Christmas in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach: Lights, Parades and Holiday Events

Wrightsville Beach’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place on Friday, November 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. The celebration includes Christmas music, hot chocolate, cookies and a visit from Santa, with the Performance Club’s Elf Patrol helping welcome the season.

It’s a good first-night outing for families arriving over Thanksgiving weekend. Settle into your room, head out for the ceremony and leave time for dinner afterward.

Bring a warm layer for the evening and keep the rest of your plans simple. The tree lighting is an opportunity to spend time together outside before a busy weekend of markets, parades and lights.

The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla is one of the area’s signature holiday traditions. Local boat owners decorate their vessels with lights and themed displays before taking to the water for an evening parade.

In 2026, the celebration takes place on Saturday, November 28, with daytime activities at Wrightsville Beach Park and the boat parade beginning at 6 p.m.

For a dedicated evening of Christmas lights in Wilmington, NC, visit Enchanted Airlie. This seasonal event fills Airlie Gardens with illuminated displays and holiday music, experienced along a self-guided walking route.

The 2026 dates are November 27–28 and December 1–21, with four reservation windows each evening between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required, and dates can sell out. General public ticket sales begin on October 28 at 9 a.m.

Choose your entry time before planning dinner. An early visit can suit families with younger children, while a later reservation leaves room for a meal beforehand.

Comfortable walking shoes and warm layers will help you enjoy the outdoor paths. Give the gardens their own evening so you have time to stop at the displays without rushing to another event.

For more places to explore nearby, see the Airlie Gardens recommendations in our Wrightsville Beach Field Guide.

The Wilmington Holiday Parade takes place on Sunday, November 29, 2026, at 6 p.m. With the Flotilla scheduled for the previous evening, Thanksgiving weekend gives visitors the chance to experience both a waterfront boat parade and a downtown celebration.

Make an afternoon of your visit. Browse downtown shops, take a walk beside the Cape Fear River and stop for an early dinner before finding your viewing spot.

If you’re traveling with children, bringing snacks and choosing somewhere to eat beforehand can make the evening easier. Check the city’s final parade route and road closure information before leaving, and allow time to walk from your parking spot.

Downtown Wilmington’s tree lighting is scheduled for Friday, November 27, 2026, offering another way to begin the holiday weekend.

Choose this if you’d like to spend your first afternoon exploring Wilmington. Start with shopping and a riverfront walk, then stay downtown for the evening celebrations and dinner.

The Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach tree lightings fall on the same date, so pick the one that best fits where you want to spend the evening.

Wrightsville Beach’s Movies in the Park series includes a showing of The Santa Clause on Friday, December 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and a picnic for an outdoor family movie night.

This is a relaxed option for a December weekend, especially if you’re visiting with children. Spend the day at the beach or exploring nearby, then wrap up for the screening.

Check the town’s event page before heading out for any weather-related updates.

If ice skating is part of your Christmas tradition, make time for Polar Ice Wilmington, formerly the Wilmington Ice House. The indoor rink offers public skating sessions, giving families and couples another activity to work into a holiday stay.

Check the public skating calendar for sessions during your visit, along with current admission and skate rental details.

Skating works well as a daytime outing before an evening at Enchanted Airlie. It’s also a useful option if rain changes your outdoor plans. Bring socks and comfortable layers, then leave time afterward for lunch or a warm drink.

A Christmas getaway to Wrightsville Beach leaves room for more than the holiday calendar. Start the day with coffee and a shoreline walk, explore the island or head out for lunch before your evening plans.

For couples, that might mean a slow morning and dinner before the lights. Families can balance a parade or movie night with time outside during the day, keeping one main event as the focus of each evening.

Pack for the waterfront as well as the forecast. A mild afternoon can still call for a jacket once you’re standing beside the water after dark.

Trailborn Surf & Sound brings the beach into your holiday weekend, with time to enjoy the ocean between outings in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach.

Return from the gardens or downtown shopping for dinner at La Duna Paradiso, where coastal Italian dishes and local seafood suit a meal together. Bar Duna offers a place to settle in for a drink, while the Great Lawn firepit gives you another reason to stay outside a little longer, with s’mores kits available from the Market.

Choose your main holiday event, leave space for the beach and find a room for your Christmas getaway.