Updated: 12/2018
It has become a tradition for my family and I to head out in the weeks prior to Christmas to view the holiday light displays around Wilmington. We have our favorites that we return to every year, and it’s always a treat when we stumble across a new display (we’re always getting lost, but that’s part of the fun). So, I thought I’d share a few resources and our favorites.
When I moved here, I was happy to learn there are some very enthusiastic, Griswold-type homeowners in Wilmington. Part of that discovery was thanks to the website Wilmington Christmas Lights (WCL), which has a Google map showing the local displays in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Castle Hayne. The map is color coded with blue being an average display, red being an advanced display, and green being elaborate and over the top. Some Christmas displays are only available on specific nights and times (Santa even appears at specific locations) and those schedules are posted on the WCL Facebook page, so it’s a good idea to follow it. The map may be a little outdated, because the owner relies on visitor feedback, but you can usually count on the green displays being there. My family’s favorites include the displays found at:
6808 Buckhurst Court
Farrington Farms off Gordon Road.
2015 – Music Box Dancer from David Williams on Vimeo.
Buckhorn Court
Courtney Pines off Gordon Road (The whole cul-de-sac decorates to the extreme. See an article about this display.
Springtime Road
Spring View off North College Road (So many decorations you can barely see the front yard!) – This one had to be cancelled for 2018 due to storm damage. They plan on coming back in 2019.
Kirby Smith Dr.
Woodberry off South College Road
King Neptune at Wrightsville Beach
Brevard Drive
Parkside at Mayfaire (Multiple homes on this road decorate).
For the past 13 years, WCL has been the best resource for Christmas light displays for our area, so I always recommend looking there first. They’ve also expanded the map to cover Leland, Southport, and Boiling Spring Lakes. If you’re looking for Topsail, Surf City, Sneads Ferry, Holly Ridge and Hampstead, check out this map.
You may also want to check out the Nextdoor App. Every year, they have a Holiday Cheer map that allows neighbors to mark if their home is decorated for the holidays. It’s a great way to see where displays are located near your home.
Other Wilmington Christmas Lights
We also attend Enchanted Airlie at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington. During the month of December, the folks at Airlie decorate the gardens with over 300,000 lights and visitors are invited to take a self-guided tour, as well as meet Santa and enjoy some hot beverages. It’s a magical experience and was voted one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for 2012. Every year, they add and update the displays so there’s something new to see. My family loves the singing Christmas Trees. It is a by-the-carload event and sells out fast.
Old Homestead Farm in Rocky Point started a new tradition in 2018 with Christmas in the Country. The farm has a mile long driving Christmas lights tour with over 100,000 lights. Like Enchanted Airlie, there is a by-the-carload charge. Afterwards, visitors are invited to visit Santa’s Village to meet with Santa (free) and visit local vendors.
If you’re looking for more Christmas and Holiday events, check out the Holiday Highlights on the tourism development website for Wilmington. You can find many of the major annual events there, including info about the Holiday Flotilla where boat owners decorate their vessels with lights and parade them down the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Island of Lights Festival featuring spectacular displays around Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.
It doesn’t matter if you’re at the north end of New Hanover County or the south end, there are some great light displays in every zip code around Wilmington. If you know of any good ones that haven’t been mentioned here or would just like to share your own tips for enjoying the holiday lights around our area, we welcome you to leave a comment.
Have a GREAT holiday season!
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