Sep 27 Sunday
Experience the charm and creativity of coastal North Carolina at the Historic Downtown Wilmington Marketplace’s Sunday Artisan Market. Held weekly on Dock Street (between Front and 2nd Streets), just steps from the downtown Riverwalk, this open-air market brings together a thoughtfully curated collection of local artists, makers, and small businesses in the heart of Wilmington.
Each Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM, visitors can stroll through a vibrant street market filled with handcrafted goods, original artwork, and unique artisan pieces. From fine art and pottery to woodwork, jewelry, textiles, and mixed media, the market showcases a diverse range of creative expressions. Every booth offers something one-of-a-kind, making it the perfect place to discover meaningful pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
The Sunday Artisan Market is ideal for tourists exploring Wilmington, locals seeking a relaxing and inspiring weekend outing, and anyone who values handmade, high-quality goods. Its central location makes it easy to pair with brunch, shopping, or a day along the waterfront. Guests can enjoy the energy of downtown, take a walk along the nearby Riverwalk, and connect directly with artists—learning about their craft and the stories behind their work.
Admission is free and open to the public. Come experience the creativity, meet the makers, and be part of Wilmington’s growing arts scene.
Location: Dock Street (between Front & 2nd Streets), near the Downtown RiverwalkWhen: Every Sunday, 10 AM – 3 PMAdmission: Free
Oct 03 Saturday
Waterline Brewing Company’s 11th Annual Oktoberfest returns Saturday, October 3 for its biggest celebration of the year under the bridge! Gates open at noon with festivities beginning at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Celebrate Oktoberfest with live music from Harbour Towne Fest Band, German-inspired food, fresh-baked Crofton Pretzels, local food trucks, craft beer, lawn games, contests, and plenty of Oktoberfest traditions. Guests are encouraged to break out their lederhosen and dirndls for the Best Dressed Contest and bring their favorite stein—or grab one at Waterline.
VIP tickets are also available and include a dedicated VIP entrance, a reserved four-person table for the duration of the event, and a complimentary pitcher of beer.
Join Waterline at 721 Surry Street in Wilmington for a full afternoon of beer, food, music and Bavarian-style fun. Prost!
Saturday, October 3 | Gates at 12 p.m. | Festivities at 1 p.m. | Free Admission
Oct 04 Sunday
Oct 10 Saturday
The Fire in the Pines Festival focuses on environmental education and highlights the importance of fire to our native longleaf pine forests. This free to attend event will have something fun for everyone!
-Kids activities including crafts, games, and educational opportunities-Fire equipment, including multiple fire trucks, a bulldozer, a marshmaster and more!-Hay-rides throughout the park-Fire, nature, and other conservation related tables and displays-Live music by Folkstone Stringband-Food trucks-Entertainment including jugglers and honey sampling!-And for the finale, a live fire demonstration!
Parking will be located at LifePoint Church (on College & 17th St) and a free trolley is available to ride over!
Oct 11 Sunday
Oct 17 Saturday
Rev up your engines and cruise over to Waterline Brewing Company for Pistons & Pints, an afternoon celebrating vintage cars, local businesses, live music and craft beer.
Check out an impressive lineup of classic cars, muscle cars, hot rods and unique vintage vehicles, then shop a curated vintage clothing market hosted by Vintage Flea ILM and browse automotive-focused vendors.
Mark Sinnis will perform live from 3–5 p.m. There will be local food trucks and plenty of Waterline craft beer available throughout the day.
Whether you’re a lifelong car enthusiast, vintage lover or just looking for a fun afternoon out, bring the whole crew and enjoy a day of cars, music, shopping, food and local flavor at Waterline Brewing Company.
Waterline Brewing Co. | 721 Surry Street, Wilmington, NCFree Admission | Family Friendly
Oct 18 Sunday
Oct 24 Saturday
14th Annual American Legion Post 129 Holiday Craft Show featuring local artisans displaying their unique creations for purchasing. A wide variety of vendors will be on display.
Oct 25 Sunday
Mar 30 Sunday
Due to the tremendous success of last year’s inaugural event, Wilmington’s VegFest 2019 will span two days. An exciting lineup of speakers and vegan celebrities will be on hand to educate, showcase and inspire with a variety of family-friendly activities that focus on the vegan lifestyle. In addition to demos, speakers and some 50 vendors, attendees can look forward to food trucks, craft beer and live music. Education Day is set for Saturday, March 30th from 10 am until 5 pm at the venue Events! On Front which is located at 130 N. Front Street. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn all about the benefits and how-tos of a plant-based lifestyle. The festivities continue on Sunday March 31st at the Coastline Convention Center where vendors and demos will further showcase all things vegan. In case you missed it, 2019 was declared the “Year of the Vegan” by several major news outlets. Forbes predicts that 2019 will be the year that more people embrace a plant-based lifestyle and The Economist says that veganism will be this year’s most popular topic. Here’s your chance to discover what all the buzz is about! Tickets for the 2-day festival are $10. Kids under the age of 18 get in for free with a paying adult. Two nonprofits, Wilmington Vegan and North Carolina Farmed Animals Save are working directly with Helene Greenberg, the executive director and promoter of Triangle VegFest/NC Vegfests. For more information on Wilmington VegFest or how to become a sponsor, please visit: https://wilmingtonvegfest.com/ Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ncvegfests/