Winter things to do in Kure Beach, NC

Seasonal Adventures & Festive Events Await

Milder average temperatures here mean winter is still a great time to get away to Kure Beach. Find holiday events from an aquatic forest of festive trees to decorated floats and lighted boats. Seek out a porch swing by the sea at Ocean Front Park, breathe in the fresh salt air and unwind surrounded by undisturbed natural beauty. Find your Zen with yoga on the beach. Discover activities to enjoy during the winter visitors of all ages will love from exploring the island’s rich history to seeing the local sites.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Wander through North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher's winter waterland at the Cape Fear Festival of Trees through Jan. 1, 2024. Local businesses and artists transform the aquarium into an enchanted oasis with more than 50 decorated Christmas trees. Catch an outdoor showing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas," enjoy family-friendly activities and even meet the Grinch during the Holiday Whoobie Whatty Dec. 15 at Ocean Front Park & Pavilion. Get into the holiday spirit during the annual Christmas Parade in nearby Carolina Beach Dec. 1 and continue celebrations with the Christmas Flotilla, an annual lighted boat parade that illuminates the Intracoastal Waterway Dec. 2.

Holly Jolly Events

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Nov 30

Cape Fear Festival of Trees

November 30, 2023 - January 1, 2024

NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Dec 01

Carolina Beach Christmas Parade

December 1, 2023

Atlanta Avenue down Lake Park Boulevard to Federal Point Shopping Center

Dec 01

Seawitch Café & Tiki Bar Outdoor Music Concert

December 1, 2023 - July 13, 2024

SeaWitch Cafe & Tiki Bar

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Aquarium behind the scenes

Trip Ideas

Tour two of the state's top attractions in our small beach town! Purchase tickets for a behind the scenes tour at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and get a sneak peek inside the aquarium’s backstage access. Then, continue your under-the-sea adventure on a self-guided tour of the aquarium’s regular exhibits and habitats. Visit the site of the Civil War’s largest land-sea battle at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site. Stroll along the scenic trail explore the last remains of the historic fort or step inside the on-site visitor center to see replicas of the blockade runners, timeline of history and more. Make a day-trip to nearby Wilmington to explore more top attractions like Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, where visitors can tour nine levels of the ship including the gun turrets, mess decks, powder storage and more. Or, learn about the area's rich arts, history and culture through interactive exhibits at the Cape Fear Museum of History & Science and Cameron Art Museum.

Basin Trail at Fort Fisher Recreation Area

Explore the Island

Unwind from the hectic holidays surrounded by tranquility and scenic natural beauty. Visit Fort Fisher State Recreation Area to hike the Basin Trail or search for rare seashells and sea stars on a stroll along the protected shoreline. During low tide, explore the rare coquina outcrop, a must-see natural formation comprised of crushed seashells and coral. Only accessible by kayak, canoe, boat or stand up paddleboard, Zeke's Island Reserve is one of the East Coast’s most important shorebird feeding habitats. Spot rare black-bellied plovers, great blue herons and more on a guided tour with Kayak Carolina and explore intertidal flats, salt marshes, dunes and beach. Nearby on the island, hike the Sugarloaf Trail in Carolina Beach State Park to view the Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot sand dune with views of the Cape Fear River. Check out the other eight hiking trails in the park, two of which are wheelchair accessible, to explore more hidden gems within the park’s 761 acres of natural beauty.

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