ILM Live

From a local, not a directory

Wilmington Guides

6 real recommendations — spotlights and roundups worth reading, not just listings.

Halloween Weekend in Wilmington: 21 Ways to CelebrateGuide

October 23, 2026

Halloween Weekend in Wilmington: 21 Ways to Celebrate

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so the whole weekend gets to celebrate. Costume runs and kids' mornings, ghost tours and a battleship after dark, tribute bands, a bass show on the river and plenty of costume contests.

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Fall Is the Best Time to Get Out on the Water in WilmingtonGuide

October 7, 2026

Fall Is the Best Time to Get Out on the Water in Wilmington

The summer crowds are gone, the water is still warm, and the sunsets come early. Four ways to get on a boat or a board before the season winds down.

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Masonboro Water Taxi Is Wilmington's Easiest Way to a Real Deserted IslandLocal Spotlight

August 24, 2026

Masonboro Water Taxi Is Wilmington's Easiest Way to a Real Deserted Island

Captain James Thornton has run these waters for 27 years — book a ride to Masonboro Island's nine miles of undeveloped beach, no boat of your own required. A great first-weeks-of-the-semester trip for new UNCW students, too.

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Cabana Bar & Grill Is Wilmington's New Island Escape on Pavilion PlaceLocal Spotlight

August 19, 2026

Cabana Bar & Grill Is Wilmington's New Island Escape on Pavilion Place

Rum punch, homemade Jamaican patties, and mango mahi that's the real deal, plus weekend brunch and live music on weekend nights. This is your sign to go.

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Two Indoor Wilmington Spots for When the Forecast Doesn't CooperateGuide

July 22, 2026

Two Indoor Wilmington Spots for When the Forecast Doesn't Cooperate

An escape room on Princess Street and a golf-simulator bar at Mayfaire, both fully indoors, both worth the trip even when it isn't raining.

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Wilmington's Best Sports Bars for Catching the GameGuide

July 15, 2026

Wilmington's Best Sports Bars for Catching the Game

A Market Street pizzeria that's had TVs on every wall since 1997, and an open-air bar yard with a big screen strung up in the lights — two real go-tos for game day.

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