Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce events

More than a place for summer fun, Pleasure Island offers good times all year long. Because local islanders like to enjoy themselves as much as the tourists do, both towns hold events of one kind or another every month. The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce events are terrific. The busy Chamber does a fantastic job of planning, sponsoring, coordinating, scheduling, marketing and staging activities.

Three major Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce events are the Chowder Cook-off in April, the Beach Music Festival in June and the Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival in October.

Runners (and walkers) look forward to participating in the Island’s races, among them: The February Special Olympics Polar Plunge, with its 5K Run and 1-mile Fun Walk; the March Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Lo-Tide Run; the Double Sprint Marathon in June; the Annual Heart of Hope Run in September; and, also in September, the Annual Pleasure Island Day of Hope “Toes in the Sand Walk. October is the Carolina Beach Marathon and Half Marathon.

For your enjoyment, here are a few more things to do: The Step-Up for Soldiers Backyard BBQ in March; the Seaside Soccer Classic in May; the Island of Lights Fashion Show in April; the Carolina Beach Street Arts Festival in May; the Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Regatta and Festival in September; and the Salty Paws Festival in October.

Take note fishing enthusiasts – there’s the Annual Cape Fear Disabled Sportsman Fishing Tournament in May, the East Coast Got Em On King Mackerel Classic Tournament in July and the Annual Pleasure Island Surf Fishing Challenge in October.

Several activities are scheduled regularly throughout the year. The American Legion hosts a fish fry every first Friday and the Katie B. Hines Senior Center has a pancake breakfast on first Saturday mornings.

Both are highly recommended by locals! Monthly cash bingo games are played at the Senior Center on the second Wednesday evening.

The very best, most fun part of the year on Pleasure Island is, of course, summer! From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, folks look forward to Summer Fireworks by the Sea, Boardwalk Gazebo music, Farmers Markets in both beach communities and Sunday evening Movies at the Lake.

At year’s end, the holidays are happy times here. We have a big Christmas Parade and a Holiday Flotilla. Officially, Pleasure Island becomes “The Island of Lights,” which we love. Lighted decorations along the main street greet visitors as soon as they come over the bridge. Animated light displays line the lake’s banks.

Many homes and businesses celebrate the season with festive decorations and lots of lights.

For more information visit http://www.pleasureislandnc.org