From food to fun and dinner to dancing, 35 ways to ring in 2024 in the Wilmington area
Things are looking rosy — and golden — in the Wilmington area as we prepare to ring in 2024.
There are so many events, it might be difficult to decide. Whatever you like, from theater and live music to chef-driven dinners and family-friendly fun, you can find it.
Check out some of the options below.
Musical gala: 'The Producers'
Opera House Theatre Co.'s annual New Year's Eve gala at Thalian Hall features a production of "The Producers," the Mel Brooks musical stage comedy based on his 1967 film. Tickets that include a pre-show dinner are sold-out, but you can still purchase tickets that include the show and a post-show party that goes until after midnight and features dancing, karaoke in the Stein Studio Theatre, party favors and more. Details: 5:30 p.m. (doors) Dec. 31. Dinner tickets sold out, show and post-show party tickets still available. Proceeds benefit Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. "The Producers" opens Dec. 30 and runs Jan. 4-14. 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.
Local specials: In Wrightsville Beach
South Beach Grill restaurant is offering a special menu of Chalkboard Specials on Dec. 31. The four-course dinner is available in addition to the regular menu. Options include choice of a local fresh catch or beef filet, and eggnog bread pudding or dark chocolate mousse for dessert. Details: Reservations begin at 4 p.m. at 100 S. Lumina Ave. Wrightsville Beach; 910 256-4646 or www.southbeachgrillwb.com.
Fundraiser: Flunk cancer
This non-profit organization is was created by the friends and family of a teacher, and University of North Carolina Wilmington graduate, who was diagnosed with cancer. It's purposed is to help support education professionals who are newly diagnosed with the disease or undergoing or cancer treatments. Their fifth annual Holiday Gala is on New Year's Eve at Ironclad Brewery with aGlitz, Glam and Groove theme. Details: Tickets start at $75 for the event at 115 N. 2nd St., Wilmington; https://flunkcancer.org.
Rock 'n' roll: The Girls
Thrash in the New Year at intimate downtown venue Bourgie Nights with Wilmington glam/garage rockers The Girls, who look as good as they sound. Opening act is The Great Indoors, who play a shimmery brand of moody, poppy rock. Details: 9 p.m. doors, 10 p.m. show, at Bourgie Nights, 127 Princess St. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of show, and include a Champagne (of beers, aka Miller High Life) toast at midnight.
On the Cape Fear: Italian flair
Floriana restaurant in downtown Wilmington is hosting an Italian-themed New Year's Eve dinner with wine. The meal includes five courses with a sparkling wine greeting. Seatings are available at 5, 7, and 9 p.m. with the option to book the two-person balcony tables, weather permitting. Details: Cost is $90 per person at 2 Market St., Wilmington. 910-504-0160 or http://wilmington.florianarestaurant.com.
California vegging: At The Green House
This plant-based restaurant near Wrightsville Beach is offering a four-course dinner featuring a menu inspired by sunny California. The idea is to embrace the big dreams and free-spirited vibes with the arrival of a new year. Details: Dinner is $54 at 1427 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington; 910-679-4994 or www.opentable.com/r/the-green-house-restaurant-wilmington.
A '20s vibe: In Surf City
Pender County's new distillery is hosting a party inspired by 1920s era glamour. Hidden Ships Distillery in Surf City is serving classic cocktails, jazzy tunes, light Hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Guests can come dressed in flapper attire and dapper suits with a chance to win prizes. Details: Event begins at 6 p.m. at 116 Charlie Medlin Drive, Surf City; www.hiddenships.com.
Gold NYE: The Beehive Blondes
Get the year off to a golden start at The Eagle's Dare with this party featuring DJ duo The Beehive Blondes spinning danceable "solid gold" retro hits from the 1960s to the 2000s. Cocktail attire is "gold standard," and the band Gin Fizz will play songs from the early 20th century suitable for swing dancing before the Blondes take over the turntables at 10:30 p.m. and lead you into the New Year. Details: 8 p.m. doors, $35-$55. Includes snacks, live music, champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight.
A little Lazy: In Oak Island
The Lazy Turtle in Brunswick County is offering a prix fixe menu 6-8 p.m. It's a three-course meal that will end with a champagne toast -- that also serves as the start of their New Year’s Eve Karaoke Party. Details: The dinner is about $30 per person at 601 Ocean Drive, Oak Island; 910-278-7725 or www.thelazyturtleoceanfrontgrille.com.
Downtown: Party like it's 1922
Restaurateur Ash Aziz's downtown restaurant is offering a New Year's Eve dinner filled with options from soup and salad to house-made gnocchi and seafood entrees. Details: Cost is $75 per person at 8 North Front St., Wilmington; 910-762-1922 or https://circa1922.com.
Wine & dine: In the South Front District
The Second Glass near downtown Wilmington is once again offering a New Year's Eve party with a specially curated, four course menu. You can choose just the food, which can include vegan options, and also opt to add pours of paired wines. Seatings are available at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Details: Tickets start at $75, 1540 S. Second St., Wilmington; 910-399-7486 or https://secondglasswinebar.com.
