Each June, an estimated 40,000 people head to Burgaw to celebrate a tiny fruit. The N.C. Blueberry Festival, founded in 2003, is one of several events in Pender County that have drawn more attention over the years. Abby Homrighausen, who became executive director of the blueberry festival in December, said she believes its popularity can be traced to the variety the ...

Hotel developers unveiled plans to build a six-story Embassy Suites on the north end of the Carolina Beach boardwalk during a community meeting this week. The land slated for development includes the current site of the Seawitch Cafe & Tiki Bar. More than 100 people turned out at a community meeting on Thursday that included a presentation from developer Harmony Hos ...

Wilmington claimed the No. 1 spot for the South's Best City on the Rise in a Southern Living survey. "From the beaches and charm of Wilmington, North Carolina, our top city on the rise, to the hidden desert gem of Marfa, Texas, this year's South's Best Issue celebrates the places and experiences that define our beloved region," said Sid Evans, edit ...

The 4,300 runners expected at a marathon in Wilmington this weekend could pump millions of dollars into the area’s economy. Officials won’t be able to estimate the total economic impact of this year’s Novant Health Wilmington Marathon until after Saturday’s race, but last year added up to nearly $5.7 million, according to John Sneed, vice preside ...

WIlmington International Airport received a $4 million federal grant for improvements to ILM, according to an announcement Thursday. The money, awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration's terminals program, will be used by ILM to fund a portion of its terminal access road and terminal curb front expansion and realignment. ILM Airport Director Jeff Bourk ...

The Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington frequently strolls onto top 10 lists of the best riverwalks in the country, garnering the No. 7 spot in USA Today’s rankings last year. But stewards of even the best tourist destinations can find room for improvements. Wilmington tourism and business leaders are seeking $650,000 from the city’s remaining federal COVID-19 ...

During 2023, half a million visitors came to the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF), according to a news release. "The 502,123 visitors who came through the doors in 2023 included 20,515 students," the release stated. "The previous record for the calendar year was 483,985 visitors in 2017." Hap Fatzinger, director of North Carolina Aqu ...