If you’re looking for a warm, beautiful place to spend your holiday season, look no further than Kure and Carolina Beach. Whether you’re planning a Carolina Beach Christmas or a Kure Beach Christmas vacation, Pleasure Island is home to a range of exciting festivities that come to town every year, just a short stroll away from your doorstep. From the sights and sounds to the seasonal cuisine, you’re sure to find the perfect way to spend the holiday season at the beach!
When you can’t wait to spend the holidays in Kure and Carolina Beach this year, be sure to request a copy of our newsletter ahead of time to get the latest information on available properties, holiday specials and events!
Embrace the Holiday Spirit with These Carolina Beach Christmas & Kure Beach Christmas Events
The holiday season is bustling with activities in Kure and Carolina Beach. Don’t miss out during your next vacation here as you enjoy some well-earned time off at the end of the year. These Kure and Carolina Beach Christmas vacation events are certain to be fun for the whole family!
A Kure Beach Christmas: Everything You Need to Know
1. Kure Beach Holiday Market
Recurring each Saturday between November 22 and November 29, 2025, the Kure Beach Holiday Market is an unforgettable staple event when you’re planning a beach Christmas vacation this way. This is no ordinary holiday market, taking place at the Kure Beach Ocean Front Park and Pavilion, the market is steps away from the Atlantic Ocean at 105 Atlantic Avenue.
As you peruse through a vast array of items handcrafted by talented artists, artisans, and crafters, you can enjoy the picturesque oceanic view. In addition to the goods for sale, there’s no shortage of entertainment from local food trucks to DJ musical performances.
The market is, of course, free to attend, and it runs each Saturday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. You won’t want to miss this chance to shop right on the oceanfront, whether you’re dropping by to browse or you’re looking to check some of those last-minute holiday gifts off your list.
2. Cape Fear Festival of Trees
The Cape Fear Festival of Trees has long been a highly anticipated Christmas event among locals and families alike across Kure Beach and Carolina Beach. Typically hosted at the North Carolin Aquarium at Fort Fisher between November and December, the Cape Fear Festival of Trees is not only a cherished holiday gathering, but also works as an important annual fundraiser for Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.
In 2025, the event is officially on pause as the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher undergoes extensive renovations. Fortunately, it’s being replaced with a smaller Festival of Trees experience this year that will be hosted at The Davis Community in Porters Neck, instead. You can attend this modified and family-friendly event experience from December 9, 2025, through January 4, 2026. While the collection of decorated trees on-site waiting to be admired this year will be slightly smaller than in years past, it won’t be any less impressive, and it’s certainly well worth adding to your beach Christmas vacation lineup.
Plan Your Visit to Kure Beach
Staying in a lovely Kure Beach rental, you’ll have incredibly easy access to the range of exciting festivities that come to town every year a short stroll away from your doorstep. We offer plentiful opportunities for Kure Beach rentals that provide proximity to the holiday’s best events along with great shopping, beaches, dining destinations, and outdoor activities. The holiday spirit is unbeatable in the area and we provide rentals for families of all sizes.
A Carolina Beach Christmas: What You Can Experience This Year
1. Island of Lights: Lighting at the Lake
This opening celebration is sure to get you and your loved ones into the holiday spirit! Located at the Carolina Beach Lake Park, the yearly event has grown in great popularity. The evening begins with a brief opening ceremony that is joined by elected officials, music entertainment, a display from the Honor Guard, as well as a performance of the National Anthem, which preludes the Lighting of the Lake.
Then, walk the mile trail to view the massive collection of lighted displays, complete with a visit from Santa, who is more than welcome to hear your Christmas wishes. The inviting beach Christmas vacation event is free for all spectators and takes place at 6:30 PM on November 28, 2025.
2. Carolina Beach Holiday Market
When you’re looking forward to adding as much time holiday shopping as possible to your itinerary when you head to Carolina Beach, you’ll be delighted with the time you set aside to enjoy the Carolina Beach Holiday Market while you’re here. This exciting and inviting event is a seasonal favorite in town. You’ll find the holiday market open and ready for business at the Carolina Beach Lake Park which spans Atlanta Avenue and Lake Park Boulevard, too. The Carolina Beach Holiday Market is a family-friendly gathering in town where you’ll find a long lineup of local vendors waiting to showcase their one-of-a-kind goods and wares.
On a typical year, you’ll be treated to access to more than 100 vendors on-site at the holiday market, making this a one-stop resource for everything from purchases for yourself to unique handcrafted goods that make for amazing holiday gifts for family and friends back home. There’s absolutely no cost to attend the Carolina Beach Holiday Market, making it a great addition to your list when you’re in town with a large group. The market is typically open from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm so come early and plan on staying for the entire festive affair!
