Cultural Programs

There is a bounty of hidden gems to discover in Wilmington’s urban environment. Topics may include history, architecture, ecology, or culture, just to name a few. Join us for some fresh air and broaden your understanding of Wilmington with programs led by various local experts. Programs are free and are typically 1-2 miles long. Registration required (here). These programs are open to all ages unless otherwise specified. View flyer here(PDF, 1MB). 

Starting In the Bottom, Now We’re Here

Join us for an urban hike that will start at Williston Middle School, part of a Wilmington area called the Bottom, and end at St. Luke’s AME. Along the way we will look at where we are now and examine crucial, and often violent, events that shaped this neighborhood and the world beyond. How is the past still talking to us, and what lessons should we learn?

When: Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon
Cost: Free
Location: Williston Middle School (401 S 10th St.)

These free, one-hour programs cover a variety of subjects ranging from local to global in scale. Typically around noon, these bite-sized lessons led by experts in a broad range of fields are perfect for those who like history and storytelling. Registration required (here). These programs are open to all ages unless otherwise specified.

Lunchtime Lessons are held throughout the year. For more information, email Andrea Talley. View flyer here(PDF, 1MB).

Upcoming Events 

Temple of Israel History and Tour

Shalom! The Temple of Israel in downtown Wilmington, constructed in 1875-1876, was the first Jewish house of worship in North Carolina and is one of the oldest in the nation. Join Wilmington’s Parks and Recreation Department in visiting this historic landmark and learn about the Temple’s history, view historical artifacts, and explore elements of Jewish culture, faith, and foods. Pre-registration is required.

When: Friday, Oct. 24 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Temple of Israel (1 S. 4th Street)

Burgwin-Wright House Tour with a Focus on African American History

Join us for a unique tour of the Burgwin-Wright House, the only structure in Wilmington from the colonial era open to the public. Learn about how the lives of the houses residents and staff were intertwined, what is known--and not known--about the enslaved and freed African Americans who lived and worked there, and why some pieces of history might be difficult to uncover.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Burgwin-Wright House (224 Market St.)

Please join Parks & Recreation staff for Yoga in Riverfront Park! Yoga will be held on the stage at Riverfront Park once a week for an 8-week session. This will be an hour-long slow-flow yoga class created for all levels. Program is available for those 18 years and older. Questions? Email Andrea Talley or Adalyn Smith. 

1. Participant Fee: $25/6-Week Session 
2. Employee Fee: $12.50/6-Week Session 

Dates (TBD) 

Please join us as we celebrate our local Wilmington HEROES on November 2 from 1 - 3 PM at the Davis Center at Maides Park! 

This FREE program will highlight and celebrate Wilmington's black veterans, who served their country and then often faced discrimination upon their return. Join us in listening, honoring, and making connections. Light refreshments provided. Register here! 

Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Davis Center at Maides Park
Address:1101 Manly Ave, Wilmington, NC

Tim Pinnick, a family historian and the lead researcher for the 1898 Soil Collection Project memorializing the victims of the massacre, will serve as the program host.  He will be joined by Frank Bland, whose father, George Francis Bland, was born and educated in Wilmington and was serving on the USS West Virginia on the morning of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Frank shares his father's memories and experiences of service, along with his struggles in the Jim Crow South in “A Rope from Above: At Pearl Harbor.”  Limited quantities will be available for purchase at the event. 

The book is available for advance purchase, including an eBook version, at: https://www.aropefromabove.com/order-now/

Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring copies of any documents and pictures of friends or family members with military service and a connection to the Cape Fear area. 

We invite veterans to express their stories and emotions through the power of art and writing at the Veterans Creative Arts Program. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your talents, whether through visual arts or creative writing. Come and share your experiences, connect with fellow veterans, and celebrate the healing power of creativity.

Visual Arts Course
Please join us for this open studio style class as we explore ways to strengthen your creative expression through drawing, painting, and creating mixed media works of art. For veterans and first responders, especially those experiencing the effects of service-related trauma, such as PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

About the instructor: Cammeron Batanides is an internationally known fine artist and children’s book author/illustrator whose works have been featured across the United States, in Jamaica and throughout Canada, at the 2013 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and at the legendary Los Angeles Fine Arts Building. She was the first live painter for The Wailers, on the USS North Carolina Battleship, and at Wilmington’s historic Thalian Hall’s inaugural reggae show. Cammeron has recently returned from Washington, D.C, where over 40 of her original works were exhibited adjacent to the Smithsonian at Pepco Edison Place Gallery. Cammeron’s originals were simultaneously displayed in Leland, North Carolina at Leland Cultural Arts Center.

Creative Writing Course
In this course, we will learn writing forms and techniques to help process our stories and transform them into art. Classes will consist of generative writing prompts, occasional in-class readings, and in-class sharing.

About the instructor: Michael Ramos is an Iraq war veteran, a writer, teacher, book designer, editor, and the art director for Ecotone magazine. His work focuses on dispelling myths about war, warriors, and veterans, and bringing military and civilian communities together through the power of art. You can find his work in Fourth Genre, Slice, PANK Daily, and other places. His essay collection The After: A Veteran's Notes on Coming Home (UNC Press 2024) received a starred Kirkus review and is available now from UNC Press. Offered through a partnership with VFW Leland 12196 and soon-to-be nonprofit, Veterans Creative Arts Program.

• Register here or call (910) 254-0907 (English) or (910) 341-0056 (Español) for more details.

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