Experience in Downtown Wilmington
Compiled By John Hinnant, Executive Director
Downtown
1.) Be Patient, its going to be very busy. When the holiday falls on a Saturday you know everybody will be out. Now that you know that, accept the fact that there are people everywhere and enjoy the scene. It’s a patriotic holiday, do your civic duty and be patient. Many places will have a line, that’s fine. Many downtown businesses are accustomed to being this busy on the 4th, so just be patient. Even Kilwin’s will staff up, so don’t be discouraged by the line.
2.) Carpool – get with your neighbors, friends and family and carpool. What’s more fun than a big crowd on the 4th of July (see #1). Everybody loves fireworks and we might as well share in our enthusiasm.
3.) Park in the parking deck - The City of Wilmington has two parking decks or you can park in the County’s Parking Deck. All three are accessible from North Second Street and there will be security on hand. The decks are professionally managed, the fee will be $5, and the attendant will know if there are spaces available.
Helpful TIP: back into your parking space, when the Fireworks are over an overwhelming majority of folks will be trying to leave downtown at the same time. By backing into your space you have better visibility when you are ready to leave. If you really want to park on the street, consider the prime parking spaces to be those facing east. Once out of your space, you are on your way home.
Also, the Community College will have their lots open on the north part of downtown. They will be free.
Beware, many dirt lots around downtown will have signs posted to park. Make sure the person taking your money has the authority to be there. Look for Boy/Girl Scouts, church groups, or some type of professional signage.
Do not block someone’s driveway.
Do not park in an area that is not a designated parking lot/space. Empty lots, grassy areas, etc are often private property and the owners can have your car towed. Also, some bank parking lots are not open to the public (even if you bank there).
4.) Come downtown early … you know the beaches are going to be completely swamped. Get down early (between 2:00 and 4:00). This will allow you time to grab an early dinner (without the rush) and window shop in the many downtown shops. It will also allow you the time to get a good parking space in the deck, which is covered and out of the sun.
5.) Drink plenty of water – the last thing anybody wants on a really hot day is a medical emergency. Be sure to have water packed in your car, or know which businesses are selling bottles of water.
6.) Have a plan – you and your family should have a plan in place before arriving downtown. I am one of those people who like to just arrive, but when you are responsible for others, everyone needs to have a reasonable expectation. Know where you are going to meet if you get separated, everybody should have a cell phone or two-way radios. Pick a geographical location for everyone to begin the afternoon and designate that as the meeting location if you lose contact with each other. Does everyone know where the Visitors Information Booth is? What about the Post Office, Finkelstein’s, Front Street Brewery, Kingoff’s, the Cotton Exchange parking lot, etc etc.
7.) Take a few minutes once you arrive downtown to locate the public restrooms. The city recently installed bathrooms on the lowest level of the city parking deck at Second & Market Streets. They are accessible from Bailey Theatre Park next to Kingoff’s. The city will have plenty of port-o-lets near the Water Street Parking Deck, complete with hand sanitizer as well. Several of our restaurants have restrooms, but please patronize those businesses. Buying a $2 drink will go a long way with the proprietor when you seek relief.
8.) Bring your boat – Hey recreational boaters, what a great experience it is to come up the river early in the afternoon and secure one of the city’s municipal docks for the fireworks. Docks usually sell out fast, so call RT Jones (City Dock Master - 910-520-6875) before you gas up the boat. The US Coast Guard will be on patrol, to prevent recreational boaters from entering the “blast zone” when the fireworks begin.
9.) Wear a hat – the sun will be very hot in the afternoon while you wait for the fireworks. Wear a hat, and as soon as the sun goes down remove it so you can cool off.
10.) Wear comfortable walking shoes – you will walk around while you’re down here. Since you’ll be in a crowd, comfortable tennis shoes would be best. Also, there is a lot of uneven sidewalks and pavement around downtown. The city is preparing a major investment to fix this, but for now watch where you walk.
Now I’ve exceeded the customary 10, so here goes with my bullet points:
- Leave Fido at home – please secure your pets at home. Fireworks tend to scare dogs, so don’t bring them into a very crowded downtown. Don’t leave them outside either; they need to be secured in your home so they can’t run at the sound of fireworks. The 4th of July is single largest day for lost or runaway dogs.
- If you ride your bike, secure it somewhere until you are ready to ride home. Do not attempt to ride around downtown while it is crowded.
- If you plan to enjoy alcoholic beverages, plan to have a designated driver. The local cab companies will be swamped, and cab service will be difficult at best. Please do not try to drive, or walk home if you’ve had too much to drink … remember tip #1 above.
- Smile – most of downtown between 3rd Street and the river, Orange to Walnut is now covered by security cameras. Smile, you’re on camera.
- Bring your camera – the fireworks downtown offer an awesome photographic opportunity. Imagine the air lit up with fireworks with the Battleship 55 USS North Carolina silhouetted in the night sky.
And finally, remember to CELEBRATE. July 4th is about so much more than coming downtown for Fireworks. It is the date in which our nation honors our Independence. This is the day that citizens declared themselves as being under no ruler, but to serve and be served by self-government. Take time to honor a veteran, enjoy your liberty, and think about those patriots of 1776. They are why we shoot fireworks, grill out, and take a day off.
2009 Downtown Sundown Concert Series
Summertime is here and with it comes the 4th Annual Downtown Sundown Concert Series on the riverfront! Join us downtown on Friday nights for 13 weeks of live music, spectacular sunset views, ice cold beverages, and lots of fun!
Visit our Concert Series section of the website here for all of the up-to-date information, including the series schedule of bands, links to the bands websites, directions & parking information, and more! This year's series is set to be the best one yet! Don't miss out on the summer fun downtown and meet us at the Riverfront! Remember, all shows are free to the public, so come out and join us!
Pay By Phone Parking is Here!
Park Wilmington has introduced a convenient new service for parking in downtown
Here’s how it works, you pull into a space, call the 888 number on the meter, they recognize your cell phone number, and you dial in the 5 digit code that is on the meter, and answer the prompt for how much time you want. Your card will be charged the amount of time $0.75 per hour, plus a convenience fee.
If you’re running late in a meeting, you will receive a text telling you to call a number and purchase additional time. That text will come 5 minutes before your meter runs out of time. If you’d like to register via telephone, please dial 1-888-380-7275 and follow the instructions.
Remember, you can always park in the city owned parking decks and you will not get a ticket. We promise!
Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Needs Your Help!
The Wilmington Urban Area MPO is currently conducting a survey to analyze the current transportation trends in our area, as well as gauge the upcoming needs our community faces for the future. The Cape Fear Commutes 2035 Transportation Plan is being compiled, and will look 25 years into the future and address a broad spectrum of transportation requirements for the entire Cape Fear Region. The plan will include an examination and evaluation of potential highway, rail, bus, ferry, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian projects in New Hanover County and parts of Brunswick and Pender Counties.
The committee drafting the plan has created this survey to receive citizen transportation recommendations. Enthusiastic public participation is essential in preparing a realistic transportation plan.
Please take a few moments to fill out this survey by clicking on the link here. For more information about the plan, visit www.capefearcommutes.org.
