Cameron Art Museum
Join us on December 7th!
Christmas Train & Light Spectacular Wilmington Railroad Museum
- Thru Dec. 23, Fridays and Saturdays
Winter wonderland with spectacular decorations. Musical animations and twilight model train displays.
Festival of Trees Museum of Coastal Carolina, Ocean Isle Beach
- Thru Dec 31, 10am – 4pm, Sun. 12pm - 4pm
Enchanting holiday display of more than 20 trees, artfully decorated by area businesses and nonprofits.
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s Festival of Trees NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
- Thru January 1, 9am - 5pm
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s Festival of Trees has been delighting attendees for decades with a forest of uniquely decorated trees is sure to delight all ages. Price of admission to the aquarium is all you need to enjoy this holiday tradition.
New York Ballet For Young Audiences: The Nutcracker Thalian Hall
- December 1-2, Friday 4pm and 7pm, Sat. 10am matinee
Production features guest dancers from local ballet studios alongside professional dancers from the New York Ballet for Young Audiences and Ballet Repertory of NYC.
Enchanted Airlie Airlie Gardens
- December 1-21, Reservation Times 5:30pm - 6:30pm, 6:30pm -7:30pm, 7:30pm - 8:30pm and 8:30pm – 9:30pm
Take in the sparkling sights and festive sounds of the holiday season. Enjoy a self-guided walk through holiday lights & music. SOLD OUT
The Second City "What the Elf?" Kenan Auditorium UNCW
- December 1, 7:30pm
What the Elf? is a humorous and irreverent take on the traditional Christmas tale. What the Elf? is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit while enjoying a great night of comedy.
Kids@CAM - Clyde's Holiday by the Sea
- December 2, 10am – 2pm
Be a part of the 14th Annual Clyde’s Holiday by the Sea! Help decorate sea critters to add to the Holiday by the Sea installation, which will remain on display around Minnie Evans gate house through the holiday season. Take part in other fun art stations and explore our current exhibitions, including the opening weekend of our Illumination lantern display. Free museum admission included. CAM Members: $5 per critter; Not-Yet Members: $10 per critter
Holiday Art Market Leland – Magnolia Village Way
- December 2, 10am – 3pm
Holiday presents from local craftsmen.
Oak Island Christmas By the Sea Parade and Festival Oak Island
- December 2, 2pm
Oak Island becomes a winter wonderland, featuring a lively parade with colorful floats and vibrant displays, including a variety of activities, visits with Santa, a costume contest, arts and crafts vendors, and delicious food offerings.
Tree Lighting Leland Town Hall
- December 2, 6pm – 8pm
Tree lighting, Leland Express, pictures with Santa and food trucks.
North Carolina Symphony presents Holiday Pops Wilson Center
- December 2, 3:30pm and 7:30pm
Join the NC Symphony for this annual tradition filled with joyful symphonic arrangements of holiday classics.
Songs of the Season: The Wilmington Choral Society Wilson Center
- December 4, 7:30pm
A selection of choral Christmas favorites and John Rutter choral pieces in the spirit of the season.
DIY Paint-Pour Ornaments for Teens Pine Valley Library
- December 5, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Create your own acrylic paint-pour ornaments. Materials will be provided; registration is required due to limited supplies. Program is for ages 12-18.
Thalian Association Community Theatre Presents Elf The Musical Thalian Hall
- December 7 – 17, Thurs. - Sat., 7:30pm, Sunday 3pm
Hilarious fish-out-of-water story follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity.
Jingle In the Park Halyburton Park
- December 9, 10am – 12pm
Azalea Festival hosts family-friendly holiday event, filled with photos with Santa, arts & crafts, youth performances, snacks, and a special visit by Azalea Festival Princess Avery Braithwaite. Tickets: $16/child, $5/adults.
City Ballet Presents The Nutcracker Wilson Center
- December 9 – 10, 12/9, 7pm, 12/10, 3pm
Highly acclaimed local production of holiday tradition with live professional orchestra.
DIY Mini-Gingerbread Houses Pine Valley Library
- December 12, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Come build your own mini-gingerbread house. All supplies will be provided for you to make your own gingerbread house. This program is appropriate for teens and up. Space is limited and registration is required.
Mary's Art Explorers: How the Grinch Stole Christmas Cameron Art Museum
- December 14, 10am -11am
Join CAM for a reading of Dr. Suess’s classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We will explore our Clyde’s Holiday by the Sea community installation and our new Illumination lantern exhibition. We will listen to holiday music while making holiday crafts and enjoying hot chocolate with marshmallows. Art Explorers is geared towards infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, but big brothers and sisters are welcome to join and create art with us. Your registration includes admission to the museum for the whole day. Space is limited so preregister to guarantee your spot.
Winter Wanderland Children’s Museum of Wilmington
- December 16, 9am – 12pm
Annual holiday celebration at Museum. Wander through and discover how various cultures and regions celebrate winter holidays. Play holiday games, create winter crafts, join in fun activity stations.
Nature Ornaments Halyburton Park
- December 16, 11am – 2pm
Decorate a variety of nature-based ornaments while enjoying holiday treats. Drop in anytime between the scheduled hours. Pre-registration is not required. Ages: 3/up, free.
Encore Creativity Holiday Choral Performance Cameron Art Museum
- December 16, 3pm – 4pm
Join the Encore Chorale of Cape Fear for a spirited concert to light up the holiday season with joy with holiday classics.
World Ballet Series presents The Nutcracker Kenan Auditorium UNCW
- December 19, 7pm
Experience the excitement of the World Ballet in this family-friendly performance, featuring Tchaikovsky's unforgettable music, over 150 radiant hand-crafted costumes, lavish hand-painted sets, and the iconic Lev Ivanov choreography.
Nights of Lights Bellamy Mansion Museum
- December 20 – 22, 5pm – 8pm
Experience the Mansion decked out in its Christmas finest, with 3 main levels of the house and the first level of the original slave quarters building. Free to the public but donations greatly appreciated.
New Year's Noon! Children’s Museum of Wilmington
- December 31, 9am – 12pm
Decorate a crown, create a streamer wand, reflect back on 2023, and welcome 2024 with a juice toast. The event culminates with an epic confetti toss at noon in the courtyard,