Chef's choice: In downtown Wilmington
Chef Jordan Keen of Dram Yard restaurant in the ARRIVE hotel is offering a five-course dinner, with a choice of options -- like a tuna crudo or beef tartar for the first course and chocolate tare or Asian pear bread pudding for dessert. Diners can also opt for the wine paring for an additional charge. Details: Cost for the dinner is $95 per person, 101 S 2nd St., Wilmington, 910-782-2400, www.dramyard.com/dram-yard.
Beach Ball drop: Island of Lights
Head down to Kure Beach for this annual celebration, the final event of Pleasure Island's month-long Island of Lights festival. Get there early for a DJ-led dance party, with party favors available for a small fee. And definitely don't miss the Wilmington area's answer to Times Square in the form of the annual beach ball drop at midnight, followed by the last (first?) fireworks display of the year. Details: 9 p.m., downtown Kure Beach. Free. PleasureIslandOfLights.com.
Dinner out: In the Brooklyn Arts District
Three10 restaurant, located in a renovated former home on North Fourth Street in downtown Wilmington is hosting a multi-course dinner with a sparkling wine toast. There will also be a vegetarian and gluten-free options. Details: Dinner is $90 per person, 910-399-5428 or https://three10wilmington.com.
Oysters and caviar: At Front and Market
Seabird restaurant in downtown Wilmington is offering a prix-fixe menu to ring in 2024 -- one that promises exceptional oysters and caviar from North Carolina and brilliant bubbles. Details: 1 S. Front St., Wilmington. 910-769-5996 or www.seabirdnc.com.
In Wrightsville Beach: Party by the ocean
Sister restaurants Oceanic and Bluewater Waterfront Grill in Wrightsville Beach are both hosting parties to rind in 2024. Oceanic is turning their second-floor ocean-view dining room into a cocktail lounge for the evening with a DJ, dancing, and passed hors d'oeuvres. At Bluewater, the party takes over the entire restaurant with live music, bites and a champagne toast. Details: Cost is $80 at 703 S. Lumina Ave. or 4 Marina St. in Wrightsville Beach; www.oceanicrestaurant.com or www.bluewaterdining.com.
On the river: With French fries and cocktails
Sauce’d, the cocktail and fry bar in downtown Wilmington, is hosting a DJ and streaming the festivities both inside (in the lounge) and outside on the heated patio, on a 100-inch screen. There will also be party favors, a photo booth and holiday shooters. VIP Tables are also available. Details: Tickets start at $25; 8 p.m.-1 a.m., 224 S. Water St., Wilmington; 910-399-4743 or www.saucedwilmington.com.
Party on: A very Reggie's NYE
Midtown rock club Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern knows what's up. Skip amateur hour and get your New Year's fun on a night early with five (5!) different rock bands of varying styles from Wilmington and around North Carolina. Local yokels include Hyperloops, Narah and Busted Radio, with Crooked Cult coming out of Fayetteville and VeilForge emerging from the very depths of Hell. Details: 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Dec. 30. $10 at the door.
Dinner and music: In Oak Island
Salt64 in Brunswick County is hosting a "Rock in the New Year" event that includes live music in the bar beginning at 9:30 p.m. and a four-course prix fixe menu with reservations beginning at 4 p.m. The menu includes multiple options for each course. Details: Dinner is $95 per person; 6404 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island; 910-933-1019, https://salt64.com.
Comedy: Ben Roy
New Year's Eve is always about getting a little loud, a bit boisterous. It definitely won't be a sedate NYE when veteran comic Ben Roy rolls into downtown's Dead Crow Comedy Room, ranting about everything from traffic cameras to the Netflix shows he hates. There's an early performance if you want to laugh and head elsewhere, and a later gig if you want to welcome 2024 at Dead Crow. Details: 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 30-31. Tickets are $18 and $28 Dec. 30, and $25 and $35 Dec. 31. VIP tickets on Dec. 31 include free champagne toast after the show.
Family: New Year's Noon
Whether it's your only party of the day or just the first one, get your kids down to the Children's Museum of Wilmington for their annual New Year's Noon celebration. A whole slew of activities −crown-building, streamer-stick making, a survey to reflect on the past year − will culminate with a massive confetti drop as the clock strikes noon. Juice for toasting provided to all. Details: 9 a.m.-noon at the Children's Museum of Wilmington, 116 Orange St. $10. 910-254-3534 or PlayWilmington.com.
Getting ‘mental: In the Cargo District
Fermental in downtown Wilmington is offering a full evening of live local music, a rotating selection of rare beers on tap as well as wine, mead and sparkling wine. Details: Begins at 7 p.m., 600 S. 17th St., Wilmington. Free. 910-821-0362 or www.fermental.net.
Southport: Glow in the dark fun
Hey, what could go wrong? Throw Baxe Axe House and Board Game Lounge in Southport is hosting a "Let's Glow Crazy" event with unlimited glow-in-the-dark axe throwing, music from DJ Dirk, bites from the Captain John's food truck, and a champagne toast. Details: Tickets are $25; 806 N. Howe St., Southport; 910-363-4286 or www.throwbaxe.com.
