Events in New Hanover County today

Enjoy a free day of coworking focused on helping you get things done. Complimentary coffee and snacks are provided to keep you energized as you work.

Smart Start's Kaleidoscope Play & Learn offers free weekly sessions for families with children from birth to age 5. All families are welcome, no sign up is needed, and you can start attending at any time. For the schedule and additional details, see the program website.

Haunted Forest brings a pre party and a main event to WalkerWorld Organic Artist Retreat in Castle Hayne, offering a Haunted Trail, live music and immersive experiences across multiple attractions. The pre party features the Haunted Trail, a performance by Heter Pan's Murder Mystery Band and a costume theme of pirates and wenches. One evening is designated as Family Night with free admission for kids. The main event expands the festivities with additional Haunted Trail sessions and performances by Dubtown Cosmonauts, Domocile, Acoustic Possums, Dirty Dead, Tripodacus, $2 Holla, Hyperloops and a Superhero Jam. Additional highlights include Megan Leah, a psychic medium, visual showcases from Bryan Stacy Art and Evol Gene, DJs, jugglers, spinners and side show acts. An outdoor lounge nods to Mystery Science Theatre, and live art sessions feature Zack Weaver, Brian Jones, Pat Briney and Lacey Vilandry. Tickets are required for entry. Options include a pre party ticket at $25 that covers the Haunted Trail, a main event ticket at $50 that includes the Haunted Trail and live entertainment, a $75 main event option that adds a commemorative T-shirt, a $100 pass covering both days and vendor tickets at $25 that permit selling merchandise, goods or services. Vendors who plan to participate both days need two vendor tickets. Lodging passes are available in limited quantities. Event guidelines include no fireworks, no illegal drugs and no weapons. Dogs are not allowed, cats are permitted and costumes are encouraged. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

A weekly Standard-format tournament with Swiss rounds, run by Cape Fear Games, offers structured play and prizes tied to match results. Entry is $8, and store credit is awarded per win, with three-round events paying $5 per victory and four-round events paying $4 per victory. First place receives a special promo card, and any player who finishes undefeated also gets one pack from the most recent Standard-legal set. Only sets that have had a prerelease are considered Standard legal. Entry can be purchased in store, and participants should have a Wizards Eventlink account ready. If a different style of play is preferred, this venue also hosts Modern, Standard, Commander, and Draft each week.

Whiskey Glasses Nashville brings the sound and energy of Morgan Wallen’s biggest hits to the stage. Featuring Adam James with a band of Nashville professional musicians, the show includes fan favorites such as “Whiskey Glasses,” “Last Night,” “You Proof,” and “Thought You Should Know,” alongside more music performed with authentic Nashville musicianship.

ALLEYCVT brings a Halloween show to The Pier at Port City Marina in Wilmington, NC. A discount code, becka10, is available for tickets.

Celebrating 23 years, this Wilmington tradition brings a lively open-air marketplace filled with local flavor. On Saturdays, browse seasonal produce, pasture-raised meats, farm eggs, local honey, roasted coffee, chocolates, and fresh-baked breads, muffins, and cakes. Find small-batch jams and salsas, then explore distinctive, handcrafted goods from local artisans, so every visit offers something new to discover. Admission is free, and leashed pets are welcome. With appreciation to Cumulus Media and Excite Credit Union.

At Hotel Ballast in Wilmington, North Carolina, PokeKon Fest brings a new all Pokemon show for all ages, featuring voice actors, vendors, and artists, plus panels, trivia, and retro, video game, and cosplay contests.

Meet adoptable pets at Paws in the Park. Apply in advance if you hope to take a pet home that same day.

Set sail for a casual One Piece Card Game tournament featuring Standard format with Swiss rounds. The entry fee is $8 and can be purchased in store, and a Bandai account is required to play. Everyone who enters receives an OP Tournament Pack. Store credit is awarded for each match win, with $5 per win when the event runs three rounds or $4 per win when it runs four. Any undefeated X-0 finish earns one pack from the most recent Standard set, and first place also takes home an OP Winner Pack. For Standard play, only sets that have had a prerelease are eligible.

Explore Wilmington's darker chapters on a tour that shares infamous, unusual, and startling true crime stories. Learn about spying in the 1940s, murders that trace back to the city's tumultuous 1840s, and other accounts that reveal a lesser-known side of local history.

