Enchanted Airlie runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 21, Poplar Grove's Merry & Bright brings Santa on weekends, the Wrightsville Beach flotilla sails Nov. 28 and more.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates, times and prices come from each organizer’s own page, linked below.

Looking for the city’s Holiday Parade or the Riverfront Park tree lighting? They are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.

The season at a glance:

Dates Event Place
Nov. 27-28, Dec. 1-21 Enchanted Airlie lights Airlie Gardens
Weekends, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22 Merry & Bright Festival, with Santa Poplar Grove
Saturday, Nov. 28 North Carolina Holiday Flotilla boat parade, 6 p.m. Wrightsville Beach
Sunday, Nov. 29 Holiday Parade, 6 p.m. Front Street (details)
Monday, Nov. 30 Celtic Angels Christmas, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Thalian Hall
Dec. 4-5 The Nutcracker for young audiences Thalian Hall
Saturday, Dec. 5 A Colonial Apparition holiday river cruise Cape Fear River
Saturday, Dec. 12 Holiday Open House Burgwin-Wright House
Monday, Dec. 21 It’s a Wonderful Life, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Thalian Hall

Who to call

  • Enchanted Airlie: Airlie Gardens, 300 Airlie Road (tickets and tips)
  • Merry & Bright: Poplar Grove, 910-398-5673
  • Thalian Hall box office: 910-632-2285 (noon to 5 p.m. weekdays)
  • Burgwin-Wright House: 910-762-0570

Enchanted Airlie

A holiday tradition since 2005, Enchanted Airlie is a self-guided walk through lights and music at Airlie Gardens, 300 Airlie Road. The 2026 dates are Nov. 27 and 28, and Dec. 1-21, with four entry windows each evening: 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., according to Airlie Gardens.

  • Tickets go fast. Member presales open Oct. 14 and Oct. 21; general public sales open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. Buy only through Airlie’s site or Etix, the gardens warn.
  • One ticket per vehicle, including parking: $35 for a carload, $65 for an XL van of up to 11 passengers, plus tax and fees. Groups of 12 or more in one vehicle need a special reservation.
  • No walk-ins or bicycles. Buying at the gift shop in person avoids the online service fee.
  • Refunds and exchanges go through Etix, subject to availability.

The event is the gardens’ biggest fundraiser and helps pay for stormwater work protecting Bradley Creek, Airlie says.

Santa at Poplar Grove: Merry & Bright

Poplar Grove, 10200 U.S. Highway 17 in northern New Hanover County, holds its Merry & Bright Festival on weekend evenings, 5 to 9 p.m.: campfires for roasting marshmallows, visits with Santa, a decorated manor house, a juried gift show, a USO letter-writing station, food trucks, drinks, live music “and lights, lights, lights.” Tickets are $10 for all ages. The events page lists the weekends as Nov. 27-29, Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 11-13, with the last stretch Dec. 18-22. Call 910-398-5673.

The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla

The 43rd annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach runs Thanksgiving weekend, according to the flotilla’s site:

  • Friday, Nov. 27: a ticketed kickoff party at 7 p.m. hosted by Bluewater Grill.
  • Saturday, Nov. 28: Day in the Park, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with local arts and crafts vendors, food and kids’ activities; the lighted boat parade starts at 6 p.m., with fireworks after.
  • Sunday, Nov. 29: awards ceremony at 10 a.m.

Holiday shows downtown

Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St., has a holiday lineup on its holidays page:

  • Celtic Angels, an Irish Christmas concert, Monday, Nov. 30, at 4 and 7:30 p.m.
  • Who Brought the Humbug?, an all-ages tap and music show at an ugly-sweater party, Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 4 and 7:30 p.m.
  • The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical, Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker, a shorter, interactive version, Dec. 4-5.
  • It’s a Wonderful Life, Monday, Dec. 21, at 4 and 7:30 p.m.

Colonial Christmas at the Burgwin-Wright House

The Holiday Open House is Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, 224 Market St.: an evening walk through the 1770 house, decorated in Colonial style with fresh greenery, fruit and flowers, with music by Masonboro Parlor, costumed interpreters and crafts for children. Admission is free; donations are welcome. The house is also a Toys for Tots drop-off through December, according to its open house page.

The house and Wilmington Water Tours also run A Colonial Apparition, a river cruise telling a Christmas Eve ghost story from the 1800s, on Saturday, Dec. 5. Adult tickets are $40; book with Wilmington Water Tours at 910-338-3134 (details).

Hanukkah

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4. We will add public menorah lightings in Wilmington when the organizers post them; send yours through our contact page.

What this means for you

  • Set a reminder for Oct. 28: Enchanted Airlie weekends sell out.
  • Flotilla Saturday and parade Sunday are back to back on Thanksgiving weekend.
  • Christmas week trash pickup moves to Wednesday, Dec. 23. See trash and recycling.

Related: Black Friday and holiday shopping, New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving.

Frequently asked questions

When is Enchanted Airlie 2026?

Nov. 27-28 and Dec. 1-21, with entry times from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are sold in advance only, by carload; general sales open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.

How much are Enchanted Airlie tickets?

A carload ticket is $35 and an XL van ticket is $65, plus tax and fees, according to Airlie Gardens. Buying in person at the gift shop avoids the online fees.

Where can kids see Santa in Wilmington?

Poplar Grove’s Merry & Bright Festival includes visits with Santa on weekend evenings from Nov. 27 through Dec. 22. Admission is $10 for all ages.

When is the Wrightsville Beach boat parade in 2026?

The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla boat parade starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, followed by fireworks.

When is the Wilmington Christmas parade?

The city’s Holiday Parade is at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, on Front Street. See our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.