2012 Wilmington NC Holiday Challenge

Take the 2012 Wilmington NC Holiday Challenge to get in the holiday spirit!
 

Experience the sights, tastes, and smells of Christmas at Wilmington's favorite holiday events. We challenge you to get in the holiday spirit and attend as many Wilmington holiday events as you can this holiday season! Print the 2012 Wilmington NC Holiday Challenge check list and hang it on your fridge today. Check off each holiday event as you go and post holiday pictures on our Facebook page! Share this Holiday Challenge with family and friends so that you can celebrate the holidays together.

Visiting Wilmington NC from out of town this holiday season? Take advantage of special discount hotel rates from our local hotel partners. We look forward to seeing you in Wilmington NC!

Read more about the exciting Wilmington events in the 2012 Wilmington NC Holiday Challenge and get in the Christmas Spirit today!

Visit Santa
November 23 - December 24, 2012
Hours Vary Throughout the Season
Visit Santa in Santa Village at Mayfaire. Children can visit him and have their photos taken by Mayfaires professional photographer. Santa welcomes children, adults, pets, and anyone with a holiday spirit. Call 910-256-5131 for more information.

Enchanted Airlie
November 29, 30, 2012 December 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 2012  
Enchanted Airlie is voted one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events! Airlie's holiday light display, Enchanted Airlie, runs until just before Christmas. The fantastic LEGOS display is returning this year. Last year's display was made up of over 250,000 bricks and set the record as the largest crowd to see a single LEGO display in the US! Call 910-798-7700 for more information.
 
It's A Wonderful Life
November 29 - December 2, December 6-9, 13-16, 2012
Take a jump back in time and experience first-hand the MAGIC behind a LIVE 1940's Radio Broadcast with 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play'. This treasured holiday show comes to life right before your eyes as an ensemble of Five 1940's radio players perform a special Christmas broadcast of It's a Wonderful Life, complete with music, sound effects and a Live Audience! Get your tickets to It's a Wonderful Life today.

Train and Light Spectacular in Wilmington NC
December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, & 30, 2012
The Wilmington Railroad Museum and WWAY NewsChannel 3 present Wilmington's Train and Light Spectacular. Come down and see the Museum as never before. More than 15,000 lights glisten and sparkle to mark the holidays, Santa is on hand, with cookies from Sugar on Front and cider to sip and enjoy. Call 910-763-2634 for tickets.

Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla
December 1, 2012 at 6PM
Fishing boats and pleasure craft electrically decorated with thousands of lights present a spectacular display on the Intracoastal Waterway. They cruise from Snow's Cut to the Carolina Beach Boat Basin and back. Watch as the boats compete for prizes and add to the wonderful holiday spirit. Call 910-458-5507 for more information.

NC Aquarium's Holiday Elf Camp
December 1, 8, & 15, 2012
Kids ages 5-12 are welcome to attend the 2012 Holiday Elf Camps. Elves will be making gifts, wrapping them, meeting other elves, and making some extra special memories here at the aquarium. This fun and educational program gives adult elves guilt-free time for holiday shopping and relaxation. Camps include a pizza lunch, snacks, crafts, holiday gift-wrap, instruction and countless wonderful memories. Call 800-832-3474 for more information.

Holiday Lights By Boat
December 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 21, 22, 2012 from 5:30PM - 7PM
Join Wilmington Water Tours for this special holiday boat excursion. Enjoy holiday punch at the Captains Reception and then depart for the Harbor Holiday Light Cruise. Call 910-338-3134 for more information.

Candyland Christmas Event 2012
December 2, 2012 from 1 - 4:30PM
Celebrate the magic of the season with your entire family and Santa at the 2012 Candyland Christmas Event at The Children's Museum of Wilmington. Children will make candy cottages, enjoy goodies, make handmade ornaments, story time, share wish lists with Santa, mix reindeer food, and enjoy special holiday performances. Call 910-254-3534 for more information.

10th Annual Wilmington Holiday Parade
December 2, 2012 at 6:10PM
Join us in historic downtown Wilmington for the 10th Annual Wilmington Holiday Parade. This Wilmington parade begins at N. Front and Walnut at 6:10PM. Get in the holiday spirit with family and friends at this exciting Wilmington event. Call 910-341-7855 for more information.

Poplar Grove Christmas Crafts Fair
December 2, 2012 from Noon to 5PM
Dressed in its holiday finest, the plantation's Christmas Open House is a charming gateway to old fashioned holiday spirit. Take a self guided tour or shop the Craft Fair. Children can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. A hayride through Abbey Nature Preserve is a wonderful trip for the whole family. As Poplar Grove's way of saying thank you and  Merry Christmas to the community, admission is free today. Learn more about the Christmas Open House and Craft Fair at Poplar Grove today.

