Family and kids events
Storytimes, kids programs, seasonal family outings and all-ages events on Pleasure Island.
Every week
Family Storytime (Ages 5 and Under, Through Dec 14)
Pumpkin Patch (Through Oct 31)
Story Time by the Sea (2027 Summer Series)
October 2026
Carolina Beach Pier Pumpkin Patch
The beachfront pumpkin patch offers photo spots, with pumpkins and refreshments for sale.
St. Paul's UMC Pumpkin Patch
The church sells pumpkins, and proceeds buy Christmas gifts for local families and Methodist Homes for Children.
Boombalatti's Trick or Treat Raffle
Every $10 spent earns one raffle entry. Each shop has its own Halloween basket and winner. Runs through Oct 29; winners announced Oct 30.
Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Movie Night in the Patch: Haunted Mansion
Yoga Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Kids ages 5 and younger and their caregivers enjoy yoga, stories, and music; bring a yoga mat, beach towel, or blanket, as only a limited number of…Kids ages 5 and younger and their caregivers enjoy yoga, stories, and music; bring a yoga mat, beach towel, or blanket, as only a limited number of mats are available. Registration is required, and there is no charge.
Unity Day: Wear Orange (Carolina Beach Elementary School)
Carolina Beach Elementary School marks Unity Day, an anti-bullying awareness day. Students and families are invited to wear orange.
Halloween Carnival
This free family carnival features games, prizes, candy, bounce houses, music, and a costume contest.
Halloween Story Time by the Sea
Princesses from Fairytales and Dreams by the Sea lead a costume story time.
Halloween Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of Halloween-themed stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of Halloween-themed stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Movie Night in the Patch: Hocus Pocus
National Night Out: Halloween Edition (Trunk-or-Treat)
The Carolina Beach Police Department's postponed National Night Out returns with a Halloween twist: emergency vehicles from several agencies on…The Carolina Beach Police Department's postponed National Night Out returns with a Halloween twist: emergency vehicles from several agencies on display, trunk-or-treat, candy and safety tips. Costumes are encouraged.
Alley-Ween at The Dive
The all-ages family fair runs 4:00-7:00 PM with trick-or-treating, carnival games, and vendors, and a kids' costume contest at 7:00 PM.The all-ages family fair runs 4:00-7:00 PM with trick-or-treating, carnival games, and vendors, and a kids' costume contest at 7:00 PM. The 21+ Spirits in the Alley party runs 8:00-11:00 PM with live music by Jam Sandwich, food, spooky cocktails, scary movies, and vendors. A DJ afterparty follows from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM, with an adult costume contest at midnight.
Live Music: Tom Choiniere (Halloween)
Live music in the Lakeside Beer Garden, with $4 apple ciders and $5 hot chocolates for kids in costume.Live music in the Lakeside Beer Garden, with $4 apple ciders and $5 hot chocolates for kids in costume. The Veggie Wagon closes early at 6 PM on Halloween.
November 2026
Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Read to a Dog (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5-12 practice reading aloud to a certified therapy team from Love on a Leash in 15-minute time slots.Children ages 5-12 practice reading aloud to a certified therapy team from Love on a Leash in 15-minute time slots. Caregivers stay with their children, and registration is not required.
Island STEAM Club: Art Creations (Pleasure Island Library)
Kids ages 6-12 make a pom-pom turkey and explore science, engineering, and creativity through hands-on activities.Kids ages 6-12 make a pom-pom turkey and explore science, engineering, and creativity through hands-on activities. Participants work independently or in small groups.
Messy Hands (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 2-5 explore their creativity with different art mediums in this child-driven, process-based art program.Children ages 2-5 explore their creativity with different art mediums in this child-driven, process-based art program. An adult must accompany each child, play clothes are recommended, and registration is required.
Genealogy Interest Group (Kure Beach Community Center)
This monthly family-history group shares research tips and covers DNA and ancestry topics.
