Community Calendar

Please join us for an exhibition of art by coastal artist Karen Sboto. This show is a culmination of her year's work. Our beautiful waterfronts are represented in oil, watercolors, acrylic, and ink. On display and sale will also be cards, bags, magnets, and stickers, featuring Karen's whimsical take on our beaches and lighthouses.
This will also be an opportunity to preorder personalized Christmas cards, and post cards.

"The Carolinas where a beautiful dream to me, I came in search of warmer waters and found that my heart had lived here all along. These waterways are my muse." Karen Sboto

Get ready for an unforgettable night of live music, friendly competition, and community impact at Battle of the Bands!

Five of the area's best local bands will take the stage at Bowstring for an electrifying showdown, each performing a high-energy 20–30 minute set while competing for an incredible prize package. But this isn't just about great music, it's about making a difference.

Here's where you come in: You decide the winner!

Audience members will cast their votes through donations, with every dollar supporting the life-changing ministry of First Fruit Ministries. Watch the live leaderboard as bands battle for the top spot and cheer on your favorite performers.

The winning band will receive:

🎸 A $1,000 paid return performance at Bowstring
🎙️ An exclusive professional recording studio session
📸 A professional band photoshoot

Event Details
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: Bowstring

Come enjoy an incredible evening of local music, support talented artists, and help transform lives in our community. Five bands. One stage. One mission. Every vote makes a difference.

Pull out your best sequin outfit and join us on the dance floor at Azalea Station! Sparkle for STEM is a fun night out celebrating and supporting our Young Scientists! Dinner and hors-devours will be provided by Spoonfed Kitchen and each ticket comes with one drink ticket.

⛳️ Swing into action to support rescue dogs and help them find their forever homes!

Join us for a fun-filled day on the green fore a great cause at the Paws Place Annual Golf Tournament, returning Monday, September 21, 2026, at Compass Pointe Golf Club in Leland, NC.

Event Schedule: • Registration: 8:30 AM • Morning Announcements: 9:45 AM • Shotgun Start: 10:00 AM

Boxed lunches will be waiting in your golf carts, and pizza will be served after the tournament. Plus, take part in a fantastic silent auction, win exciting raffle prizes, and applaud our top players during an awards presentation.

All proceeds benefit Paws Place Dog Rescue, a no-kill shelter giving dogs a second chance at life. We can’t wait to see you there!

Ready to secure your foursome? Just click Join Us!

The Friends of the New Hanover County Arboretum and the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension present the 30th annual Art in the Arboretum Show and Sale this year, inviting art lovers to immerse themselves in a weekend of creativity surrounded by the beauty of our 7-acre arboretum.

The festival runs through the weekend, on Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Explore the art displays, and enjoy food from local food trucks. 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.

Proceeds from this event support the Arboretum's projects and Cooperative Extension programs. A vital part of Extension’s horticulture program, the New Hanover County Arboretum advances horticultural knowledge and environmental stewardship through a diverse collection of trees, shrubs, and other plants. The arboretum serves as a living classroom for all residents, students, and green industry professionals, providing research-based education and practical training with an emphasis on plants adapted to the unique conditions of southeastern North Carolina.

A much-anticipated annual tour of 8 historic homes in the downtown Historic District, first floor only, rain or shine. The homes have been restored, preserved, renovated (kitchen), and will now be shared with guests on the tour. Proceeds benefit Wilmington non-profits through the Residents of Old Wilmington Grants Program.

The Friends of the New Hanover County Arboretum and the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension present the 30th annual Art in the Arboretum Show and Sale this year, inviting art lovers to immerse themselves in a weekend of creativity surrounded by the beauty of our 7-acre arboretum.

The festival runs through the weekend, on Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Explore the art displays, and enjoy food from local food trucks. 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.

Proceeds from this event support the Arboretum's projects and Cooperative Extension programs. A vital part of Extension’s horticulture program, the New Hanover County Arboretum advances horticultural knowledge and environmental stewardship through a diverse collection of trees, shrubs, and other plants. The arboretum serves as a living classroom for all residents, students, and green industry professionals, providing research-based education and practical training with an emphasis on plants adapted to the unique conditions of southeastern North Carolina.

Dip into History: Fondue Fundraiser Night at Little Dipper

The Historic Wilmington Foundation invites you to an evening of preservation, community, and delicious dining at The Little Dipper.

Whether you’re a fan of savory cheese, premium dippers, or decadent chocolate, your appetite will be helping us protect the historic charm of Wilmington. A portion of all proceeds goes directly to HWF’s mission to protect and preserve the historic irreplaceable architecture of the Wilmington region.

ARTnNCevents proudly presents Abstracts in America, a premier National Juried Exhibition celebrating the creativity, innovation, and expressive power of contemporary abstract art. This national exhibition invites artists from across the United States to explore abstraction in all its forms, showcasing work that challenges convention and pushes creative boundaries.
Abstract art is far more than traditional non-objective painting. We welcome artwork that transforms reality through color, composition, perspective, texture, shape, pattern, movement, and imagination. Whether your work begins with a recognizable subject that has been simplified, distorted, fragmented, or reimagined—or is completely non-representational—we encourage you to submit.
If your artwork emphasizes expression over literal representation, explores new visual ideas, or invites viewers to experience the familiar in unexpected ways, it belongs in the conversation. From geometric abstraction and expressive painting to abstract landscapes, florals, figures, mixed media, photography, digital art, and sculpture, Abstracts in America celebrates the many ways artists interpret abstraction

One night. One ridiculously good meal. One incredible cause.

Groove & Grub is back, serving up a Low Country Boil + BBQ mash-up with Chef Tito Ortiz of Rude Bwoys Jerk BBQ, cold drinks, big laughs, and the kind of community energy you can only find at DREAMS.

Infinite Spins will be keeping the party moving all night long, and trust us... you'll want to keep an eye on your inbox because our headlining band is dropping soon, and it's worth the wait.

Come for the feast. Stay for the music. Challenge your friends to one more dance. Meet someone new. Support something that matters.

Every ticket helps DREAMS Center for Arts Education provide free arts education, mentorship, and creative opportunities for local youth across Wilmington. So while you're piling your plate and dancing under the lights, you're also helping young artists discover what's possible.

Good grooves + Great grub coming your way this October...

Friday, October 23
DREAMS Center for Arts Education