This Sunday, New Hanover County residents are invited to attend more than 30 area attractions for free as part of the 16th annual Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown Day.

“Last year we had record attendance, so we’re hoping to top that,” said Connie Nelson, communications director for the Wilmington Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. The CVB sponsors the event.

“It’s a way to prepare for the summer travel season and make sure our residents know about the things to see and do in the area,” Nelson said.

Some of the tourist attractions participating include the Cape Fear Museum, Thalian Hall, Airlie Gardens, Bellamy Mansion, the Cameron Art Museum, the Carolina Beach State Park and the Wrightsville Beach Museum.

“It’s something that people look forward to. We always get a lot of feedback from our residents, especially the newcomers,” Nelson said.

The weather forecast Sunday calls for rain, though Nelson said she still expects plenty of residents to get out and explore the attractions.

“Even when it does rain, our residents have come out. A couple years ago in a downpour still several thousand people came out,” she said.

The following attractions will be participating this year:

Airlie Gardens, 9am-5pm, 300 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, 798-7566. Stroll through the winding paths of this century-old garden by the sea.

Arboretum at New Hanover County Co-op Ext., 9am-6pm, 6206 Oleander Dr., Wilmington, 798-7660. Explore 6+ acres of demonstration and trial gardens to discover the newest and best plants for area landscapes & gardens.

Bellamy Mansion Museum, 1-5pm, 503 Market St, Wilmington, 251-3700. Visit the formal areas and kitchen in the basement of the mansion, hear the history of the original slave quarters and its restoration, and peruse the gift shop.
 
Blue Moon Gift Shops, 12-5pm. 203 Racine Dr., Wilmington, 799-5793. Over 100 eclectic shops feature works by artists and craftspeople.  Tastings and craft/vendor demonstrations. 

Burchetta Glassblowing Studio & Gallery, 10am-3pm, 201 Red Cross St., Wilmington, 399-7614. See live glassblowing demonstrations and tour the gallery.

Burgwin-Wright Museum House, 12-5pm, 224 Market St., Wilmington, 762-0570.  The house will not be open; however, visitors may tour the historic gardens and visit the Colonial kitchen and the former jail. A self-guided garden tour is available, with layout, historic facts, plant identification, etc.

Cameron Art Museum, 11am–5pm, 3201 S. 17th St., Wilmington (corner of Independence Blvd and 17th St.), 395-5999. Southeast NC’s premier art museum. View 2 exhibitions and visit the Museum Shop: From Heart to Hand: African-American Quilts from the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (in the Brown Wing) and Remembering BIG, an exhibition of Big Al, Allen D. Carter (in the Hughes Wing).

Cape Fear Museum of History & Science, 1-5pm, 814 Market St., Wilmington, 798-4350. Discover the history, science and cultures of the Lower Cape Fear. Visit the Museum's newest exhibits – Photography in Focus; B.W. Wells: Pioneer Ecologists; and Cape Fear Treasures: Seeing.

Capt’n Bill’s Backyard Grill, Noon-9pm, 4240 Market St. (behind “17” North Shopping Ctr.), Wilmington, 762-0173. Free volleyball. Grill will be open with food & drink specials.

Carolina Beach State Park, 8am-8pm, State Park Rd, Carolina Beach, 458-8206. Bring picnic, fishing supplies. Explore nature trails, visitor center, marina and more. (Boat ramp/campsite rentals not included.)

EUE/ Screen Gems Studio, 11 am- 2 pm. 1223 N. 23rd St., Wilmington. 343-3500. Screen Gems will give tours on Sunday at 11am, 12pm, 1pm & 2pm. ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED. To tour Screen Gems, you MUST pick up tickets on Friday March 4th at Screen Gems from 12-2pm only. Tickets given out on a first come, first serve basis. Limit is 2 tickets per adult (18 and over, must have ID).NO TICKETS GIVEN OUT THE DAY OF THE TOUR.

Federal Point History Center, 1-4pm, 1121-A North Lake Park Blvd, Carolina Beach, 458-0502.  Enjoy exhibits & audio-visual presentations portraying periods in the Federal Point community, including pre-historic, colonial, Civil War and development of Carolina-Kure Beaches and Seabreeze as tourist attractions. Refreshments.

Fort Fisher State Historic Site-Civil War Fort, 1-5pm, Hwy. 421 Kure Beach, NC, 458-5538. On display for the first time will be the site’s new exhibit on the post war experience of Ft. Fisher’s veterans. Visitors to the site will also enjoy our scenic tour trail, educational museum and artillery demonstrations.

Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, 8am-5pm, 1000 Loggerhead Road-off US 421, Kure Beach near Aquarium, 458-5798. Visitor center, free access to the 4WD beach and 4-mile stretch of undeveloped beach for shell seekers, bird watchers. Must display valid NHC driver’s license. 4WD access free to NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.

Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, Meets at Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market & Water sts., Wilmington, 233-7630.Guided tours start at 5:30pm only. ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED. Tickets MUST be picked up at The Black Cat Shoppe at 8 Market St. on Saturday March 5th from 11am-6pm. Tickets will be given out on a first come, first serve basis. NO TICKETS WILL BE GIVEN OUT THE DAY OF THE TOUR. Guide will take larger than normal groups and tour will be somewhat abbreviated. Space is limited. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.

Greenfield Grind Skate Park, 1-8pm, Burnett Blvd, behind Parks & Rec offices, Wilmington, 362-8222. Participants get free admission between 1-8pm. NOTE:  All participants REQUIRED to wear helmet & pads.

