Christmas Events at Carolina Beach and Kure Beach

When you’re booking one of the many lovely Carolina Beach rentals for December, take note of all the holiday festivities that will be happening on the beach. There will be plenty to do, and here are our picks for the merriest Christmas events at Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.

Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla

One must-see is the Island of Lights Christmas flotilla. Sailors adorn their ships with Christmas lights along the Intracoastal Waterway and sail from Snows Cut to the boat basin at Carolina Beach and back. They’re competing for prizes, but the main goal is to evoke the holiday spirit.

This flotilla happens the second Saturday after Thanksgiving (December 7^th, 2019) and starts at 6 PM. It’s a family-friendly event, so bring the kids along! In fact, kids tend to love this event and are enchanted by the luminous flotilla as it goes by. Watch as all the boats pass along the waterway and stay until the judges announce the winner. The winner gets several hundred dollars, so you had better believe that local boat owners are going to go all-out on the décor!

Christmas by the Sea

Each year, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk gets lit up every night for several weeks during the holiday season. This year’s event starts November 30th and runs through December 14th. It starts at 6:30 PM and goes until 8:30 PM – weather permitting. Oh, and it’s totally free to get in! Since it is a free event, expect it to be a busy one, so you might want to get there early in order to do all the activities you want.

There will be activities, vendors, and – of course – Santa Claus and his merry elves. Get your kids (and yourself) some cookies and hot chocolate, roast marshmallows over an open fire, and decorate some holiday ornaments. You can hear some of your favorite holiday stories recited by locals who come out to volunteer their time at this beautiful event.

Island of Lights Holiday Tour of Homes

As much as you might be tempted to stay in the pool of one of our amenity-loaded, pet-friendly rentals, getting out to see the Island of Lights Holiday Tour of Homes is a ‘must’! Who doesn’t want to be welcomed into the beautifully decorated homes by their owners during the holiday season? Not only can you see their homes and share some holiday treats, but you just might end up making some wonderful new friends.

This tour is self-guided, so go about it at your own leisure during its running time. Just take note that it is a one-day event that happens on the third Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, that day is December 14, and the event runs from 5 PM to 9 PM. Grab your tickets from different Pleasure Island establishments, including Christmas Store and The Checkered Church.

Kure Beach Fantasy Christmas Show

While our Kure Beach vacation rentals offer a cozy atmosphere, we think you will want to leave them for a bit to check out the Kure Beach Fantasy Christmas Show.

This event will run between Friday, December 13th and Sunday, December 15th, 2019 at Ocean Front Park and Pavilion on Atlantic Avenue. The show starts at 7 PM on Friday and Saturday (5 PM on Sunday) and is free. Bring a blanket or folding chair and watch locals perform Christmas songs in their best holiday attire. Relax, enjoy the music, and sing along if you feel the holiday spirit.