Community Calendar

Join us for Art in the Yard on 9/20 10a-4pm and 9/21 12-4pm! Follow the map to participating artists homes where they will be displaying & selling art in their yards, home studios or garages! This unique event gives you an opportunity to meet the artists and view their exclusive work. Interactive maps are available online here: https://islandartscouncil.net/art-in-yard
Or you can pick up a copy at Island Arts Council tent at Good Hops Brewery or various businesses on Pleasure Island before and during the days of the event. The Island Arts Council's tent will be open each day of the event. Also at Good Hops, the option to buy raffle tickets to win donated art by the participating artists – drawings at the end of each event day.

Need a creative afternoon of art, live music, and refreshments? Join us in the gallery on Sunday, September 21st, 2-5pm for our Artist Reception featuring Debra Bucci & Brian Evans. Enjoy special refreshments, meet our artists, and enjoy live music by jazz guitarist Roger Davis!
Art in Bloom Gallery is excited to pair the creations of painter Debra Bucci and ceramicist Brian Evans in their elementally inspired exhibit. After surviving an action-packed year, Debra’s newest acrylics uncover the “calm” in nature, featuring rippling waters, radiant light, and abstract textures. Meanwhile, Brian’s altered vessels emerge from nature’s fundamental building blocks. Formed from soft, wheel thrown clay, Brian’s glazes emulate the water erosion, oxidation, and scorched surfaces of nature. Stop in to see their newest works from the studio!
Gallery events are always free and open to the public. On view along with these exhibits, Art in Bloom Gallery showcases a plethora of fine art by over 30 local artists. Art in Bloom is open Monday–Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday – Saturday 10am–6pm and Sunday 12-5pm at 970 Inspiration Drive, Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington, NC.

Watch and interact with World War II living history interpreters as they bring the Ship to life by re-enacting daily duties and drills. This event is perfect for families and scout/youth groups. Bring your questions and cameras!

The annual Art in the Arboretum Show and Sale returns this year, inviting art lovers to immerse themselves in a weekend of creativity surrounded by the beauty of our 7-acre arboretum. The festival will kick off with the “Sip, Savor, and Shop” Opening Reception on Friday, October 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This exclusive event is open to Friends of the Arboretum members, sponsors, special guests, and the general public. For $35, attendees will enjoy live music, wine and beer, delicious food and desserts, exciting raffle prizes, and the chance to meet local artists and shop while they sip. With only 300 tickets available, advance purchase is recommended to ensure entry.

If you can't make it to the Opening Reception, don't worry - the festival continues through the weekend, on Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Explore the art displays, enjoy food from local food trucks, and listen to live music throughout the weekend. General admission is $5, with tickets available at the gate. Admission is free for children 12 and under, military members with current ID, and current Friends of the Arboretum members.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of creativity, community, and celebration. The Arty Party returns with live performances, local food and drinks, and a fabulous art auction, all hosted by Bigg B of Coast 97.3!

Tickets are $100 per person and support the vibrant arts scene in Wilmington and New Hanover County. Sponsorship opportunities also available!

The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center is seeking 2D and 3D artists for the 10th Annual ARTfall Juried Art Show and Sale to be held October 17 – 25, 2025.

The show will be open Fri. & Sat. Oct. 17th & 18th, Mon. – Sat. Oct. 20st – 25th, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The public is invited to attend the Artists Award Presentation and Reception Thurs. Oct. 16th 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the lobby museum of the Historic USO Building. Awards will be presented for First, Second, Third Place, Honorable Mention, and People’s Choice with cash prizes totaling $525.00.

Only original artwork completed within the last two years will be considered for exhibition. Original artwork is the artist’s sole creation and is not, in whole or in part, a copy of any other person’s work or photograph. Preference is given to artists from the Lower Cape Fear region. The deadline for submissions is September 22, 2025.

ARTfall will be judged by award-winning artist Benjamin Billingsley. Benjamin holds an MFA from UNC-Greensboro and has exhibited work in the United States, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, and Japan. Ben has taught studio art and art history at Cape Fear Community College since 2001 and in 2006 received the Marilyn Goodman Anderson Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching. Ben is a frequent curator at the Cameron Art Museum. He has also served as a judge for many prestigious regional exhibitions, including Wilmington Art Association’s Azalea Festival Spring Show at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, and Orange Street ArtsFest.

Apply here starting August 15: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehwSo6vSj1feNTKvoalYBAo3Kvi3BQ3-3bzMhTZnk-9IHJ9Q/closedform

Hidden Battleship is for the explorer at heart! Join us for an afternoon on a unique, behind-the-scenes tour of unrestored areas on the Battleship. Organized into small groups, the participants are led to areas in the bow, third deck, and below, and the superstructure, including all the way to the very top! This program requires climbing ladders, crossing high hatches, and going through tight/confined spaces. The tour is limited to ages 16 and older.

3rd Annual Open House Art Show
Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 10 AM – 5 PM
Wilmington, NC
WILMINGTON, NC – Mark your calendars for an inspiring celebration of creativity as Bradley Carter Art proudly presents the 3rd Annual Open House Art Show on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1532 Eastbourne Drive, Wilmington, NC.
This one-day event showcases the bold and expressive work of acclaimed contemporary artist Bradley Carter, whose abstract and floral pieces are celebrated for their emotional resonance, texture, and vibrant energy. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore new works, connect with the artist, and enjoy a welcoming, art-filled environment.
More than just an art show, the Open House is a community celebration. Attendees are invited to stay for food, drinks, music, and fellowship—an atmosphere that captures the heart of Bradley Carter’s mission: creating art that brings people together.
Bradley Carter’s artwork, known for its rich layers and gestural marks, combines elements of abstract expressionism with a modern edge. His pieces reflect a deep emotional connection to life’s moments, offering collectors and enthusiasts a chance to bring meaningful, original art into their homes.
Join us for this free, open-to-the-public event and experience the unique energy and creativity that define Bradley Carter Art. Whether you’re a long-time collector or discovering his work for the first time, this is a celebration you don’t want to miss.
For more information and to view current collections, please visit:
👉 www.BradleyCarterArt.com

The Holiday Train Expo is fun for the whole family. See 12 layouts, over 30 trains and beautiful holiday decorations. Come experience the magic of the POLAR EXPRESS!
The Expo is open on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 5 pm starting November 30th through December 29th.
A special Black Friday showing will be Friday November 29th from Noon to 5 pm.
After Christmas, come out on additional days: December 27th and 30th from Noon to 5 pm to keep the Holiday magic going.
Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
$9.00 for adults, $7.00 for children, Infants are free.
Located in the Dillards Wing at Independence Mall.

The Holiday Train Expo is fun for the whole family. See 12 layouts, over 30 trains and beautiful holiday decorations. Come experience the magic of the POLAR EXPRESS!
The Expo is open on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 5 pm starting November 30th through December 29th.
A special Black Friday showing will be Friday November 29th from Noon to 5 pm.
After Christmas, come out on additional days: December 27th and 30th from Noon to 5 pm to keep the Holiday magic going.
Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
$9.00 for adults, $7.00 for children, Infants are free.
Located in the Dillards Wing at Independence Mall.