Today
in Wilmington
Thursday, December 25th, 2025
Good morning, Wilmington. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 25th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Pine Valley Methodist Church volunteers fed thousands on Christmas Eve by serving meals at local shelters, nursing homes, and fire stations. The church continued a decades-long tradition (ensuring community warmth during the holidays). FOX Wilmington
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ On Wednesday, shoppers filled Mayfair Town Center seeking last-minute gifts with an average planned spend of $890, according to the National Retail Federation. The center closed at 5 p.m. and will reopen Friday at 10 a.m. WWAY
- ➤ On Dec. 24, 12:31 p.m. ET, Wilmington’s first international commercial flight departed from ILM with Avelo Airlines bound for Punta Cana, as the seasonal service (Wednesdays and Saturdays) begins at $129 one-way following recent upgrades to the airport’s customs facility. Wilmington Star-News
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Residents can recycle live Christmas trees and wreaths (with decorations removed) at several local drop off sites. New Hanover County offers free recycling from Friday, Dec. 26 until Jan. 31, while options in Wrightsville Beach, Brunswick County, Oak Island and others are scheduled through mid-January. Wilmington Star-News
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The town of Leland applied for a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) grant to purchase and demolish 13 flood-prone homes on Ruby Stone Court and Stoney Creek Lane in the Stoney Creek neighborhood. If approved, the project will protect residents from future flooding and convert cleared lots into greenspace. Wilmington Star-News
- ➤ Legal Aid Society of North Carolina’s Wilmington office will move from Front Street to the Harrelson Center on N. Fourth by the end of summer 2026 after receiving a 1.1-million-dollar grant to counter funding cuts, allowing 11 staff to consolidate with 20 nonprofit groups. Port City Daily
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Access Dental Care in Wilmington has received a $300,000 grant to fund a mobile dental truck, specialized equipment, and training for a second team serving residents with complex oral health needs. The Endowment provided the funds to expand critical services for vulnerable community members. Port City Daily
- ➤ Today, Cape Fear Valley Health has updated its visitor rules amid a spike in respiratory illness, requiring visitors to be at least 12 (with minors from 12 to 17 needing an adult) and mandating masks in waiting rooms across all its facilities. FOX Wilmington
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Wilmington resident Mandie Goode shares easy techniques for wrapping gifts and making gift bags during the holiday season — her guide shows how to measure paper and secure edges with tape to simplify the process. WECT
- ➤ On Christmas Eve, Wilmington retailers adjusted their hours so residents could complete last-minute shopping — Food Lion closed at 7 p.m., Trader Joe’s ended service at 5 p.m., and CVS and Target offered special schedules yesterday. WWAY
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New Year's Eve Bash at Bluewater
9:00 PM — Bluewater Waterfront Grill — Ticketed event — Celebrate the New Year with live music, dancing, and a midnight champagne toast overlooking the water.
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Floating Lantern Ceremony
2-7 p.m. — Cameron Art Museum — Free outdoor event — Create and float a lantern while enjoying live music and reflecting on special moments.
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Charleston Cougars at UNC Wilmington Seahawks Women's Basketball
7-11 p.m. — Trask Coliseum — Tickets available — Catch the action as the Cougars take on the Seahawks in a thrilling women's basketball matchup.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.
~ David Foster Wallace
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