Carolina Beach spent this fall being recognized for something locals already knew: Pleasure Island does the holidays its own way. In an Oct. 28, 2026 WECT report, Hannah Hall wrote that the town was named one of Hallmark Channel’s top 25 “Merriest Christmas Towns,” selected from nearly 1,500 submissions nationwide. Carlinville, Illinois, took the top spot, but Carolina Beach earned its place as an Official 2026 Hallmark Christmas Town finalist.
The traditions behind that honor start in under three weeks. Island of Lights, the volunteer-run holiday festival shared by Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, opens the day after Thanksgiving. Here is the 2026 schedule, where to go, and why the season is one of the best times to get to know the island if you are thinking about buying here.
The 2026 Island of Lights Schedule at a Glance
Dates below come from the Island of Lights organizers and the Town of Carolina Beach 2026 special events calendar. Check each event page before traveling: the Tour of Homes page lists a ticket charge, while Lighting at the Lake is free.
- Lighting at the Lake: Friday, Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m., Carolina Beach Lake at Atlanta Avenue and Lake Park Boulevard.
- Carolina Beach Christmas Parade: Friday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Lake Park Boulevard (a town event).
- Carolina Beach Holiday Market: Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Carolina Beach Lake.
- Christmas Flotilla: Saturday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m., on the Intracoastal Waterway from Snows Cut to the Carolina Beach Boat Basin and back.
- Tour of Homes: Saturday, Dec. 12, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at homes in Carolina Beach and Kure Beach; $12 tickets sold at Pleasure Island businesses.
Lighting at the Lake Opens the Season
The festival officially begins when the tree and light displays around Carolina Beach Lake are switched on the evening after Thanksgiving. Organizers say Santa will be on hand to hear Christmas wishes, and the event is free. After opening night, the lake loop makes an easy evening walk for the rest of the season.
The same weekend, the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce’s new Boardwalk on Ice rink is scheduled to open on Black Friday, Nov. 27, and run through Jan. 3, 2027, according to WWAY’s Oct. 16 report. We covered that in our Boardwalk ice rink post.
Parade Night and Flotilla Weekend
The first weekend of December packs in the most. The town’s Christmas Parade starts at Carolina Beach Lake near Atlanta Avenue, heads north on Lake Park Boulevard, and ends at the Publix intersection. Per the town’s parade page, Lake Park Boulevard closes at 6:30 p.m. so entries can assemble, and Santa rides at the end as the finale. Plan errands and dinner around that closure.
Saturday brings the daytime Holiday Market at the lake, then the Christmas Flotilla after dark. Fishing boats and pleasure craft decorated with lights cruise from Snows Cut to the Carolina Beach Boat Basin and back, judges award prizes by boat size, and spectators can text-vote for the People’s Choice award. Boat owners who want to enter can find the registration form on the flotilla page.
The Tour of Homes Is a Different Kind of Open House
On the third Saturday after Thanksgiving, island homeowners open their decorated homes for a self-guided evening tour across Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Tickets are $12 and are sold through businesses on the island, according to the Tour of Homes page.
For anyone considering a move to Pleasure Island, the tour offers a chance to enjoy local holiday decorating and think about how a home might accommodate gatherings. Participating properties and access are determined by the organizers; do not assume a particular type of home will be on the tour. It is not a sales event, but it can sharpen your sense of what you like before you tour listings.
Kure Beach Adds Its Own Holiday Events
The Town of Kure Beach hosts a Holiday Market at Ocean Front Park on Saturdays, Nov. 21 and Nov. 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with handcrafted goods such as wreaths, jewelry, and wood art. On Friday, Dec. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m., the town’s Grinch-themed Holiday Whoobie Whatty is free, with donations collected for the Help Center of Federal Point.
Why the Holidays Are a Smart Time to Scout Pleasure Island
Summer shows you the island at its busiest. December shows you what everyday life is like when the crowds have gone home. If you are weighing a second home, a retirement move, or a year-round relocation, a holiday visit lets you:
- Test the off-season pace. See which restaurants and shops keep regular winter hours and how quiet your target streets get after dark.
- Drive the commute. Try the trip up Carolina Beach Road and across Snows Cut toward Monkey Junction or downtown Wilmington on a weekday.
- Meet the community. Volunteer-run events like the flotilla tell you a lot about a town.
- Compare north end, central, and Kure Beach. Each area has a different feel, and flood zones, elevation, and insurance costs can vary block by block.
Our guides to living in Carolina Beach and living in Kure Beach are good reading before you visit.
FAQ
When does Island of Lights 2026 start?
Friday, Nov. 27, with Lighting at the Lake at 6:30 p.m. at Carolina Beach Lake. The schedule above includes the December parade, flotilla, and Tour of Homes.
Does a holiday tour replace a home inspection?
No. Enjoy the decorations, but treat a later purchase as a separate decision. Review the actual property, disclosures, insurance quotes, and inspection findings before committing to a home. A community celebration cannot establish a property’s condition or its suitability for your plans.
Was Carolina Beach named Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town?
It was named one of 25 finalists, an Official 2026 Hallmark Christmas Town. Carlinville, Illinois, was the overall winner, per WECT.
Do events change for weather?
They can. The Town of Carolina Beach notes its schedule is subject to change and some events are weather permitting, so check the organizer pages before you head out.
Thinking About Island Life?
Whether you want a weekend place for holidays like these or a year-round home near the lake, our team knows Carolina Beach and Kure Beach street by street. Contact Aspyre Collective to talk through neighborhoods, flood and insurance questions, and what is on the market this winter.
