| Wilmington,
NC – March 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / Spring sports are ramping
up in Wilmington, North
Carolina’s historic river district and the island beaches of Carolina
Beach,
Kure Beach and Wrightsville
Beach, with more than two dozen sports competitions that range from
5k and 10k races to marathons, biathlons and triathlons, cycling and surf/SUP
events. From March through May, sports enthusiasts will find scheduled
events nearly every week. Wilmington’s inaugural Susan
G. Komen-Race for the Cure will get the season off to a running start
on March 7. Other races include the Steve
Haydu St. Patrick’s Lo-Tide Run on March 14, the Quintiles
Wrightsville Beach Marathon and Half-Marathon on March 21, the Wrightsville
Beach Biathlon on March 28, and the Carolina
Beach Double Sprint Marathon on May 17. Inaugural events include the
US
Open Fat Bike Beach Championship on March 14 and the Cape
Fear Highland Games on March 28. There are also cycle, swim, surf and
standup paddle competitions, soccer and cheerleading tournaments. And Wilmington’s
professional soccer and baseball teams return in April/May.
Wilmington and its island
beaches offer a pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly destination with excellent
fitness trails from the river to the sea. More than 54 parks and gardens
include the 1.75-mile Wilmington Riverwalk in the historic river district
and Wilmington’s Gary Shell Cross-City Trail, an off-road, multi-use trail
with bicycle and pedestrian access to recreational and cultural sites.
On the island of Wrightsville Beach, The Loop is a fitness trail for jogging
and walking with incredible views of island waterways. Two state parks
are located on Pleasure Island: Carolina Beach State Park and Fort Fisher
State Recreation Area, both of which offer hiking and cycling trails, as
well as fishing and other recreational activities. Kure Beach boasts an
Oceanfront Park and a disc golf course.
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Go with the flow and see
where the water takes you. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal
Waterway, and the Cape Fear River, there are abundant recreational opportunities
for fishing, boating, surfing and paddling. Surf schools offer lessons
and camps, and several outfitters offer kayak, canoe and paddleboard lessons
and excursions. For more information about outdoor activities and outfitters
visit www.WilmingtonAndBeaches.com/things-to-do.
Following is a sampling of
spring sports events. Registration and/or admission charges may apply.
Event details may change without notice, so please confirm details with
event organizers prior to traveling great distances.
Races
March 7: Susan
G. Komen-Race for The Cure (5k walk/run). 8:30am. A USATF Certified
5K route (1-mile route also available). Downtown Wilmington (2nd &
Market streets).
March 7: Azalea
Sprint 2015. 8am. UNCW Natatorium & campus, Wilmington.
March 14: 11th
Annual Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Lo-Tide Run. 8am. Carolina Beach Boardwalk,
Carolina Beach.
March 14: US
Open Fat Bike Beach Championship. 9am. Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville
Beach.
March 21: McGregor
5k. 9am. Johnnie Mercer Fishing Pier, Wrightsville Beach.
March 21: Quintiles
Wrightsville Beach 5k & Eli’s 1-mile Run. 4pm (Eli’s Run) &
5pm (5k). Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington.
March 22: Quintiles
Wrightsville Beach Half Marathon & Full Marathon & Relay Race.
6:15am. Wrightsville Beach.
March 26: Wilmington
Hammerheads Hammer Out Hunger 5k. 6:30pm. Legion Stadium, Wilmington.
March 28: 6th
Annual Wrightsville Beach Biathlon. 10:30am. Stand-up Paddleboard &
Run. Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach.
March 28: Blue
Ribbon Run 5k. 4pm. Autumn Hall, Wilmington.
March 29: Paws4People
5k/10k. 9am. UNCW Fisher Center, Wilmington.
April 4: Azalea-Big
Buddy 5k/10k/Fun Walk. 7am. Mayfaire Town Centre, Wilmington.
April 11: Hedrick
Gardner Parade Mile. 8am. Downtown Wilmington.
April 11: Pier
To Pier Run & Crab Crawl. 8:15am. Johnnie Mercer’s Pier to Crystal
Pier, Wrightsville Beach.
April 12: Coastal
10 Miler. 6:30am. Wrightsville Beach Loop to Autumn Hall.
April 19: 5k
Race for the Planet. 7am register; 8am race. Earth Day event. NC Aquarium
at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach.
April 19: Holland
Hustle. 3pm. Kid-friendly race. Carolina Beach.
April 25: Step
Up For Soldiers Combat Mud Run. 8am. National Guard Armory, Wilmington.
April 25: Coastal
NC Run/Walk for Autism. 8am. Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington.
May 2: River
to the Sea Bike Ride. 8am. Bailey’s Park, Downtown Wilmington.
May 2: Run
to Remember Alzheimers NC (5k & 1-mile). 8am. Legion Stadium, Wilmington.
May 2: NHCS
Teacher Trot (5k & 1-mile Run). 8am. Ashley High School, Wilmington.
May 9: Luv2Run
(5k & 1-mile). 8:30am. St. Mary’s School, Wilmington.
May 17: Carolina
Beach Double Sprint Marathon. 7am. Carolina Beach.
May 16: Stoked
to Go Out! The Grey Liston Pier-to-Pier Memorial Swim. 9am. 1.7-mile
swim. Wrightsville Beach.
May 28: WILMA
Dash 5k. 6pm. Coastline Conference & Event Center, Wilmington.
Spring Surf / SUP Competitions
March 14 & April 11&
May 16: ESA Contests. Carolina Beach
(locations TBA).
April 17-19: Wrightsville
Beach Waterman Festival & SUP-Surfing Pro-Am. Wrightsville Beach.
April 22-26: 5th
Annual Carolina Cup. Stand Up paddleboard event. National qualifier
race for World SUP Championships. Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville
Beach.
May 2: 12th
Annual WBLA Longboard Pro-Am. Wrightsville Beach.
Spectator Events
March 7 & May 23: Masters
of Ring Pro Wrestling Events. Coastline Conference & Event Center,
Wilmington.
March 14: War
on the Shore National Cheerleading Championship. 12pm. Wilmington Convention
Center, Wilmington.
March 28: Cape
Fear Highland Games. 9am-6pm. 3400 Randall Pkwy., Wilmington.
March 28-Sept. 19: Wilmington
Hammerheads Soccer. USL PRO Division. Home games at Legion Stadium,
Wilmington.
April 11-12: NC
Azalea Fest Boxing Tournament. CFCC Schwartz Center, Wilmington.
May 16-17: 22nd
Annual Seaside Soccer Classic. Youth Soccer Tournament. Cape Fear Regional
Soccer Park & other fields, Wilmington.
May 26-August 3: Wilmington
Sharks Baseball. Coastal Plain League. Home games at Legion Stadium,
Wilmington.
Wilmington, North Carolina
and the island beaches of Carolina
Beach,
Kure Beach and Wrightsville
Beach are an easy drive from Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro along I-40
and from the Charlotte area along US 74, with easy access from I-95. Prefer
to fly? Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
offers daily direct flights to major destinations. For seasonal specials,
events and experiences, visit www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/season/2015-spring-highlights.
For a free Visitors Guide to Wilmington, North Carolina’s historic river
district and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville
Beach, please call 866-266-9690, email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com
or visit www.GoWilmingtonAndBeaches.com.
Media
Contact:
Wilmington
and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau
Connie
Nelson
Communications/PR
Director
910-332-8751
866-266-9690
ext. 120
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The
New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches
Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization
of New Hanover County, North Carolina that stimulates economic development
through the promotion of travel and tourism.
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