Cape Fear Wine + Food Experience

The 3rd Annual Cape Fear Wine & Food Experience returns April 15–18, 2026, featuring special guest, acclaimed James Beard Award-winning chef and cookbook author Virginia Willis. The multi-day epicurean celebration serves as a key annual fundraiser for Beacon Education, supporting the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW Academy) and Spark Academy. The Cape Fear Wine & Food Experience kicks off on Wednesday, April 15, with intimate community dinners hosted at local residences and select Wilmington restaurants. Willis will headline a multi-course Celebrity Chef Dinner on Friday, April 17, showcasing her signature modern Southern cuisine. The weekend culminates on Saturday, April 18, with the Grand Tasting and Grand Auction at GLOW Academy, where standout local restaurants and renowned wineries from around the world will offer curated tasting experiences for guests and Chef Willis will be autographing her cookbooks and providing samples of her Southern culinary creations.