Hampstead
Hampstead, NC · Local Life
WECT
Mark your calendar: Southport Springfest set for April
SOUTHPORT, N.C. (WECT) - Southport Springfest is set to return this April for a full day of community celebration. The festival will feature live music, handmade arts and crafts, children’s activities, plant sales and local food vendors. Attendees can enjoy live musical entertainment throughout the day, along with a...
WECT
NC Coastal Federation to remove lost fishing gear in Brunswick County
The N.C. Coastal Federation is continuing to remove lost fishing gear and crab pots from coastal waters, with crews to begin work searching in Brunswick County.
wilmingtonncmagazine.com
Finding Light in the Trees
Elizabeth Sheats’ journey from interior design to Azalea Festival artist is shaped by loss, hope, and Wilmington’s live oaks. Elizabeth Sheats grew up in Wilmington looking forward to the North Carolina Azalea Festival each spring. She watched the parade, wandered the street fair and, years later, stood among the Azalea Belles as a high school student. In 2026, she returns to the festival in a new role — one that feels both full circle and deeply personal — as the event’s commissioned artist.
WECT
Slightly Stoopid bringing “Road Trippin’ Summer Tour” to Wilmington
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Rock band Slightly Stoopid is coming to Live Oak Bank Pavilion in Wilmington this summer. The band is set to perform on Thursday, Aug. 20, as part of their “Road Trippin’ Summer Tour”. They will be joined by special guests The Elovaters and...
wilmingtonncmagazine.com
A Local Platform for Black Films that Turned into a Destination Event
The North Carolina Black Film Festival returns this spring for its 23rd year. We’re living in a time where diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are being dramatically scaled back, and Black history is literally being erased from public exhibits and educational materials. That makes events such as the upcoming 23rd North Carolina Black Film Festival, to be held here in Wilmington, May 1-3, more vital than ever. It’s sponsored by the nonprofit Black Arts Alliance that, according to its website, is a multidisciplinary vehicle for the advancement of African-American arts and culture.
islands.com
Wilmington's 5 Best Locally-Loved Restaurants Within Walking Distance Of The Riverwalk, According To Reviews
Wilmington is no stranger to the finer things in life — be they blockbuster movie franchises (earning it the name of "Hollywood East"), or high quality, creative cuisine, expressed across its many eateries. There's a reason why heaps of Hollywood stars populate some of its highest-rated restaurants downtown, or indeed why Wilmington's charming Riverwalk is known as America's best riverfront walk. Stretching for one mile parallel to South 3rd Street and the historic district, Riverwalk is not just a pleasant walking spot, it also offers a slice of local cuisine, with more than 40 independent local restaurants, cafes, and lively pubs.
Star News
14 recent restaurant, bar openings and closings in the Wilmington area
In recent weeks, the Wilmington area has seen more changes in the booming hospitality and restaurant scene. It’s been a busy time for Brunswick County in particular, with more coffee, a riverside tavern, and big brands opening their doors there. In New Hanover County, we’re seeing more ramen and a buzzed-about sandwich spot. The area has also seen some high-profile restaurants close recently, including two of the area’s most unique restaurants -- one serving vegan fare and another focusing on exotic meats. Here’s a look at some of those openings and closings. Let us know if there’s something we should add to the list by emailing aballard@usatodayco.com. More: 10 buzzworthy restaurants that opened in the Wilmington area in 2025 Restaurant openings Salty Cow A new riverside tavern concept has opened in the former Smoke’d location in Shallotte, which closed in January. Look for a menu of shareables, wraps, bowls, and sandwiches, as well as full selection of sushi served at 4812 Main St. Southport Coffee Co. Boliva This Brunswick County coffee brand has recently expanded to include a location in Bolivia. It’s now open at 4309 E. U.S. 17 for drive-thru and walk-up service. Palouse A new coffee shop started
allamericanatlas.com
5 Best Burger Spots in Wilmington that Locals Rave About
Wilmington, NC is better known for seafood and riverfront dining, but locals have serious opinions on where to get a top‑tier burger. These are the names that keep popping up. 1. Winnie’s Tavern. Ask anyone who grew up in Wilmington where to get a great burger and “Winnie’s”...
WECT
Wilmington Symphony Orchestra to hold concert with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra is set to host Classical Connections, a performance featuring Emmy-nominated artist Tiff Merritt. The Saturday concert will include works from composers with varied backgrounds, including Ludwig van Beethoven, a composer from Brooklyn and a composer from New Zealand. “We’re doing incredible work...
