Family events in Leland, NC

Cool off at Water Works at the Fit for Fun Center. The outdoor playground becomes a water-filled play space perfect for staying comfortable in the sun. Enjoy splashy activities and plenty of laughs, plus a cool ice pop. Pre-registration is required.

Enjoy a sunny weekend of local shopping and entertainment at the Wilmington Summer Market & Festival. You can browse handmade crafts, jewelry, fashion, home décor, and specialty products from area vendors, plus grab tasty food from food vendors. The festival also features live tunes and family-friendly activities, all set along Wilmington’s scenic riverfront.

Smart Start offers free Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups for families with children from birth to age five. These weekly gatherings are open to all families and do not require advance registration.

At the Wilson Center, The Oak Ridge Boys present their Celebrating Route 66 tour, showcasing the quartet’s trademark four-part harmonies and an upbeat setlist. For more than five decades they have shaped a distinctive sound behind dozens of country favorites and two crossover pop hits, earning recognition that includes Grammy, Dove, CMA, and ACM awards. This all-ages performance offers family-friendly entertainment from one of country music’s most enduring groups.

Explore the Burgwin-Wright House after dark with a candlelit tour that brings Colonial evenings to life. Interpreters share customs, superstitions, and nightly routines from an era before electricity and other modern comforts. Admission is $25, plus tax. Capacity is limited, so advance booking is required. To reserve, call (910) 762-0570; email reservations are not accepted.

Experience the Riverfront Farmers Market, a Wilmington tradition spanning 23 years. Browse a vibrant mix of fresh produce from local farms, pasture raised meats, farm eggs, local honey, freshly roasted coffee, chocolates, artisan breads, muffins, cakes, jams, salsa, and more. Talented local artisans share distinctive handmade goods, so there is always something new to discover. Admission is free, and leashed pets are welcome. Thanks go to Cumulus Media and Excite Credit Union.

Holy Cross hosts its 2nd annual Back-to-School Wellness Fair, a rain or shine community event designed to support local families as a new school year approaches. Visitors can connect with New Hanover County Health and Human Services for SAFE Kids resources, social services, and community nutrition guidance. New Hanover County Fire and Rescue will share fire safety information and conduct car seat checks, while the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office will present Crime Awareness and Prevention programs that include anti-bullying and Stranger Danger, along with the Elements youth violence intervention program and insights from School Resource Officers. Novant Health’s Community Care Cruiser will offer RemarkableYou screenings with no-cost blood pressure, cholesterol, and pre-diabetes checks for people ages 18 and over. Cub Scout Pack 205 will be on site, and the Wilmington Lions Club will provide free vision screenings.

Explore Wilmington’s World War II story on a tour that explains how the city earned recognition as the nation’s first World War II Heritage City. Learn how shipbuilding, chemical manufacturing, and other wartime efforts turned it into a boomtown. Hear about downtown quarters that hosted soldiers and sailors before they shipped out, along with the long-circulated rumor of a German bombardment that reached the U.S. mainland. The tour spotlights preserved sites and homefront stories that illuminate Wilmington’s role in the war.

SkyWatch Bird Rescue offers limited public visitation during the summer, with access to the front pasture where visitors may pet and feed a friendly herd of donkeys. Admission is $10 per person or one item from the wishlist. Activities are weather dependent, and visitation will not take place during rain.

At Cape Fear ArtXchange, a weekly art market welcomes local artists and creatives to present handmade, vintage, and upcycled goods. Booth space for sellers is free, and spots are assigned on a first come basis. The market sets up under the pavilion behind the shop.

Pokémon League play invites competitors to face opponents in their age group in a Standard format event that uses Swiss rounds with best-of-one matches. Entry is $8 and is purchased in store. Each participant receives a POP Pack, and store credit is awarded for every match win, with three round events paying $5 per win and four round events paying $4 per win. Players who finish undefeated earn one pack from the most recent Standard set. For Standard legality, sets must have had a prerelease.

Celebrate the end of summer with a week filled with exploration, creativity, and hands-on activities at Camp CMoW. Each day introduces a new theme that highlights The Children’s Museum of Wilmington, ranging from art and STEM to literacy. Through hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and creative projects, curiosity is sparked and built upon daily. The week concludes with a special field trip for a memorable finale. A single day option is available.

Smart Start's free Kaleidoscope Play & Learn group welcomes families with children ages 0 to 5 at New Hanover County Public Library. These groups meet weekly, and no pre-registration is required. All families are welcome.

CFG's Goblin Guild is a weekly Dungeons and Dragons campaign for kids. This collaborative storytelling adventure is led by an in-house Dungeon Master, while players guide the plot and shape each session. It welcomes all experience levels and participants up to age 14. The campaign is designed for ongoing play from week to week, and players can also drop in. To keep the experience focused, each week is capped at seven players so everyone has time to shine. Entry fee is $15.

A public, guide-led tour is included with museum admission, offering an engaging walk through multiple exhibits. A knowledgeable guide shares insights and context to help visitors discover more about the artworks on view. For accessibility questions or concerns, contact Georgia Mastroieni, Deputy Director of Operations, at (910) 726-9492 or georgia@cameronartmuseum.org.

Discover a large seasonal consignment sale centered on children and families, filled with budget-friendly finds. Browse clothing for infants, children, and teens, plus maternity pieces, along with shoes, accessories, toys, books, games, crafts, bedding and decor, furniture, sports equipment, strollers, car seats, outdoor gear, and more. Items come from multiple individual consignors, creating a wide variety of inventory and plentiful deals, and every purchase supports local families and a small family business while encouraging reuse. It is a timely stop for back-to-school outfits from basics to boutique styles, Halloween costumes, early holiday gifts and stocking stuffers, gently loved books for a classroom library, and replacement swimwear for growing kids. Early shopping is available with free admission for new parents including those expecting or with a baby under one, foster and adoptive parents, grandparents, teachers, military, and first responders. Early entry is also offered with a donation valued at $10 or more in products or cash for the Diaper Bank of NC, which covers admission for two adults, and children are always admitted free. Admission to the public sale is free. Parking is convenient, with ample space across the street and handicap permit parking next to the building.

Smart Start offers Circle of Parents gatherings in the Wilmington community for caregivers of young children, including groups for families with children from birth to age eight and for those raising children with special needs up to age twelve. Families share a meal together first, then children head to a dedicated kids group while parents take part in supportive discussions. Parents, guardians, and other caregivers are welcome, and older siblings may attend as well. There is no cost to participate.

A playdate at the Long Leaf Park Splash Pad follows Stroller Strides.