News

The Southeast Tourism Society recently ranked two Wilminton events within its listing of the top 20 events in the Southeast.  The annual Jazz Festival, scheduled February 2-4, is in its 32nd year, and feastures 15 musicians.  The 4th annual Cape Fear Wildlife Expo, scheduled March16-18 at the Wilmington Convention Center, features book signings, hunting and fishing products, boats and accessories, as well as truck and ATV displays.

And don’t forget the Azalea festival in April, usually Wilmington’s premier annual event to kick off warm weather season again.  There seems to be no end to the reasons to visit or live in Wilmington, and Landfall remains Wilmington’s prime residential destination.  If you know of an event that is of interest, please reply to this blog, so we can let our readers know about it!

Azalea in Bloom

The North Carolina Azalea Festival runs from April 7^th through April 11, 2010 and celebrates Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture with five days of entertainment that includes a plethora of activities and events for all ages and interests.   These include the Cole Brothers Circus, a Goo Goo Dolls Concert with Collective Souls, as well as a Montgomery Gentry Concert, ( both concerts taking place at the UNCW Trask Coliseum), the ever popular NC Azalea Street Festival that runs for 3 days downtown (and let’s not forget the parade), and of course the famous Azalea Garden Tour now in its 57^th year!  There is also a juried art show and sale and the Historic Home Tour, along with dozens of other happenings that will surely keep you busy all weekend long.  From flowers to fashion, crafters to clowns, and the queen and her court, be a part of the pageantry and all that is Southern by participating in one or more of these activities occurring at various locations throughout the city during the upcoming weekend.  Please log on to www.ncazaleafestival.org or call 910.794.4650 to find out all the details and costs associated with the many different programs  that aren’t mentioned here.    This is North Carolina’s biggest festival of the year and Wilmington, NC pulls all the stops out to ensure that everyone has a great time!

Sun Coast Cruisers

Back to the Beach 2010 Car Show

– Sun Coast Cruisers present their annual Car Show Preview and Cruise (FREE to the general public). Saturday, March 13 we will display plenty of vehicles at Fort Fisher Recreation Area. Registration is from 8am until noon, but the show opens to the public at 9am. This is a rain or shine event. There will be plenty of parking for trailers. For more information call 910.231.6877 or 910.452.3211.

6th Annual Lo Tide Run

6th Annual Steve Haydu St. Patricks Lo-Tide Run

– The proceeds will be given to one or more cancer patients and their family. Registration will begin at 7am at Cabana Suites, located at 222 Carolina Avenue North. The 10K Run and the 5K Run, Walk, or Shuffle will start at the Pavilion, and end on the beach in front of the Boardwalk. This is a Flat PR course with USTAF Certification. Please see www.lotiderun.org for more information.

11th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Groups and organizations are invited to show their community pride, imagination and Irish spirit. There will be a luncheon at the Hilton following the parade, $25 per person. Irish DJ and dancers will entertain and there will be a raffle for 2 trips for 4 to Ireland, tickets are $100 each with only 150 available. For details, please contact Steve McEnaney at steveandconniemc@aol.com or 910.686.5498. Presented by Friends of the Hibernians

 Guinness St. Patrick’s Day Festival – follows the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and is free and open to all. Live music, Irish dancers, cultural vendors, and food & beer sales. This is a “Rain or Shine” event. For more information on the Guinness St. Patrick’s Day Festival contact Chris Andrews at 216.374.8884 or citybuddha@hotmail.com.

There are a multitude of reasons to love living the Landfall, NC life, and being so close to Wrightsville Beach is right up there, espcially this time of year!  November 27^th is the date for the start of the 26^th Annual Holiday Flotilla, a three day event that includes a myriad of events.  There’s a Tree Lighting Ceremony, Captain’s Meeting, and Flotilla Holiday Party hosted by the Blockade Runner and featuring Jim Quick & Coastline (a Wilmington, NC Blues, Soul, and R&B group).  On Saturday there’s the Festival in the Park with food, crafts, and entertainment for kids, along with celebrity guest Trot Nixon, long time major league baseball player.  The famous Parade of Boats is a vision of holiday excitement in their sometimes over-the-top decorations, and the fireworks that follow once the last ship has made it to safety are spectacular.  Sunday morning the Blockade Runner once again hosts the Awards Ceremony when one super creative and lucky entrant will win the grand prize of a 4-night stay at The Reefs Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. 

 The Flotilla truly is a “Spectacular  Light Show” on the waters of the Wrightsville Beach area and a once a year tradition you really have to see!  For more information on the schedule of events and associated costs for participation in the party and the parade, please visit their website at ncholidayflotilla.org and join the rest of us in Wilmington, NC for the season’s kick off event!!

You don’t have to be a film buff , but, if you enjoy watching thought provoking material,  you do not want to miss this fabulous event  kicking off  on Wednesday, November 11.   Landfall, NC property owners and our friends and neighbors, as well as visitors from around the world, will get the chance to participate in a 4 day viewing of over 130 documentaries, features and shorts. Included in this mix is the recently released and Oscar buzz creating Precious.  Along with a  Hal Holbrook piece, some horror, and a few risqué movies you’ll find plenty of  films to choose from and all  worth your time and attention!  This creative exploration of independent films, held annually in our historic port city, has been named one of the “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals” by Moviemaker Magazine.   Wilmington, NC, for those who might not be aware, is also one of the leading film production locations in the country and home to EUE Screen Gems Studios.  The Cucalorus Film Festival runs through Saturday November 14, 2009.  You can get updates on festival planning from director Dan Brawley by calling 910.343.5995 or log onto cucalorus.org for more information on events and ticket sales.

You and your children can also be a part of the festivities at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington, NC when the Cucalorus Film Festival presents KIDS-A-LORUS where there will be films for kids, by kids on Saturday, November 14.  Please call 910.254.3534 for more information.