Experience a Magic: The Gathering Commander tournament that lets you choose your pace. Pick a relaxed, social pod or compete in a winner-takes-all setting. Matches are played in 4-player pods with single-elimination. Entry is $7. In casual pods, every participant receives a $5 store credit coin, and the last player standing also earns two pulls from the promo card library. Registration is handled in store, and a Wizards Eventlink account is required.

Dark, decadent romance arrives in Wilmington, NC as the second annual romantasy ball returns with a moodier twist, trading polite society for secrets, locked-away fortunes, and hints of forbidden love. The Elia becomes a world of vendors, attending authors, dancing, live entertainment, food, and imaginative fantasy touches that infuse the celebration with a sense of magic. Guests can lean into a gothic, Bridgerton-inspired aesthetic with elegant gowns and sparkling jewels to match the tone. Ticket holders receive a formal invitation that also serves as entry, including a chance to choose one of five courts to pledge allegiance to. What happens after that choice remains a secret until arrival, preserving the intrigue that defines this Burning Pages experience.

The Rusty Nail hosts a Halloween rock bash with a costume contest awarding prizes for first, second, and third place. Performances by local bands BURNPIT and Ghostlite set the soundtrack for the party. Admission is free. Enjoy event themed concoctions and cold beverages while spending time with friends and fellow rock fans. Costumes of all kinds are welcome. Pets and weapons are not allowed.

The Climbing Film Tour presents a collection of short films celebrating the global climbing community. Selected from submissions around the world, the films feature climbing, storytelling, and adventure, with themes of inspiration and determination. The program includes Les Passagers du Vide and the Treasure of the Aravis Gate, Climb Together, Beauty in a Fall, Keep Going, and La Rubia.

Celebrate Halloween at Seawitch Tiki Bar and come scare Tina.

Mark fifteen years with a casual day centered on fishing, sunshine, and good times. Enjoy a welcoming setting with plenty of chances to meet new friends.

Backspin Social in Wilmington, NC features free World Tavern Poker No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournaments that welcome both newcomers and seasoned players. Run through the largest bar poker league in the United States, these events have no buy-in and involve no gambling. Players earn points toward local, regional, and national rankings with chances to qualify for championship events and compete for major prizes. Expect a friendly setting where participants can sharpen their skills and connect with fellow poker enthusiasts.

The Wild Goose hosts weekly pool tournaments featuring 8-ball on Sundays and 9-ball on Wednesdays. Entry is $10, and the house boosts the winnings by matching half of the prize pool.

Take part in a Kundalini yoga practice honoring Día de los Muertos, guided by Bridger. The class is designed to support connection with ancestors, angels, and spirit guides. Herbal tea will be offered upon arrival, followed by a grounding and clearing Kundalini Kriya. Participants are encouraged to bring a photo or keepsake of a loved one for the community altar. The practice focuses on remembrance, healing, personal growth, and spiritual connection. Drop-in admission is $25, with a 10% discount for monthly members.

Stop by the farmers market to find Wagyu beef and Berkshire pork, both raised in North Carolina. It’s a chance to stock up on flavorful local offerings, whether you live nearby or are passing through.

Smart Start’s free Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups welcome families with children ages 0–5. Families can take part in weekly gatherings, and no pre-registration is required.

Trask Middle School hosts an evening of hands-on STEAM activities throughout the building. The PTA will raffle over three skip-the-drop-off-line spots and an outdoor Connect 4 game, and will sell Texas Roadhouse gift cards and individual Attractions book coupons. Food trucks will be on site, including Frontier To Go, LVL UP Coffee Truck, and Taqueria Del Valle.

Enjoy a social hour for Silent Book Club at Paloma’s. There’s no need to bring a book, though you’re welcome to bring one if you like. Margaritas are available for $6, and food is available for purchase. Please RSVP so the group can plan how many seats to save.

Take part in a Star Wars: Unlimited tournament using your own constructed deck. Players compete in up to three Swiss rounds of best-of-three matches, earning $5 in store credit for each match win. Every participant receives a three-card Organized Play Pack featuring alternate versions of cards, and an undefeated player earns a pack from the most recent Standard set.

Bring your Modern deck for a weekly Magic: The Gathering tournament featuring Swiss play capped at three rounds. Entry is $8, with store credit added to the prize pool for each participant and distributed based on record. Undefeated players also earn a pack from the most recent Standard set.

