Your guide to 2024 food-and-drink events in the Wilmington area

For food-and-drink lovers, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2024. The coming months include a lot of tasty annual favorites, as well as brand new events that feature chefs from near and far, in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties. And let us know if there’s an event we should add to the list, by emailing aballard@gannett.com.

January

Love Is Bald Chili Cookoff: On Jan. 14, this local nonprofit benefiting cancer patients is hosting their 11th annual chili cookoff at Bill's Brewing Company, 4238 Market St. in Wilmington. You can bring in your own entry or buy a chili judging ticket. It’s from noon to 4 p.m. Details: www.facebook.com/loveisbald. Join us on Jan. 17th for Wine 101 with sommelier, Amanda Leese! Learn to appreciate wine better while enjoying some of our favorites! The ticket includes 4 wines for the tasting experience - link in bio

Wine 101: Sommelier Amanda Leese is leading a wine-appreciation session at Wine Knot Sky Bar & Lounge on Jan. 17. Cost is $30 and includes four wines. Details: https://wineknotskybar.com.

Local Oyster Shuck & Tell: Wrightsville Beach Brewery is once again hosting this annual celebration of local oyster growers and harvesters, which includes Middlesound Mariculture, N. Sea Oyster Co, and Ryan "Simba" Glass. Two time slots are available on Jan. 23, 6-7 p.m., and 7-8 p.m. Tickets include eight oysters, and four pours of paired beer or wine. Details: www.wbbeer.com.

One B.A.D Coffee Crawl: Jan. 27 is the second year for this event in the Brooklyn Arts District in downtown Wilmington. About a dozen businesses there are offering coffee and coffee-inspired foods, beer, cocktails. Attendees pick up a voting card; there’s a noon start time. Details: www.facebook.com/brooklynartsdistrict.

Chef’s Showcase: This 5-course meal with wine pairings prepared by notable area chefs is a kick-off event for the N.C. Azalea Festival. It begins at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27. Details: https://ncazaleafestival.org.

February

Taste & Toast Pinot Noir: Floriana restaurant in downtown Wilmington is offering this four-course pairing with Pinot Noirs from France, Italy, Oregon, and Santa Barbara. It's Feb. 1. Details: www.facebook.com/florianarestaurantILM.

Chinese New Year: Double Happiness restaurants are offering a special menu to celebrate the lunar new year, with traditional dishes from China. Look for a menu with 10 fortuitous dishes, and no regular menu. It's Feb. 9 and 10 at 4403 Wrightsville Ave. and 7122 Market St. in Wilmington. Details: https://chinesedoublehappiness.com.

Blueberry Pancake Breakfast: The N.C. Blueberry Festival will be hosting this annual fundraiser 8-11 a.m. Feb. 10 with pancakes, sausage and beverages. It's at the Burgaw Fire Station, 109 N. Walker St., or there's a take-out available at the train depot, 115 S Dickerson St. Details: http://ncblueberryfestival.com.

Chili Cookoff: The winner of this contest at Joe's Oasis at 6400 Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington gets more than bragging rights. In addition to the prize from the entry fee, the winner’s chili will be featured on the menu during Super Bowl. It begins 3 p.m. Feb. 10, with judging at 5 p.m. Details: www.joesoasis.com.

Super Bowl Buffet: The 22 North restaurant and chef David Rishel are hosting a buffet for the big game on Feb. 11 with appetizers, wings, hot dogs, risotto, and a nacho bar. It's at 22 N. Lumina Ave. in Wrightsville Beach. Details: www.22northwb.com.

Mariposa Date Night: Those who miss the former Spanish restaurant in Wilmington's South Front District can take advantage of this event. It's one of the offering from Ellipsis, which was opened by the same restaurant group. It includes eight tapas courses, a sangria special and cash bar. Details: www.ellipsisilm.com.

March

N.C. Rice Festival: This annual event is meant to shed light on the historic rice-growing culture along the Gullah Geechee corridor. This year, it takes place 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. March 2 at the Historic Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, 8884 St. Phillips Road in Winnabow. Details: www.northarolinaricefestival.org.

Cape Fear Wine & Food Experience: Beacon Education is hosting their ninth annual celebrity chef events and launching this new version of them, which includes community dinners on March 7 and a Grand Tasting & Auction on March 9. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is headlining. Details: https://sparkacademync.com/breakfast-with-bobby-flay.

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival: With more than 60 beers, 40 bourbons and lots of barbecue to sample, this popular fest takes place at the Live Oak Bank Pavillion, 10-A Cowan St. In downtown Wilmington. It’s noon-6 p.m. March 16 with VIP or general admission access. Details: https://wilmington.beerandbourbon.com.

Empty Bowls: This popular event returns to Wilmington on March 22. The Good Shepherd Center and Mother Hubbard's Cupboard are hosting the fundraiser that combines a variety of restaurant-donated soups with bowls made by local artisans. It begins at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Activity Center, 1939 Independence Blvd. Details: emptybowlsilm.org.

Feast Wilmington: This inaugural fest is March 22-24 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion at 10-A Cowan St. In downtown Wilmington. The lineup includes events like the VIP Kickoff, Brunch Elevated, a Riverside Pier Party, and Craft + Cuisine, where 20 local breweries matched with 20 chefs. Tickets are available for each event, or as an all-access pass. Details: https://feastwilmington.com.

Roast for the Coast: The North Carolina Coastal Federation and Waterman’s Brewing Company are offering steamed local oysters, clam chowder, corn chowder, and tastings of raw locally farmed oysters for this event on March 23. It's 1-4 p.m. Details: www.nccoast.org.

April

N.C. Azalea Festival: The annual event, which includes food-and-drink filled parties and a street fair is April 3-7 this year. Details: https://ncazaleafestival.org.

Herb & Garden Fair: For more than 25 years, this event at Poplar Grove Plantation celebrates spring, gardening and (of course) herbs. It's also the start of the site's farmers market. The fest takes place April 6-7. Details: https://poplargrove.org/festivals/herb-garden-fair.

Mycology 101: The Wilmington Mushroom Club is hosting this introduction to mushrooms and fungi at 6 p.m. April 15, including how to forage sustainably and proper handling. Come prepared with a notebook to this donation-based class at Maides Park, 1101 Manly Ave. in Wilmington. Details: www.facebook.com/groups/thewilmingtonmushroomclub.

Fueling the Future: NouishNC is hosting a fundraiser beginning at 6 p.m. April 20 at their warehouse at 3606 Market St. in Wilmington. It promises to be fun and raise money for food insecure children in the area. Details: https://nourishnc.org.

Wilmington VegFest: Celebrate the Earth and plant-based fare on April 21, from noon to 4 p.m. at Legion Stadium, 2149 Carolina Beach Road. Look for more than 30 vendors, speakers, music and family fun. Details: https://vegfestexpos.com/wilmington-vegfest.

Riverfront Farmers Market: The opening day for the 2024 season is April 13 at Dock Street between Second and Water streets. It's 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Details: www.riverfrontfarmersmarket.org.

Strawberry & Wine Fest: The 10th annual festival of is slated for April 28 in the Sunset Beach Town Park in Brunswick County with music, food and vendors. Details: www.theoldbridge.org.

May

Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market: This weekly event returns May 13 for the 2024 season. It's 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Dec, 2. at Wrightsville Beach Municipal Grounds adjacent to Town Hall at 12 Seawater Lane. Details: www.townofwrightsvillebeach.com.

Greek Festival: Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church brings back this popular celebration of Greek culture and food May 17-19. Look for delicious food, music and dancing, lively marketplace and cooking demonstrations at 608 College Road. Details: https://www.stnicholascenter.org.

Carolina Beach Market: The 2024 season for this market with local growers and makers begins May 25 at S. Lake Park Blvd. and Atlanta Ave. in Carolina Beach. Details: www.facebook.com/CarolinaBeachMarket.

June

N.C. Blueberry Festival: From lots of blueberries to a whole-hog barbecue cookoff, this festival is a local favorite. The 2024 dates are June 14-15. Details: http://ncblueberryfestival.com.

July

Beach Day: This event, which typically takes place July 1, commemorates the merger of the Towns of Yaupon Beach and Long Beach into what is now Town of Oak Island. It includes fireworks, live music, games, a sandcastle building contest and food. Details: www.oakislandnc.gov.

Freedom Fest: Waterline Brewing Co. hosts a yearly event for the Independence Day holiday. The all-day lineup includes a variety of contests (like for the best-dressed in patriotic clothing), food trucks and music.

September

Cape Fear Latinos Festival: This celebration of local Latino and Hispanic culture, including dancing, music, foor and more, is set to take place Sept. 21 at Live Oak Bank Pavillion. Detail: www.capefearlatinos.org.

October

Airlie Oyster Roast: This fundraiser for Airlie Gardens is a tradition that was revived in 2000 as a celebration of a local delicacy. For 2024, it takes place on Oct. 18. Details: https://airliegardens.org.

N.C. Oyster Festival: The 2024 event is the 43rd anniversary of festival. It takes place Oct. 19-20 with a variety of foods, crafts, contests, music -- and the signature oyster shucking contest -- at Town Center Park in Ocean Isle Beach. Details: https://ncoysterfestival.com.

Carousel Center Beer and Wine Festival: This popular event hosting by Lighthouse Beer & Wine is noon-5 p.m. Oct. 26 in downtown Wilmington. Details: www.lighthousebeerandwine.com/the-beer-wine-festival.

November

Taste of Wrightsville Beach: For more than 10 years, this event offers attendees samples from a wide variety of restaurants, and other food-and-drink businesses, as a fundraiser for Weekend Meals on Wheels. It continues this year on Nov. 2. Details: www.weekendmealsonwheels.org/taste-of-wrightsville-beach.

St. Stan's Polish Fest: It's a full day of Polish food, dancing, beer and family fun at this annual festival. It's Nov. 2 at St. Stanislaus Church, 4849 Castle Hayne Road in Castle Hayne. Details: https://ststanislauscatholic.org.

N.C. Spot Festival: This annual festival combines community fun with spot dinners. In 2024, it's scheduled for Nov. 2-5 in Hampstead, N.C. Details: www.thencspotfestival.com.

Taste of the Cape Fear: This event is part of the popular Southport Wooden Boat Show, which takes place Nov. 2. It add some delicious flavor to this celebration of the area's maritime and boatbuilding history. Details: https://southportwoodenboatshow.com.

December

Cookie Walk: Wrightsville United Methodist Church brings back this popular fundraising event where thousands of homemade cookies are available for sale on Dec. 7. Details: www.wrightsvilleumc.org.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: A guide to 2024 food-and-drink events in Wilmington, NC