WWAY NewsChannel 3
Taking a look at the color and art of Minnie Evans
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– “She did it passionately everyday of her life as a need to create,” said September Krueger, Curator of Education and Public Programs at Cameron Arts Museum. Amazing and beautiful, those are just a few words that people say when seeing the colorful art of...
WWAY NewsChannel 3
Cape Fear Hooley returns under the bridge this weekend
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Cape Fear Hooley Under the Bridge will return this weekend, bringing live Irish music, dancing and family-friendly activities to Waterline Brewing in Wilmington. The ninth annual Hooley is scheduled for Saturday Feb. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 721 Surry Street. The...
WECT
Hooley Under the Bridge returns to Waterline Brewing for ninth year
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Waterline Brewing Company hosted the ninth annual Hooley Under the Bridge on Saturday, bringing Irish music, dancing, and community spirit to the Cape Fear region. The event opened with a traditional piper, followed by a performance from Banna. Irish dancers and the band Nine Times Around...
WWAY NewsChannel 3
Franklin Square Gallery in Southport celebrates fifty years of fine art
SOUTHPORT, N.C. (WWAY) — The Franklin Square Gallery in Southport is celebrating 50 years of exhibiting fine art. To commemorate this achievement, the Associated Artists of Southport (“AAS”) are inviting new pieces of art and new artists to join the association, and the gallery. There will be...
Star News
A top-rated sandwich shop opens new Wilmington-area location
A popular sandwich shop, recently dubbed as one of the best in the country by Yelp , is expanding. The Half opened a second North Carolina location in Wrightsville Beach on Feb. 24. Andrew Dennison, Carl Cross, Dean Moore and Charles Fogg renovated and moved into a former Subway space at 7110 Wrightsville Ave., beside Brent’s Bistro restaurant. Look for a light-and-bright dining area with counter service, family style high-tops, and two-tops by the windows. “We wanted it to have the feel and the flow of the original,” Dennison said. The group opened their first location at 510 1/2 Red Cross St. in downtown Wilmington in 2022. It’s grown in popularity since then, and landed on Yelp’s Top 100 Sandwich Shops compilation in 2025. More: This Wilmington sandwich shop is one of the best in the country, according to Yelp STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the area’s latest food news by signing up for the Port City Foodies newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram . “It’s a labor of love,” Dennison said. “We believe in doing simple things really well.” To start, the new location will offer the same menu of warm and cold sandwiches and sides as
WilmingtonBiz
In Iconic Building, A Coming Attraction: A Film-themed Restaurant
A new film- and TV-themed restaurant is set to take shape in the former Rose Ice & Coal building on Market Street in Wilmington. The restaurant, called the Hollywood East Brewseum, will celebrate the movies and TV shows filmed in Wilmington, said Tyler Christensen, who’s spearheading the project. Christensen said he expects construction to begin in the coming weeks, with an opening slated for late summer.
WWAY NewsChannel 3
Wilmington chef Dean Neff honored at statewide hospitality awards
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington chef and restaurant owner Dean Neff received statewide recognition Monday night at the 2026 Stars of the Industry Awards, honoring leadership and community service within North Carolina’s hospitality industry. Neff, owner and chef of Seabird in Wilmington, was presented with the Ken Conrad...
decorhint.com
North Carolina’s Best-Kept Diner Secret You Can Visit This Weekend
Some of the best meals happen at places locals protect like a secret recipe. This Oak Island dining wonder delivers that authentic breakfast-all-day magic where portions overflow the plate, and service feels like visiting family. Tucked between beach roads and coastal charm, this spot draws weekend crowds who know good...
Star News
A fun stage farce has 'One Slight Hitch,' plus your Wilmington weekend
There's nothing like a door-slamming stage farce, and Brunswick Little Theatre is staging a fun one at its cozy Southport facility through Sunday, March 8. Written by the North Carolina comic and actor Lewis Black, who's known for his stage rants and for supplying the voice of Anger in the "Inside Out" movies, "One Slight Hitch" starts with a chaotic 1980s wedding day and amps up the chaos when the bride's ex-boyfriend randomly shows up to the nuptials. Under the direction of Rosina Whitfield, BLT's cast scores several legit laughs, although some flat performances don't always give form to Black's rapid-fire humor. Still, Carol McConnell is nicely unhinged as the bride's antic mother, Delia, who reminds her beleaguered husband, Doc, endearingly played by Robert Larson, to be sure to put out TaB diet soda "for the diabetic side of your family." Xavia Paul is well-cast as the bride's innocent little sister, PB, with Lydia Folckomer doing solid work as the bride's free-spirited, tipsy sister Melanie. Black makes some interesting observations about how the meaning of marriage is different for different generations, and the playwright brings thing home for a sweet, if predictable, happy ending. Rough going at times, but all