Halyburton Park, 8am-5pm, 4099 17th St., Wilmington. 341-0075. Join a park naturalist and explore nature up close on a two mile nature hike. Learn about the parks history, Long Leaf Pine forest, Carolina Bays and enjoy the outdoors as you hike from the park to the Cameron Art Museum along the Cross City trail. Hikes start at 12 noon and 3pm and last about two hours. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.

Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 12pm-5pm. 2nd & Orange St., Wilmington. 793-6393. Spend a WWII History afternoon at one of the few remaining USO buildings. Tour the restored building, theatre, and WWII home front mini-museum. Meet local WWII veterans & home front workers with wartime memorabilia to swap stories, pose for photos and share experiences. It’s an opportunity to say “thanks” to our version of the Greatest Generation.

Haunted Pub Crawl at Fat Tony’s Italian Pub, 12pm-6pm, 131 N. Front St, Wilmington, 343-8881. Get a “taste” of the Haunted Pub Crawl and hear eerie tales that will both shiver ye timbers and make ye laugh out loud; starting at 12noon on the hour every hour, with the last one at 6pm. All ages welcome; stories censored to suit audience. Prizes for kids.

Hollywood Location Walk of Old Wilmington, Meets at Cape Fear Riverwalk at Market & Water sts., Wilmington, 233-7630. Guided tours start at 12:00 noon only. ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED. Tickets MUST be picked up at The Black Cat Shoppe at 8 Market St. on Saturday the 5th from 11am-6pm. Tickets will be given out on a first come, first serve basis. NO TICKETS WILL BE GIVEN OUT THE DAY OF THE TOUR. Guide will take larger than normal groups and tour will be somewhat abbreviated. Space is limited. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.

Hugh MacRae Park & Nature Trail, 8am-10pm, Oleander & S. College Rd., Wilmington, 798-7181.  Playgrounds (5-12 year old playground is lighted), lighted tennis courts, athletic fields, picnic areas, nature trails, etc. Free every day (except for shelter, horse ring, baseball fields and garden rentals).  Baseball fields must be reserved in advance. Walk the 1.55 mile trail right in the park or visit the Hugh MacRae Nature Trail located across the street behind the NHC Senior Ctr.

Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, 1-4pm, 5320 Oleander Dr., Wilmington, 791-0666. Offering a choice of one (1) of the following activities to each participant: 1-game of Jungle Golf -OR- 1-free Grand Prix go-kart ride -OR- 1-free Sky Tower ride.

Latimer House Museum, 1-4pm, 126 South 3rd St., Wilmington, 762-0492. Tour the elegant Victorian house museum and period gardens.

N.C. Military History Museum, Noon-4pm, 116 Air Force Way, Kure Beach, 477-0499. Artifacts, memorabilia, displays from WWI through Desert Storm, w/photos, documents, letters, uniforms, fieldgear, hats, helmets, gift shop, more.

Old Books on Front Street, 3pm, 249 N. Front St., Wilmington, 762-6657. Captain Wilbur Jones, award-winning author and military historian, will talk about Wilmington during World War II.

SPECIAL GUESTS at Riverfront Visitor Information Booth: 1-3pm (weather permitting), Cape Fear Riverwalk (Water & Market sts.), Wilmington, 341-4030. Team and event mascots will greet residents, hand out schedules/flyers, pose for photos, and sign autographs from 1-3pm. Confirmed guests include “Salty Dawg” (Wilmington Sea Dawgs pro basketball team), “Sharky” (Wilmington Sharks baseball team) & “Sledge” (Wilmington Hammerheads pro soccer team) from 1-3pm; Azalea Belles (courtesy of the Cape Fear Garden Club) from 1-3pm; and storyteller/musician John Golden from 2-3pm. Educators from the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s outreach classroom (1-3pm) will share information about marine life found along NC’s coast. Stop by to meet the special guests, get a “Hometown Tourist” sticker, and a list of attractions/tours offering free admission!

Thalian Hall, 2-5pm, 310 Chestnut St., Wilmington, 632-2285. Thalian Hall has been the epicenter of culture and politics in the Cape Fear region since 1858. Take a self guided tour of the facility, which has just undergone a $3.5 million dollar renovation and rediscover this historical gem.

The Black Cat Shoppe, 1-5pm. 11 Market St., Wilmington. 251-6663. Aye, mateys, ‘yer looking for a bit of adventure in the Port City? Drop by to see some magic, hear some true Wilmington pirate stories or to have ye fortune told. Space is limited and we will entertain first come, first served.

Wilmington Railroad Museum, 1-4pm, 505 Nutt St., Wilmington, 763-2634. Railroad history and features for everyone, all in an authentic 1883 railroad building. NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.

Wilmington Trolley, 1-4pm. Downtown Wilmington. 763-4483. The trolley will offer free shuttle service between the participating attractions in the downtown area. This is shuttle service only, not tours.

Wilmington Water Tours, Boards at 3:15pm; departs 3:30pm. 212 S. Water St., Wilmington. 338-3134. Eagles Island Tour. Limited availability. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

Wrightsville Beach Museum of History, 1-5pm, 303 W. Salisbury St, Wrightsville Beach, 256-2569. Visit this 1909 beach cottage and feel what life at the beach was like 100 years ago. Step back in time as you walk through a 1930’s kitchen, see our model of Wrightsville Beach in 1910, and rock on the shady porch.

Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours & Taxi, 12 noon. Banks Channel across from Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach, 200-4002. The Cape Fear Naturalist, Joseph Abbate, explores the tidal creeks of Masonboro Island. The 1-hour tour focuses on water bird and shorebird identification. Topics include shorebird identification, salt marsh function and water quality issues. ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Space is limited.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY I.D. REQUIRED FOR LISTINGS INDICATING “NHC RESIDENTS ONLY.” For more information visit: www.capefearcoast.com/hometown