Therapy Dog Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers meet a therapy dog and share 25 minutes of dog-themed stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers meet a therapy dog and share 25 minutes of dog-themed stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Carolina Beach Kite Festival Mural Restoration: Kite's Eye View (Nico Amortegui)
Mural artist Nico Amortegui restores the Kite's Eye View mural during Kite Festival weekend.Mural artist Nico Amortegui restores the Kite's Eye View mural during Kite Festival weekend. The Island Women Literacy Group hosts a children's meet-and-greet on Sat, Nov 7, 2:00-3:00 PM (registration required).
Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Island STEAM Club: LEGO (Pleasure Island Library)
Kids ages 6-12 take on a festive feast LEGO building challenge, part of a monthly series. Registration is required.
Sensory Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers take part in an interactive, sensory-friendly storytime.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers take part in an interactive, sensory-friendly storytime. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Teen Art Club (Pleasure Island Library)
Teens ages 12-18 make a new craft project each month or use library art supplies for their own projects. Registration is required.
Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Yoga Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Kids ages 5 and younger and their caregivers enjoy yoga, stories, and music; bring a yoga mat, beach towel, or blanket, as only a limited number of…Kids ages 5 and younger and their caregivers enjoy yoga, stories, and music; bring a yoga mat, beach towel, or blanket, as only a limited number of mats are available. Registration is required, and there is no charge.
Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Island of Lights: Lighting at the Lake
The Christmas tree lighting countdown at Carolina Beach Lake includes kids' games, hot cocoa, baked goods, a Christmas caroling sing-along, snow, and…The Christmas tree lighting countdown at Carolina Beach Lake includes kids' games, hot cocoa, baked goods, a Christmas caroling sing-along, snow, and Santa. Carolina Beach Parks & Recreation co-presents the event with Island of Lights.
Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
December 2026
Island STEAM Club: Art Creations (Pleasure Island Library)
Kids ages 6-12 explore science, engineering, and creativity through hands-on activities. Participants work independently or in small groups.
Messy Hands (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 2-5 explore their creativity with different art mediums in this child-driven, process-based art program.Children ages 2-5 explore their creativity with different art mediums in this child-driven, process-based art program. An adult must accompany each child, play clothes are recommended, and registration is required.
Genealogy Interest Group (Kure Beach Community Center)
This monthly family-history group shares research tips and covers DNA and ancestry topics.
Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Read to a Dog (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5-12 practice reading aloud to a certified therapy team from Love on a Leash in 15-minute time slots.Children ages 5-12 practice reading aloud to a certified therapy team from Love on a Leash in 15-minute time slots. Caregivers stay with their children, and registration is not required.
Sensory Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers take part in an interactive, sensory-friendly storytime.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers take part in an interactive, sensory-friendly storytime. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Teen Art Club (Pleasure Island Library)
Teens ages 12-18 make a new craft project each month or use library art supplies for their own projects. Registration is required.
Family Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities.Children ages 5 and younger and their caregivers share 25 minutes of stories, songs, and movement activities. Library staff build early literacy skills through singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing.
Yoga Storytime (Pleasure Island Library)
Kids ages 5 and younger and their caregivers enjoy yoga, stories, and music; bring a yoga mat, beach towel, or blanket, as only a limited number of…Kids ages 5 and younger and their caregivers enjoy yoga, stories, and music; bring a yoga mat, beach towel, or blanket, as only a limited number of mats are available. Registration is required, and there is no charge.
Holiday Story Time by the Sea
Princesses lead a holiday story time.
January 2027
Genealogy Interest Group (Kure Beach Community Center)
This monthly family-history group shares research tips and covers DNA and ancestry topics.
April 2027
Pets in the Park (6th Annual, Rescheduled)
The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce hosts the 6th annual Pets in the Park, a pet-centered day with local pet businesses, creators and animal…The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce hosts the 6th annual Pets in the Park, a pet-centered day with local pet businesses, creators and animal adoption groups. The event was rescheduled from Oct 10, 2026.
Kure Community Fest (2027)
This free family festival features music, games, vendors, food trucks, and a dunk tank.
September 2027
End of Season Foam Party (2027)
An end-of-season foam party takes place at Ocean Front Park.
October 2027
Halloween Story Time by the Sea (2027)
A Halloween-themed story time takes place at Ocean Front Park.
December 2027
Holiday Story Time by the Sea (2027)
A holiday story time takes place at Ocean Front Park.