Who’s got a sweet tooth? Any winos out there? Well then you can’t afford to miss this weekend in downtown Wilmington! Regional vintners and chocolatiers will be offering their best for sampling and sale at the Wilmington Wine and Chocolate Festival. The event will kick off on Friday at from 7-10 pm with a Grand Tasting. The Grand Tasting will include an array of mouth-watering heavy hors d’oeuvres to the scintillating sounds of Sharp Nine Jazz Ensemble. This year’s “Featured Artist” is James Nelson, dentist-turned-Artist after becoming legally blind.
The festival will continue through Saturday and Sunday with tasting tours of the best Carolina wineries, sample sweets from the area’s best chocolate producers, plus experience demonstrations, informal talks, raffles and more.
Nothing evokes pleasure more than wine and chocolate. As you revel in the best of the good things in life, take time to appreciate the work of Wilmington’s fine artisans all on the beautiful backdrop of the Cape Fear River. Relax and learn from the experts new ways to enjoy wine and chocolate at a demonstration or informal talk.
Last week we filled you in on the Downtown Sundown Concert Series – a free concert every Friday night on the riverfront. The downtown sundown series is a great way to unwind on a Friday night right in the heart of downtown. But if you’re looking for an event that’s a little bit more laid back you should check out the Airlie Gardens Concert Series.
This Concert Series is held on the beautiful 67 acres of Airlie Gardens, home to formal gardens, wildlife, historic structures, walking trails, sculptures, and the 462-year-old Airlie Oak. Airlie invites you to bring Chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets every 1st and 3rd Friday night from May through September to enjoy the music of local and regional bands in the natural splendor of Airlie Gardens. Every 1st Friday of the month from 6PM until 8PM, Airlie will feature a jazz band and every 3rd Friday bring the family out for some great dance music. Admission for adults is $8 and children get in for $2. Airlie members enjoy these performances free of charge.
So pack a picnic and head over to the gardens with friends and family for a some great music in the breathtaking atmosphere of coastal Carolina nature.
Now that summer is here Downtown Wilmington will kick off its seventh annual Downtown Sundown Concert Series next Friday, May 4. This family friendly event is free to the public and offers a great opportunity to enjoy the riverfront in a whole new way! The season’s first Downtown Sundown Concert features Coconut Groove Band, a band that plays everything from the Beatles and Joni Mitchell to CCR and Widespread Panic.
All shows are held in Riverfront Park, located on North Water Street between Princess and Market Streets and there is always beer, wine, and food for you to enjoy during the concerts. The Downtown sundown concerts will take place each Friday evening from May 4 to August 31 from 6pm-9pm and will host both local and regional bands.
The Downtown Sundown Concert Series is coordinated by Wilmington Downtown, Inc. (WDI). We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the economic growth and development of downtown Wilmington. Funds raised at the event help us accomplish our goals and carry out our mission. For more information about WDI,
So many of you at Compass Pointe are probably new to the bustling beach community of Wilmington, North Carolina and while there is a wealth of things to do here, we want to point you in the direction of some of our favorite activities. Believe it or not we’ve got way more than perfect weather and beautiful landscapes.
One event we want to highlight for you is Fourth Friday Gallery Nights. These are a free monthly event in downtown Wilmington where several galleries, studios and art spaces open their doors to the public in an after-hours celebration of art and culture.
Taking place from 6 to 9pm on the fourth Friday of each month, the Art Walk is a self-guided tour featuring exhibitions of various artistic genres including oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography, wood, metals, ceramics, mixed media and more
I read about Fourth Fridays in several Wilmington “things to do” publications before I actually decided to venture out and attend one of these events. On the website there are a number of galleries listed and I wasn’t sure where to start. I chose to begin at the ACME studio space. I followed the map I printed off the website and found myself winding around the residential streets of the north side of historic downtown. When I reached the spot indicated on my directions I found myself on what would have, on any other night, been a dark residential street. Honestly, on any other night I would have kept driving thinking that I had taken a wrong turn. It was only the multitude of cars that lined the street that hinted I had found my destination. ACME Gallery is discretely located behind a very unassuming metal door, I walked up placing my fingertips on the red metal and gave it a halfhearted push. It swung open to reveal a thriving and inviting community of art lovers, intriguing art, and great snacks! There were around ten rooms of different mediums of art each filled with people ready to discuss and critique the pieces with you. The conversations spilled out into the courtyard and the chill of the evening seemed to fall away in the warm light and friendly conversation (the wine helped). Each of the following galleries offered a similar scene and another welcoming experience. The art, wine, and interesting conversations were endless.
The overall experience was enjoyable and I left with a feeling of fulfillment and community. The Gallery Walks only occur once a month but we suggest setting those three hours aside now so you wont miss them!
Compass Pointe NC 