Test your Lorcana deck in friendly competition with Swiss rounds using the Standard format, capped at three rounds. Players of all experience levels can take part. Participation prizes include two random promos, and players earn $5 in store credit for each match win. Undefeated players receive a pack from the most recent Standard set, and first place receives a pin and a promo card. Sets must have had a prerelease event to qualify as Standard. Entry is $8.

Experience twilight yoga with Terra Sol Sanctuary in the Gator Garden at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. This 60 minute Vinyasa style class is led by Alexis Abbate, inviting participants to explore breath, alignment, and movement at a comfortable pace. Optional, consent based hands on assists from Roxanne Krummenacher are available to support awareness, ease, and connection in each pose. All levels are welcome. After class, a local social features wine, zero proof sips, personal grazing boards, and shopping with vendors including Cake By Avah, Queen Esthers Tea, Love LaLa, and Wolfe’s Melting Pot.

Cape Fear Games’ Riftbound TCG Nexus Nights feature constructed play in Swiss rounds, capped at three rounds. Players bring a deck and compete for participation prizes, including a Nexus Night Pack, and prizes added to the pool per player, paid to winning records. Undefeated players earn a pack from the most recent Standard set. The event welcomes both newcomers to Riftbound and players looking to refine their competitive play.

Draft cards from packs of the latest MTG Standard set and build a ready-to-play deck for three 45-minute Swiss rounds. The $20 entry fee can be paid in store. Players with X-0 and X-1 records receive payouts, and 1.5 Play Boosters per drafter in each pod go into the prize pool. Winners also receive pins that can be traded in for prizes.

Take the mic for an open night of singing, strumming, telling jokes, or sharing your questionable life choices. Performers of all kinds are welcome to step up and share.

Enjoy a lively round of Music Bingo featuring music, prizes, and drink specials.

Visitors are welcome to explore the CIE, where staff can offer facility tours, answer questions about CIE or UNCW, and connect visitors with programs and ecosystem partners. Entrepreneurs can also take advantage of free coworking. The event is open to entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty, staff and students, and anyone interested in learning more about CIE. Admission is free, and registration is not required.

Build core strength and improve posture in Laurie Wood’s “Ageless” Pilates class, designed for adults and seniors. Class includes a standing range-of-motion warm-up, basic Pilates mat sequences, stretching, conditioning, breathing, and post-rehabilitation exercises. Exercise balls, light weights, or TheraBands may be used to support balance, deeper stretches, and added challenges. The class is gentle and beginner-friendly, with enjoyable options for experienced students, and no prior experience is needed. Wear comfortable exercise attire and bring a mat if possible. A limited number of mats are available to borrow. No sign-up or registration is required, and you pay only for the classes you attend. Drop-in and multi-class punch card payment options are available, and punch cards can be used for all adult classes.

Explore the artworks on view across the museum’s multiple exhibits during a guided public tour led by a knowledgeable tour guide. The tour is free with museum admission.

This annual fall consignment event focuses on kids and holiday gifting, offering a wide range of apparel and everyday essentials at budget-friendly prices. Expect bargains for infants, children, juniors, and maternity, including clothing, shoes, accessories, toys, books, bedding, sports gear, games, outdoor equipment, furniture, decor, and more. The selection covers all seasons and occasions, with items that are new, like-new, and gently used. It is a convenient place to find stocking stuffers, grab bags, Secret Santa surprises, and swap gifts. Public sale days offer free admission. An early shopping period provides complimentary entry for new parents, foster and adoptive parents, grandparents, teachers, military, and first responders. Early access is also available with a donation valued at $10 in products or cash to the Diaper Bank of NC, and each donation admits two adults. Children are always admitted free. Free parking is available across from the church, and accessible parking is offered in the adjacent lot.

Smart Start facilitates Circle of Parents programs for parents and caregivers of children ages 0–8. Families share a meal before children take part in their group and parents begin their discussions. Older siblings are welcome, and there is no cost to participants.

Explore captivating stories and epic quests during a role-playing game night led by hand-picked Game Masters. It offers a chance to find a group or try a fresh game, with gaming tools and a library provided. Players need to sign up online in advance, and the entry fee supports the Game Master.

Take part in a billiards tournament featuring 8-ball play on Sundays and 9-ball play on Wednesdays. The buy-in is $10, and half of the prize pot is matched.

Enjoy a locally run comedy showcase featuring local and touring comedians. The show is free and held at Waterline Brewing Company.