01 December . 2019
'Tis the season to be jolly: Wilmington Holiday Happenings
If you’re looking for holiday to-do’s around the Wilmington area there is plenty for you to choose from. From kid-friendly festivities where they can meet Santa to more sophisticated holiday experiences, Wilmington has an abundance of events to attend throughout the winter.
One of the more popular holiday events in the greater Wilmington area is the Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour on December 7th and 8th where touring guests are welcomed into some of the elegant historic homes and buildings of the downtown area that have been decorated for the holidays. This unique event has been hosted for nearly 50 years and helps to raise funds for the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society to continue their preservation of the Latimer House, a historic Victorian home in downtown, and the acquisition and conservation of the Society’s archives of of historic documents and publications.
If you’re craving another holiday event that allows you to step back into the antiquated past of the historic downtown Wilmington area, Jingle Belles Holiday Tea hosted at the Bellamy Mansion Museum on December 8th and 9th from 1:30 to 4 p.m. is the perfect celebration for you. With tea sandwiches, desserts, hot tea and tours of the historic home, guests are able to immerse themselves in the history that has helped to shape Wilmington while dining elegantly in a mansion decked out for the holidays. Or if you are hoping for the historic holiday experience, but want to pass on the tea, join the Bellamy Mansion Museum and the Burgwin-Wright House for A Stroll Through the Past. This special annual event depicts the holidays in Wilmington during the colonial and antebellum eras in the south and gives guests an exclusive look into Wilmington’s Christmas Past.
If you’re hoping to do some minor traveling to explore other areas surrounding Wilmington, be sure not to miss Winterfest held each year in Southport, just 35 miles from Riverlights. For one week of the year, Southport hosts a collection of holiday festivities from cookie decorating contests to a craft festival held in the heart of the town. This year the festivities take place from 7th to the 14th. Enjoy the best elements of the holiday season by the Southport seaside for a fun day trip.
And of course, if you're looking to deliver your wish list to Santa in person, join us for our Ho Ho Homes for the Holidays event here at Riverlights! Featuring photos with Santa himself, cookies, hot chocolate and coffee provided by our friends at Spill Coffee Co, gifts for all, and homes that will make your "nice list", this is one holiday event you won't want to miss! Join us on December 14th from 2-5 at the Lakehouse!
During this busy season, make time to discover how Wilmington celebrates the joys of the holidays. Riverlights, less than 5 miles from downtown, keeps you close to all of the fun festivities to keep you in good cheer this holiday season.