Fort Fisher Holiday Open House
December 6, 2012 from 10AM - 5PM
Enjoy seasonal refreshments, decorations, and live music by area choral and instrumental groups throughout the day. There will be special one-day discounts in the Museum Shop. Call 910-458-5538 for more details.

Miracle on 34th Street
December 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, & 16, 2012 
The movie opened in 1947 and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Screenplay. Tony Award-winner Meredith Willson created this magical musical adaptation of the beloved film. When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is, in fact, the real thing. And in the process, a cynical single mom and her troubled daughter are changed forever by the power of believing. Call 910-632-2285 for tickets.

The Holiday Flea at BAC
December 7, 8, and 9, 2012
Renowed as the 'ultimate vintage flea' and attended by hundreds and hundreds of shoppers and dozens of vintage vendors from around the region, The Holiday Flea will be a weekend-long event that promises to be bigger and better with a wide array of vintage, retro, and upcycled treasures. Wilmington's finest food trucks will feed holiday crowds and the BAC cash bar serves liquid refreshments. Visit www.brooklynartsnc.com for more information.

Kure Beach Christmas Show
December 7, 2012 at 6PM
The Annual Kure Beach Christmas Show is sprinkled with snow, bright characters, talented singers, and amazing dancers. Lighted holiday floats, live bands, and colorful characters like Santa will be at the annual nighttime Christmas parade to add to the festivities of the season.

Santa Claus Cruise
December 8, 2012
Cruise aboard Henrietta III to the North Pole to pick up Santa Claus! Cape Fear Riverboats presents the 24th Annual Santa Claus Cruise to benefit Wilmington Salvation Army's Food Pantry. Admission price is 6 non-perishable food items per person. Call 910-343-1611 to reserve your spot.

Polar Express Holiday Show
December 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, & 23, 2012
Shows at 4:30PM and 5:30PM
The classic story returns for the holidays! WWAY NewsChannel 3 and Wilmington Railroad Museum present the Polar Express Family Show. On-air staff read this holiday favorite, followed by a visit from Santa and special 'first gift'. Afterwards, enjoy cookies from Sugar on Front and sip cocoa.Call 910-763-2634 to reserve your Golden Tickets.

Budweiser Clydesdales at Mayfaire
December 9, 2012 from 2PM - 4PM
Welcome the Budweiser Clydesdales on Sunday, December 9th from 2PM - 4PM at Mayfaire. Don't forget your camera so that you can snap pictures of these amazing animals as they walk the Mayfaire streets. Call 910-256-5131 for more information.

North Carolina Symphony Holiday Pops
December 11, 2012 at 8PM
The North Carolina Symphony comes to you this holiday season for a concert of yuletide classics to warm your heart. Along the way, you'll enjoy all-time symphonic favorites and the orchestra's ever-popular Christmas carol sing-along. Join us at Keenan Auditorium for this exciting event!

Santa at the Cotton Exchange
Every Saturday and Sunday until December 23, 2012
Visit Santa at the Cotton Exchange in Wilmington, North Carolina. Santa is available on Saturdays from 12PM - 4PM and Sundays from 1PM - 4PM until December 23, 2012. Bring a camera and make a memory at Santa's Station. Call 910-343-9896 for more information.

Caroling by 'REINDEER' Drawn Carriage
December 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, & 24, 2012 from 6PM - 10PM
Come and sing Christmas carols with Santa and his special 'reindeer'. Snuggle under warm lap blankets while enjoying the beautiful Christmas lights. $12 per adult, $5 per child under 12. Free candy canes for children! Call 910-251-8889 for more information.

Wilmington Trolley Holiday Light Tours
December 14 - 23, 2012
Wilmington Trolley presents the 2012 Holiday Light Tours! Enjoy music, narration, and fun with family and friends. Take advantage of the Holiday Family Special and get 2 adult tickets and 2 children tickets for $25! Visit www.wilmingtontrolley.com for more information.

5K Jingle Bell Run in Wilmington NC
December 15, 2012
Join us for a this spectacular holiday event! Race participants are encouraged to dress in holiday apparel including Santa costumes, antlers, and snowmen. There will be a prize for the best costume! Call 910-256-2569 for more information.

Sounds of the Season from Stage and Screen
December 16, 2012 at 4PM
Join us at the Scottish Rite Temple Auditorium in Wilmington, North Carolina for the Sounds of the Season from Stage and Screen. Tickets are $9.99 in advance and $12 at the door. Visit www.wilmingtonchoralsociety.com for more information.

Free Baroque Christmas Concert
December 17, 2012 at 7:30PM
Join us at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wilmington, North Carolina for this FREE Baroque Christmas Concert. This holiday event will benefit the Good Shepherd Center. The concert is free, donations are accepted. Call 910-620-7207 for more information.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Danielle Snyder
Wilmington NC Events