmosphere. Make it your monthly ritual.

Tickets are LIVE✨

Join us for the fantasy reader event of the year, this Halloween night, in Wilmington, NC! Step into a gothic romantasy novel where you'll dance the night away, shop with vendors, get tarot readings, meet authors, and dive into the biscuit and dessert bars. Want to compete in the court challenges and solve riddles to win prizes and fully immerse yourself in the lore? The Fae Queen will be expecting your participation. Come to escape reality and leave with books, new friends, unforgettable memories, and keepsakes! This is the 2nd Annual Romantasy Ball hosted by Burning Pages Bookstore.

2026 Theme: Gothic Regency

Sat, Oct 31

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM EDT

3rd annual Oysterfest at Topsail Brewing

We’re back with our popular Full Moon Parties this season!

A relaxed, coastal gathering where the beauty of the full moon meets the rhythm of the ocean.

Enjoy stunning moonrise views over the water, chill music, and a laid-back atmosphere perfect for all ages. This free, family and dog-friendly event invites you to grab a drink, dinner, or ice cream and soak it all in.

This is a free event for our bar patrons—no tickets, no cover charge.

SAVE THE DATES:

Monday, November 23

(Always 7-10pm)

If the weather shifts, the vibe continues indoors at our High Tide Lounge but follow us for day of updates!

Come for the moon. Stay for the atmosphere. Make it your monthly ritual.

Our most popular fund-raising event of the year, Poplar Grove continues its much-anticipated Merry & Bright – A Holiday of Lights – for 2026, so mark your calendars and prepare to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.

1st three weekends runs Friday – Sunday from 5 – 9 PM, starting Friday, November 27th. Last weekend runs Friday – Tuesday from 5 – 9 PM, ending December 22nd.

$10 ALL AGES TICKET (Children 2 & Under Free), $35 FAMILY PASS (2 Adults/2 Children 2-11), $100 SEASON PASS (2 Adults/2 Children 2-11).

Admission includes lighted grounds, spectacularly lit trees, Visits With Santa, Grinch’s Junk Shop, Secret Gardens, Bumble’s Snowball Party, Santa’s Boot Camp, and celebrating America’s 250th in the Spirit of ’76 Tavern.

Also on site are campfires to roast marshmallows, outdoor holiday movie favorites, and a decorated manor house, featuring iconic scenes from A Christmas Story …

And least we forget, our favorite balloon-extraordinaire, Mr. Twister, will be sculpting imaginative creations for the kids.

Vintage carnival games, food trucks & concessions, and juried gift show add warmth and joy to the holidays, so make plans to spend the entire evening!

Our most popular fund-raising event of the year, Poplar Grove continues its much-anticipated Merry & Bright – A Holiday of Lights – for 2026, so mark your calendars and prepare to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.

1st three weekends runs Friday – Sunday from 5 – 9 PM, starting Friday, November 27th. Last weekend runs Friday – Tuesday from 5 – 9 PM, ending December 22nd.

$10 ALL AGES TICKET (Children 2 & Under Free), $35 FAMILY PASS (2 Adults/2 Children 2-11), $100 SEASON PASS (2 Adults/2 Children 2-11).

Admission includes lighted grounds, spectacularly lit trees, Visits With Santa, Grinch’s Junk Shop, Secret Gardens, Bumble’s Snowball Party, Santa’s Boot Camp, and celebrating America’s 250th in the Spirit of ’76 Tavern.

Also on site are campfires to roast marshmallows, outdoor holiday movie favorites, and a decorated manor house, featuring iconic scenes from A Christmas Story …

And least we forget, our favorite balloon-extraordinaire, Mr. Twister, will be sculpting imaginative creations for the kids.

Vintage carnival games, food trucks & concessions, and juried gift show add warmth and joy to the holidays, so make plans to spend the entire evening!

HOLIDAY WHOOBIE WHATTY

Friday, Dec. 18, 2026

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Don your best Whoville attire and join us for a Grinch-themed celebration. The evening will kick off with the announcing of the Kure Beach Cheermeister, followed by a viewing of the 2000 movie “The Grinch.” While the film is playing, you can visit different stations for face painting, Grinch crafts, cookie decorating, and photos with the Grinch. This event is free to attend, but the Town will be collecting donations for the Help Center of Federal Point.

The Kure Beach Cheermeister will represent the most festively decorated home in Kure Beach, as voted by the public. If you would like to nominate your home, please submit the online form along with 2 photos of your decorated home by the deadline. The Town will only accept self-nominations, as permission needs to be granted to publish the home photos and address for voting purposes.

Nominations are open from November 1st through December 14th at 10:00 AM. Voting will take place online between December 14th and December 17th. The winner will be contacted on December 17th and invited to receive their prize at the beginning of the Holiday Whoobie Whatty on Friday, December 18th.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. You can also reach out to the Recreation Department at parks@tokb.org to check availability.