Happy Tuesday, Wilmington. In today’s edition: The Nutcracker, Holiday Lights River Cruise, Sensory Sunday, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

A coastal tradition for families: Wrightsville Beach’s NC Holiday Flotilla kicked off the Christmas spirit with a parade of decorated boats. Josh Reda won Best in Show amid themes from the Grinch to aliens — see who won best in show.

Cheers for a cause: Broomtail Brewing will host Pints for Paws on December 17 from 4 to 8 p.m., donating proceeds to Seaside Animal Rescue, featuring food truck, Grinch photos, and pet supply collection — learn how you can help.

High-tech fix or risk: Engineers pitched turning New Hanover County landfill trash into fuel through gasification as staff remained skeptical and commissioners decided to seek wider proposals amid concerns over landfill lifespan — learn what’s on the table.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.

Highlights this week

• Experience A Charlie Brown Christmas live
• Interact with WWII living history aboard Battleship
• Explore historic downtown Wilmington by candlelight
• Celebrate downtown at the holiday parade
• Experience Johnnyswim’s soulful Christmas tour
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals

🫶 We got your back

Community Q&A on transit: Wave Transit is hosting a public meeting on proposed route changes on Dec. 3, 4 to 6 p.m., at Padgett Station. Staff will present updates and take questions. The tweaks follow its January 2025 system redesign, which changed four routes to improve reliability. Get all the details.

Furry fame awaits pups: paws4people is taking nominations for its 2026 Dog of the Year through Jan. 1. Enter with a favorite photo, a $10 donation, and a short statement in your dog’s voice. The winner lands on a limited-run Wrightsville Beach Brewery beer label, $500 cash, and more. Open nationwide. Prizes ship. See how to nominate.

Big burrito energy: Craving a hearty, no-fuss dinner? Burrito Shak delivers build-your-own burritos with coastal Baja vibes, house-made salsas, grilled proteins, and crisp add-ons. It’s quick, customizable, and likely to turn “just one more” into a weeknight habit.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🎉 Season of Celebration @ Wilson Center | Wednesday (12/3) at 7:00pm – Think your holiday playlist has range? Try 75 years of Wilmington Choral Society at the Wilson Center, mixing sacred and secular, Berlin to Handel, Sugar Plum to Ose Shalom, plus Bridge Over Troubled Water. Big voices, bigger nostalgia, without the usual holiday playlist overload.

🧘 Senior Fitness Classes @ Maides Park | Thursday (12/4) at 10:30am – Gentle movement, light weights, and a splash of yoga come together for a feel-good workout designed for adults 55+. The Sherriedale Morgan Fitness Center team keeps things approachable, encouraging, and tailored for all ability levels. It’s the perfect mid-morning boost to stay active, limber, and connected.

☘️ Seán Heely’s “Celtic Christmas” @ Thalian Hall | Thursday (12/4) at 7:30pm – If your holiday playlist is stuck on the same three crooners, upgrade to Celtic Christmas with award-winning fiddler Seán Heely. Expect ancient carols, lively jigs and reels, soulful ballads, and an ensemble of players and dancers that turns December from mall music to hearth magic.

🚢 Holiday Lights River Cruise @ Wilmington Water Tours | Friday (12/5) at 5:30pm – Holiday Lights River Cruise is gliding along the Cape Fear with city views, local musicians, and a proper bar, because you deserve twinkle lights without the traffic. Enclosed and cozy, it’s perfect for cocktails, sweet treats, and impressing the visiting relatives.

🎶 Fireside Collective @ Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – Call it bluegrass if you must, but these Asheville pickers mix folk, blues, funk, and harmonies that make purists smile and toe-tappers sweat. Fireside Collective is a MerleFest-winning quintet, road tested, and downright fun. Bring your ears, your friends, and an appetite for pickin’.

This weekend

🏛️ Guided History Tour @ Airlie Gardens | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Trade your errands for a guided stroll through Airlie Gardens, where history, horticulture, and ecology get equal airtime. It is included with your membership, just register ahead and sign in online, then enjoy scenery, smug plant ID moments, and steps your smartwatch will respect.

🎤 6th Annual Roast to benefit Weekends with Warriors @ Seven Mile Post | Saturday (12/6) at 1:00pm – Nothing beats Seven Mile Post’s 6th Roast at the Post, where Stump Sound Singles meet cold drinks and Paige Bacon on the soundtrack. Proceeds support Weekends With Warriors, so you can shuck, sip, and support a great cause while you enjoy the day. Tickets are $50 cash at the bar.

👻 A Christmas “Colonial Apparition” River Cruise @ Wilmington Water Tours | Saturday (12/6) at 3:30pm – Climb aboard for Wilmington’s only Christmas ghost story on the Cape Fear, paired with holiday spirits from a full bar. The tale’s set on Christmas Eve, you’ll drift past history, meet a couple of Revolutionary War guests, and stay cozy in a heated, enclosed catamaran.

🩰 The Nutcracker @ Wilson Center | Saturday (12/6) at 7:00pm – Holiday season at the Wilson Center means one thing, Tchaikovsky, twirling snowflakes, and that uncle who thinks he’s Drosselmeyer. City Ballet brings the full treatment with City Ballet Orchestra and Cape Fear Chorale, gorgeous costumes, and nostalgia. It’s tradition you actually want to sit through.

🧘 Sensory Sunday @ The Children’s Museum of Wilmington | Sunday (12/7) at 10:00am – If your kid prefers calm over chaos, this is the move. Wilmington’s children’s museum offers sensory friendly hours on select Sunday mornings with fewer guests, softer lights and sounds, adjusted exhibits, extra visual cues, and calming spaces. Remember peace and quiet? They have that.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/4 Dubtown Cosmonauts and more @ Bowstring Burgers- 7 pm
• 12/6 Client Appreciation Evening @ New Elements Gallery – 5 pm
• 12/6 Flannel Rebellion @ Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern – 8 pm
• 12/8 Bryan Bielanski @ The Barzarre – 6 pm
• 12/10 Alonzo Bodden @ Dead Crow Comedy – 7 pm
• 12/10 Laura McLean’s Songwriter Showcase @ Live at Ted’s – 7 pm
• 12/11 North Carolina Symphony @ Wilson Center – 3 pm
• 12/11 Johnnyswim @ Kenan Auditorium – 7 pm
• 12/13 Nightrain @ Bowstring Brewyard – 6 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Tory Kuehner (Compass Carolinas LLC)

White-brick cottage flair meets modern polish in this 3-bed, 3.5-bath Bishops Park stunner. Refinished oak floors lead to a chef’s zone with bespoke shaker cabinets, marquina quartz, GE Café appliances, Bosch 800 dishwasher, concealed microwave, and a built-in bench with teak pantry shelving. The primary suite adds quartzite, a Toto Washlet, and a zero-entry marble Thassos shower with dual rain heads.

Outside, a covered deck, screened porch, outdoor shower, irrigation, and paver patio set the scene. A detached two-car garage adds a finished flex space. Community perks include a waterfront picnic area, private ramp, and pier to the Intracoastal.

Take a peek inside →