Holiday Things to Do

Ring in the Holidays at Kure Beach, NC

Celebrate the holidays by the sea with a relaxing getaway to Kure Beach. Experience the Island of Lights activities and spend time off the beaten path with an outdoor adventure on the island’s unspoiled coastline. Enjoy glad tidings all season long in our merry little beach town!

Island of Lights

RING IN THE SEASON

See the island come alive at the month-long Island of Lights Festival, celebrating the start of the Christmas season with the Lighting of the Lake at nearby Carolina Beach Lake Park. Stroll along the lake’s enchanting one-mile trail of Christmas lights and displays. Then get in the holiday spirit at the Christmas Parade, featuring cheerful holiday floats with special guests Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Continue your celebration with the Christmas Flotilla, a coastal twist on a classic holiday tradition, as the annual lighted boat parade illuminates the Intracoastal Waterway. Visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher throughout the season for festive, family-friendly activities, like Cape Fear Festival of Trees and more under-the-sea fun.

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Basin Trail at Fort Fisher Recreation Area

A Sandy & Bright Escape

Get away from the rush of the holidays and escape outdoors to Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, part of the North Carolina State Parks system. Hike the Basin Trail or search for keyhole urchins or sea stars on a leisurely stroll of the beach, or try to spot one of the endangered coastal creatures like pelicans or blue herons. Nearby on the island, hike the 50-foot sand dune on the Sugarloaf Trail in Carolina Beach State Park, where more than 5,000 troops camped during the Civil War. Be sure to check out the eight other trails, two of which are wheelchair accessible, to further explore the park’s 761 acres of natural beauty.

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New Year's Eve fireworks

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Say goodbye to the old year and ring in the new with the Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Celebration, featuring a festive beach ball drop at midnight, a DJ, dancing, refreshments, party favors and more. This free family-friendly event alternates locations each year between Kure Beach (at Ocean Front Park) and nearby Carolina Beach (at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk). Celebrate the holiday season and beyond with off the beaten path adventures in Kure Beach.

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