Celebrate the Season

Holden Beach comes alive in the spring with family-friendly events that capture the heart of this coastal community. One of our favorite traditions is the annual Days at the Docks Festival held at the Holden Beach Pavilion and the Jordan Boulevard area under the Holden Beach Bridge. Occurring the last full weekend in April, this event features a variety of food, arts and crafts vendors, live music, and dancing! You’ll love fun happenings during this two-day event like the Cardboard Box Paddle Race, Hermit Crab Races, Bopple Race, and Family Fun Run!

Easter is another special time on Holden Beach. Some local churches host peaceful sunrise services on the beach, followed by egg hunts for children and special brunch menus at local restaurants. These family-friendly traditions make the holiday extra memorable. Spring also brings an overall awakening to our island, with live music returning to the area at local restaurants and outdoor spaces. 

If you’d like to take a short day trip, you won’t want to miss the North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington. This annual spring event celebrates the area’s blooming azaleas and features parades, garden tours, art shows, and more. It’s the perfect blend of natural beauty and lively festivities, and it’s within an hour’s drive from Holden Beach!

Explore the Outdoors

Put a spring in your step with the ideal weather for outdoor adventures at Holden Beach. Temps are mild and nature is in full bloom. A walk along the shoreline is a serene way to start your day, whether collecting unique shells, watching coastal birds and wildlife, flying a kite, or simply enjoying the hypnotizing ebb and flow of the waves. 

Our coastal landscape pops with spring color as the azaleas, magnolias, and crepe myrtles come alive. Wildflowers such as blanket flowers and morning glories can often be spotted along the dunes, making beach walks even more picturesque. Learn more about the many beautiful plants and flowers in coastal North Carolina!

A favorite pastime of many Holden Beach visitors is fishing area waters. Options for casting a line in the Atlantic Ocean or Intracoastal Waterway are plentiful, whether you choose to surf fish from the beach, head to a local fishing pier, venture out in your boat (or rent one during your stay), or explore area waters with a fishing charter. Whatever your choice, spring holds a bounty of fish species - like flounder, bluefish, trout, red drum and more - to enjoy for dinner.

Watersports are another spring highlight as the water starts warming up. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and kayaking in the Intracoastal Waterway and adjacent canals provide a calming scenic experience. VayK Life is a Hobbs Realty partner offering a variety of equipment rentals, making it easy for visitors of all experience levels to explore the area. 

While you are renting equipment, you may want to grab a beach cruiser bike to tour the island. Holden Beach has some great bike paths for you to explore from a different perspective. You’ll also be able to stop whenever you feel the tug to spend extra moments soaking in the beauty.

Another fun activity for all ages is to enjoy a trip to view the two local North Carolina lighthouses in Brunswick County, the Oak Island Lighthouse and Old Baldy Lighthouse. These iconic landmarks are especially beautiful in spring, surrounded by blooming landscapes with stunning coastal views from the top! 

Savor Seasonal Flavors

Spring is also a season of fresh, delicious flavors on Holden Beach. As with most coastal areas, seafood is a staple of our local cuisine, and spring offers some of the freshest catches of the year. Local seafood markets have plenty of shrimp, oysters, and fish, all perfect for cooking a family feast in your vacation rental.

Many Holden Beach restaurants also feature outdoor seating, so you can bask in the sunshine while enjoying your meal. Whether you are craving fresh seafood, Southern comfort food, or a delicious burger and fries, you will find a variety of options to suit your tastes. For an especially memorable dining experience, grab takeout and enjoy it with a view along the beach or waterway, or from the deck of your vacation rental.

You will also enjoy exploring our local farmers markets, where you can pick up a variety of fresh produce and locally made items. These markets provide a wonderful opportunity to experience the local culture while you’re with us, and maybe take some home for later!

Plan Your Spring Escape to Holden Beach

Hobbs Realty has the perfect rental to make your spring vacation to the beach unforgettable. Our expansive portfolio of rentals includes vacation homes featuring luxurious amenities like oceanfront decks, private hot tubs, and gourmet kitchens, perfect for relaxing after a day of spring adventures. 

Browse our selection of Holden Beach vacation rentals or give us a call at (844) 846-4885 to start planning your trip. Springtime on Holden Beach is just a few clicks away!

We hope to see you soon – at the beach!

**

Darcy Geho is a contributing author to this Hobbs Realty blog. She spent 11 years working in the vacation rental industry while she lived on and traveled the North Carolina coast. Like most of our visitors, when Darcy isn’t on Holden Beach, she looks forward to her next visit.