3. Christmas by the Sea, A Carolina Beach Classic
On the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, watch as the town of Carolina Beach transforms into a bright holiday village. This town becomes an island full of lights, with homes and businesses alike putting on their festive finest to get you into the holiday spirit! You can stroll the famous Carolina Beach Boardwalk and Gazebo that’s fully adorned in a shimmering holiday splendor. In 2025, those who are looking to enjoy the beauty, holiday spirit, and family-friendly fun that define Christmas by the Sea can do so on December 5 at 7:00 pm.
As you bask in the holiday glory, feel free to participate in special Holiday Happenings scheduled to begin earlier along the Boardwalk. These happenings are, of course, weather-dependent. Visits are free for all spectators, and though there is no official start time, the lights are best viewed well into the evening when you add this experience to your beach Christmas vacation itinerary.
4. Carolina Beach Christmas Parade
On Friday, December 5, 2025, at 7:00 pm, Lake Park Boulevard will come alive with festive floats, marching bands, and community groups spreading holiday cheer. Starting at the Carolina Beach Lake near Atlanta Avenue, the parade winds north along Lake Park Boulevard and concludes at the Publix intersection, creating a sparkling holiday spectacle for all ages.
Expect a joyful lineup featuring everything from antique cars and dance troupes to local civic organizations and pageant royalty. And of course, the grand finale belongs to Santa Claus, who will make his appearance riding high on a Carolina Beach Fire Department truck!
This family-friendly event is free for spectators, so grab your chairs, bundle up, and find a cozy spot along the route. Add this festive tradition to your holiday itinerary and experience the magic of Carolina Beach under twinkling lights and coastal charm.
5. Island of Lights: Christmas Flotilla
Traditionally held the Saturday following Thanksgiving weekend, this year, the Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla will be held on December 6, 2025. The Island of Lights Christmas Flotilla is a spectacular display located on the Intracoastal Waterway at Carolina Beach. A collection of fishing boats and pleasure crafts are decorated with thousands of beautiful lights, each competing for prizes as well as adding to the area’s general holiday spirit!
The watercraft will begin their cruise at Snows Cut, sailing to the Carolina Beach Boat Basic and back. A panel of judges will determine who the winner of the festive competition will be, so bring the whole day to sit back and enjoy the colorful, bright evening. The event begins at 6:00 PM and is free for all spectators.
Plan Your Visit to Carolina Beach
Each unique rental is just minutes away from all of the special holiday activities mentioned here. Walk along the beach, enjoy the bustling boardwalk, or stroll and gaze at the many fantastic light displays around the area. The opportunities for a perfect holiday getaway are endless!
Other Christmas Events On Pleasure Island
1. Island Lights Holiday Tour of Homes
The Island Lights Holiday Tour of Homes is an annual celebration that’s always highly anticipated by locals and seasonal travelers alike heading to Carolina Beach, North Carolina. That makes it one that would be a shame not to include on your special celebration on the list! This self-guided tour is a stroll through some of the island’s most beautiful and luxurious homes when they’re all fancied up for the holiday season!
The Tour of Homes allows you to enjoy southern hospitality at its best as the kind owners welcome you with open arms into their homes for this special holiday event. The event is typically held on the third Saturday following Thanksgiving from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and this year, guests can enjoy making the most of the exciting and insightful experience on December 13, 2025. Tickets are traditionally $10 a piece and sold at businesses within Pleasure Island.
Island of Lights New Year’s Eve Celebration
Located on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Kure and Carolina Beach’s New Years’ Eve celebration will create a memory that will last a lifetime. The event is completely free for those who attend, though there will, of course, be an array of food, beverages, NYE hats, and noisemakers available to purchase. The family-friendly celebration will also feature a DJ to help you dance away the last moments of 2025 and begin to welcome in the New Year!
Don’t miss the amazing drop of the signature giant beach ball at midnight, which is followed, of course, by an incredibly impressive fireworks display. The festivities begin at 9:00 PM, and though the locations alternate each year, this year’s celebration will be held at the Kure Beach Ocean Front Park & Pavilion at K Avenue in Kure Beach.
Make It a Holiday to Remember in Kure and Carolina Beach This Year
There’s something truly magical about planning a beach Christmas vacation when you set your travel sights on gorgeous destinations like Kure Beach and Carolina Beach. At Victory Beach Vacations, we specialize in helping travelers make even more of every moment they’re here this time of year by providing them with stunning vacation rental properties to pick from. When you book your stay with us, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ll feel right at home from the moment you arrive. Our Carolina Beach rentals and Kure Beach rentals are ideal for families, solo travelers, couples on romantic getaways, and groups of friends spending time together here over the holidays as well. Whether you’re looking for a cozy abode by the water, or a sprawling multi-level retreat by the sand over the holidays, we’ll help turn your Christmas getaway visions into the reality you deserve.
When you’re here, you can feel free to let us handle the details of your incredible stay while you enjoy focusing on the holiday fun ahead. We can’t wait to see you this December and help you plan a holiday away in Kure Beach and Carolina Beach that will provide you with a chance to make memories that last a lifetime!