For kids: On skates
Scooters Family Skate Center is hosting a family friendly event with a Ping Pong Ball drop 2-5 p.m. (There's also another ball drop planned for later in the evening.) All ages are welcome. Details: $8 with additional rental fee for skates, roller blades, or a scooter, 341 Shipyard Blvd., Wilmington; 910-791-8550, www.skatescooters.com.
Festival: Burgaw Blueberry Drop
Last year's festivities were rained out, so let's hope the weather gods are more merciful this year when it comes to the fifth annual Blueberry Drop in the Pender County town of Burgaw. An outgrowth (heh heh) of Burgaw's annual N.C. Blueberry Festival, the berry drop takes place at midnight, Greenwich Mean Time, aka 7 p.m. Eastern time. With live music from the Ace Party Band. Details: Celebration starts at 5 p.m. in downtown Burgaw. Blueberry Drop takes place at 7 p.m. Event ends at 7:30 p.m. Free.
Very big dill: New Year's Eve Pickle Drop
If you want to make a short road trip for New Year's Eve and still be able to get back to Wilmington well before midnight, the 23rd annual New Year's Eve Pickle Drop returns to the Duplin County town of Mount Olive. It's going to be a very big dill (sorry).
Held by the Mount Olive Pickle Co. next to Kornegay Arena on the campus of the University of Mount Olive, the event features food trucks, live music, FREE PICKLES and a fireworks display after the big drop. New this year there's live music, with the band Wild Ride playing country, pop and rock. Details: 5 p.m. event, 7 p.m. pickle drop. Event ends at 7:30 p.m.
Globally inspired dinner: In Southport
Ports of Call hosts themed dinners throughout the year, including holidays. Now, it's a four-course prix-fixe dinner with live music to celebrate the arrival of 2024. Reservations are recommended. Details: Dinner is about $66 per person at 116 N. Howe St., Southport; 910-457-4544 or https://portsofcallbistro.com.
New Year's jam: Jeremy Short
Playing what he calls "Appalachian space funk," jam rocker Jeremy Short, who hails from Eastern Kentucky, will take the year out on an extremely high note. Short, a talented guitar player and singer, plays a blend of classic rock, blues and soul. Good stuff. Details: 10 p.m. Dec. 31, cover at the door.
In the club: Ibiza New Year's party
Downtown dance club Ibiza has been turning it out for 20-plus years now, but things will no doubt get extra crazy for New Year's Eve. DJ JRB will be spinning the tunes, and the party includes a free champagne toast and a "$1,000 cash balloon drop" at midnight. Details: 9 p.m. doors, 18 and up, tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door (if available, purchase early online).
In Leland: A global all-day party
The Brunswick Beer XChange bottle shop promises a festive New Year where you can still be in bed before midnight. Their Around the World Party promises to ring in the New Year every hour, on the hour as the clock strikes midnight around the globe. Details: It takes place noon to 9 p.m. at 113 Village Road, Leland; 910-408-1877 or https://bbxchange.net.
Get a move on: Let's Dance
Wilmington's Fort Lowell Records presents an evening of "superfun dance-centric music" at the South Front District's Satellite Bar & Lounge, with tunes from across multiple genres and eras, featuring familiar favorites with a few underground bangers mixed in. Fort Lowell's James Tritten and Tracy Shedd present "Let's Dance" nights at venues across town throughout the year and spin tunes at Satellite each Tuesday, so New Year's Eve will bring it all home with lots of joy and love. Details: 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at Satellite, 120 Greenfield St., free.
NYE bash: The Lookout at Iron Front
Party down at one of the coolest rooms downtown. Tunes from DJ Hiicee, a full bar and great views of Front Street. Details: 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Lookout at Iron Front, 23 N. Front St. fourth floor. Tickets start at $10.
In Wrightsville Beach: Dinner and bubbles
Chef Nick Chavez is offering a three-course dinner menu at King Neptune restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. The options include a choice of appetizer (like a burrata salad or foie gras terrine), four choices of entree and a few desserts all with a complimentary glass of champagne. Details: Dinner is $79 per person at 11 N. Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach; 910-239-3055 or www.opentable.com/r/king-neptune-restaurant-wrightsville-beach.
A little of everything: In Leland
If you're trying to decide between karaoke, comedy, music or psychic readings, no worries. They'll all be available at the event hosted by Gio Fund in Leland. Look for a DJ dance music, a magic performance and the No Labels food truck. A cash bar will be available. Details: Tickets are $10. The event begins at 6 p.m. 117 Village Road, Leland. 910-782-8222 or https://giofund.blogspot.com.
Dinner and dancing: Mediterranean style
Kipos Hellenic Cuisine in Lumina Station near Wrightsville Beach is offering dinner reservations 5-9 p.m. followed by a party with a DJ, dancing and complimentary champagne toast beginning at 10 p.m. Details: 1900 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, 910-492-2893 or www.kiposwilmington.com.
Is there an event we should add to the list? Let us know. Email aballard@gannett.com or john.staton@starnewsonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do on New Year's Eve in Wilmington, NC 2023-2024
