Happy Friday, Wilmington. In today’s edition: City holiday parade, old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour, holiday gift workshop, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Clarity for complex projects: Cape Fear Development has hired Aubrey Parsley, Wilmington’s former economic development director, as managing director of public-private partnerships to strengthen delivery of community-focused projects across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic — read the full story.

Robotics hub takes shape: Construction continues on Amazon’s 3-million-square-foot fulfillment center and delivery station near the New Hanover-Pender county line, as Pender officials considered $500,000 for utility relocation and Amazon targets fall 2026 — get project updates and timeline.

Highway plan sparks concern: Neighbors packed a hearing on NCDOT’s 1.7-mile Independence Boulevard extension, citing displacement and rising costs. Designs remain unsettled and public comments are open through Jan. 16, 2026 — get all the details.

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.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Explore Colonial Wilmington’s Revolutionary sites
• See Wilmington’s holiday lights by boat
• Celebrate colonial holiday magic at Burgwin-Wright
• Donate toys for Novant Health pediatric patients
• Enjoy Williston alumni’s farewell Christmas concert
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Big weekend event roundup: Southeastern NC’s weekend is stacked with picks. Langston Kerman headlines Dead Crow Friday and Saturday, The Nutcracker and the Old Wilmington By Candlelight Tour return, and Leland in Lights flips on Saturday alongside the Carolina Beach flotilla and a free riverfront drone show. Wilmington’s holiday parade rolls Sunday at 6 p.m. Check out the full lineup.

Counseling group’s next chapter: Wilmington’s Clarity Counseling Center has been acquired by Ohio-based ARC Health Partners. Clients shouldn’t see changes, and founder Karin Kassab stays at the helm. The deal folds Clarity into ARC’s 23-practice, 92-location network, building on Clarity’s rapid growth (Inc. 5000 in 2024) and expanding ARC’s North Carolina footprint. Read more about the acquisition.

Science-meets-suds hideout: Broomtail Craft Brewery pours clean, true-to-style beers in a cozy, family-run space with zero fuss. Feeling creative? The homebrew shop next door stocks the goods, and if you’re easing in, their on-site coffee bar keeps things mellow.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

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.

Today

😂 Comedy Night w/ MT Bottles @ Live at Ted | Friday (12/5) at 8:00pm – Whether you need a laugh after another week of adulting, or just a night out that does not require earplugs, MT Bottles hits Ted’s with sharp, self-deprecating stories of career pivots, romantic misfires, and #GirlDad chaos. Fifteen bucks plus fees, real laughs, zero pretense.

🎸 Blind Dillon @ The Rusty Nail | Friday (12/5) at 8:00pm – Nothing beats live blues in a room that knows a few stories. Blind Dillon is plugging in at The Rusty Nail, the kind of spot where the floorboards keep time and the bartenders remember your drink. Ten bucks at the door, worth every gritty note.

This weekend

🎅 Family Christmas Event @ N Front Theater | Saturday (12/6) at 9:30am – Round up the kids, good spirits, and a little family enthusiasm for a Christmas cabaret by the Wilmington Performing Arts youth at the historic N Front Theatre. Santa photos, sing-along carols, cocoa, candy canes, raffles, and concessions await, plus a silent auction you can join without attending.

🎁 Holiday Gift Workshop @ Cape Fear Museum | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Cape Fear Museum is getting crafty with a holiday workshop where you’ll hammer tin ornaments or wrap soap in wool, then call it handmade. Five bucks covers admission and a program, free for members, with coffee, juice, and cookies. Pre-registration required, kids bring an adult.

🍅 Bloody Mary Bar Crawl @ The Brooklyn Arts District | Saturday (12/6) at 12:00pm – Wilmington’s bars are turning brunch’s most chaotic cocktail into a full-on neighborhood adventure. Grab a voting card at The Eagle’s Dare or Chow Town, then sip your way through the Brooklyn Arts and Grace Street Districts as bartenders show off their wildest Bloody Mary creations. It’s free, it’s flavorful, and it’s the only time you can say you spent the afternoon drinking tomatoes and and yes, it still counts as an accomplishment.

🕯️ Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour @ Latimer House | Sunday (12/7) at 1:00pm – Light up your holiday spirit with the annual candlelit stroll through Old Wilmington’s grand dames. Expect sanctioned snooping, creaky floors, and serious wreath envy, with tickets dropping Labor Day weekend only at latimerhouse.org. It is the good kind of nosy, and very local.

🎈 City of Wilmington Holiday Parade @ Downtown Wilmington | Sunday (12/7) at 6:00pm – The city’s holiday parade takes over Front Street between Walnut and Church, with floats, bands, and enough twinkle to make your neighbor’s yard look subtle. Bring a chair, a thermos, and patience, then enjoy free Sunday metered parking, no quarters required.

💃 Mamma Mania @ Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard | Sunday (12/7) at 7:00pm – Think you still know all the words to Dancing Queen? The country’s busiest ABBA tribute brings dazzling costumes, flawless harmonies, and alumni of the Mamma Mia tour, Queen Extravaganza, and more. Consider it date night for your love for classic pop and harmony-rich hits.

Next week

🤝 Connections Monday @ Cameron Art Museum | Monday (12/8) at 10:30am – Monday at the museum means peace and room to breathe. Connections Monday offers a calm, closed-to-the-public morning for individuals in early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia, with music, adapted tours, and hands-on activities. Free, pre-register, and bring a boxed lunch if you like.

🏆 Pop-Up Shuffleboard Tournament @ The Bend | Tuesday (12/9) at 7:00pm – Whether you bank biscuits or barely hit the kitchen, The Bend’s pop-up shuffleboard tourney rolls on a 23-foot table. Sign up by 6:30 for 7, $10 in, random partners, winners split the pot, cold drinks from The Parlour House, and Grumpy’s soft serve.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 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
• 12/13 Bring Out Yer Dead @ Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern – 7 pm
• 12/14 The Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs @ Biggers Market – 4 pm
• 12/14 Port City Trio @ Live at Ted – 4 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Wilmington edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Daniel A Malechuk (Landmark Sotheby's International Realty)

Freshly renewed in Landfall, this 5-bed, 4.5-bath home pairs modern polish with wide plank white oak, a quiet, private street, and half circle drive. Pond views frame the main living areas. A two story study with fireplace anchors the plan. The kitchen brings quartz, a big island, Viking range, Thermador fridge, and a wet bar.

Main level perks include a guest suite, wine storage, drop zone, powder room, laundry, and dual staircases. Out back, a patio with retractable shade and herb garden meet the pond. Upstairs brings a primary suite, a large bonus, two bedrooms, and a front balcony.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →