Over 800 cheerful Wilmington residents attended the RiverLights Holiday Festival of Homes and raced through the decorated Dashing Thru the Glow 5K course on Saturday, Dec. 2. RiverLights hosted this second annual holiday event to celebrate the merriment of the season for the Wilmington community to enjoy, while marking one year of the community’s official open.

Join us on Wednesday, September 20 from 6 to 7 pm for the second presentation of our Discovery Series — History of the Bellamy Mansion and Downtown Wilmington with Gareth Evans, Director of the Bellamy Mansion Museum.

Join us on Wednesday, September 27 from 6 to 7 pm for the final presentation of our Fall Discovery Series — History of the Cape Fear Region with Jan Davidson from the Cape Fear Museum. 

Join us on Wednesday, September 13 from 6 to 7 pm for the premiere presentation of our Discovery Series — The History Behind the Land with local archaeologist Bill Green.

Join us on Wednesday, July 26 from 6 to 7 pm for the final presentation of our Discovery Series — Cape Fear River History with Frank Yelverton from Cape Fear River Watch.

Join us on Wednesday, July 12 from 6 to 7 pm for the premiere presentation of our Discovery Series — Native Birds of Southeast North Carolina with Jill Stitt from Wild Bird and Garden.

Everyone wants to live in the home of his or her dreams, which leads many to have a home built for them rather than buying one that already exists. While going this route is exciting and allows you to make your family’s dreams a reality, it’s best to take first things first — before the builder even starts on the foundation, you need to decide on a home plan.

The weather is warmer, the flowers are in full bloom and you can hear Kenny Chesney singing “summertime is finally here” from your neighbor’s back porch — ah, sweet summertime. Now it’s time to grab your towels and sunscreen and head to the LakeHouse, the newest amenity at RiverLights, to relax and soak up the Southern sun.

If you’ve ever been to the beach, chances are you’ve spent some time digging or looking for seashells and shark teeth. Did you know there’s actually a name for what you’re doing? It’s called beachcombing. Beachcombing is the act of searching the sand for nautical treasures. It’s a popular pastime for beach fanatics, so if you have a hunt that yields few treasures, you’re in luck, the tides change all day, sweeping the sand with new goodies to be discovered. 

For the 31^st time since its creation in 1986, the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association (WCFHBA) will be showcasing 84 of the area’s finest homes in the annual Parade of Homes. Builder members of the WCFHBA compete year after year for the titles of gold, silver, and bronze in their respective category. Homes are categorized based on price range and are judged based on interior and exterior features, quality of materials, and craftsmanship.

Wilmington, North Carolina, is one of the most vibrant riverfront cities in the country. The Port City offers its visitors plenty of Southern charm to go along with the stunning views from the Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River, so it’s no surprise that Wilmington’s was voted the Best American Riverfront in USA Today’s “10Best Readers’ Choice” contest. The best part? All of this could be a short drive from your new home at RiverLights.  

The city also has some incredible festivals throughout the year that you won’t want to miss. Here are five of the top annual festivals in the Wilmington area.

Sitting a stone’s throw from the Cape Fear River, seafood and barbecue restaurant Smoke on the Water brings a delicious new aspect to the RiverLights community. The site was originally expected to be a second location for owner James Smith’s Fork-n-Cork restaurant. However, the view from Marina Village sparked an epiphany, and Smith began planning the concept for what we now know as Smoke on the Water.

The warm summer air is slowly vanishing, and fall’s cool air is now gracing us. This brings with it an aura of excitement, as there are plenty of activities to enjoy this season in Wilmington, North Carolina.

A sunny August Saturday ushered in the first of many exciting days at RiverLights^TM. August 6 was the first time guests were able to visit the new home community and see all the great things in store for Wilmington’s newest coastal community.

Wilmington, North Carolina, provides beautiful, coastal scenery and great fun throughout the year. The city and its surrounding beaches truly shine during the summer.

Homeowners and homebuyers in North Carolina increasingly desire communities offering open spaces. For those considering relocation, a key factor in the decision-making process can be a state’s natural resources —such as the climate, mountains, ocean, lakes, hiking trails and wildlife — that make life more enjoyable.