through respect, understanding and cooperation...one individual, one community at a time.
Promoting peace
AboutCALENDAR OF EVENTS
January 31 I-Fest (Saturday)
UNCW I-Fest will be held from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM in the Burney Center on Campus. There will be booths, food, and musical performances to celebrate different cultures represented both at the university and the broader community. It is open to the general public and is free. Stop by the Sister Cities booth to get your passport stamped.
February 23 (Monday) Year of the Fire Horse
Join Sister City members and friends as we usher in the Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year dinner will be hosted by Szechuan 132. (N. College Rd.) beginning promptly at 6:00 PM. Cost $27.00 (alcohol purchased separately) Reservations required by February 19 via email - [email protected].
February 22 (Sunday) Carnaval de San Pedro
Looking for a winter break then this is the weekend to head to San Pedro for some fun. The islanders will celebrate their heritage with a parade, traditional music, street performers, face painting and much more.
Febrnuary 25 (Wednesday) Spring Festival Cooking Class
Join us at the Martin Luther King Community Center kitchen to learn how to make a special spring festival chicken soup popular in Guangdong, a coastal province in South China. It is a traditional part of the New Year's meal and is said to bring prosperity and good health in the new year..This is a free class but reservations are required by email by February 19 to reserve a space..Invites will be sent in the February newslelter..
March 30 (Monday)
SCAW Annual Meeting Focus on International Womens Day
Join us at City Hall for a talk with Wendy Benchley a dedicated marine and environmental conservationist currently based in DC. Wendy was a former councilwoman in Princeton New Jersey and activist in making life better for her constiuents at a time in American history where few women ran for public office. She co-produced Jaws50 with NatGeo which aired in 2025 to bring attention to marine conservation efforts worldwide.The Board of Directors invites the membership and the general public to join us for this special evening on March 30 at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers in Skylight Towers for a celebration of last year's accomplishments and to meet and mingle with the leadership of the organization plus the many volunteers/supporters who are behind all the impactful events Sister Cities offers each year. Board of Directors elections will also be held as required by the SCAW by-laws. If you missed the Billy Fiske Memorial presentation from the 2024 Annual Meeting you can still view it on the link below:
Azalea Festival
You will want to be sure to stop by the Multicultural Stage at the Street Fair following the Azalea Festival Parade.
April 22 (Wednesday)
Sister Cities Celebrates Earth Day
We will not be hosting a panel this year since conservation and protecting the environment will be part of the discussion in March at the Annual Meeting. If you missed it you can still view last year's international panel on the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity and fisheries across the globe.as well as the economic implications. Thanks to Dr. Martin Posey, Dr. Ellie Bergstrom, Keith Nichols, Dr. Tom Ball, and Dr. Julian Walcott for excellent presentations. You can view the program from the following link .https://youtu.be/zwFCl_MnSKU .
May
East Asian-Australian Flyway
For bird enthusiasts this is a great time to visit Dandong when the mouth of the Yalu River wetlands is flush with birds. As many as 240 species, including endangered ones such as the Black-faced Spoonbill, can be observed.
June (TBA)
Summer Harvest Cooking Class
The summer harvest cooking class will feature Bajan cooking. It will be held at the MLK Community Center kitchen from 5:00 - 6:30 PM. The class is free but reservations are required to attend. More information will be available in the June newsletter.
July 29 - August 4
Crop Over Bridgetown
Crop Over BRIDGETOWN is an annual event that follows a tradition starting in the 1780s to mark the end of sugar cutting season. It is a unique experience featuring music, masquerade, history and culture. For a schedule of daily events visit www.visitbarbados.org.
September 10-13
St. Leger Festival
The Betfred St. Leger Festival in Doncaster is the highlight of the flats racing circuit drawing thousands to watch history in the making. The first day is Ladies Day where everyone dons their best outfits, the next day is for the Doncaster Cup; the third day is Bedford St. Leger Day Cup, and the last day is Family Fun Day. This year marks its 250th anniversary.
September 28 (Monday)
America250 Presentation
As America250 celebrations across the nation and North Carolina wind down we have invited Dr. David Houpht to speak to us about the Loyalists and Patriots since North Carolina had a significant number of Scottish residents who wanted to remain with Great Britain. David will take us through the conflicts that plagued the eastern part of the state. We will meet in City Council Chambers at Skyline Towers at 6:00 PM.
October (TBA) Harvest Festival Cooking Class
Food bridges nationalities, cultures and generations. Join Sister Cities for a cooking class at the MLK Recreation Center (401 S. 8th St. Wilmington). Class starts promptly at 5:00 PM so be on time. Last year we featured Harvest Moon Soup and Sweet Potato muffins. We will focus on fall crops once again in 2026 (TBD). a. Sister Cities is partnering again with Feast Down East, another non-profit that works hand in hand with local farmers in NC to enure their harvests get to local tables.The class is free but registration is limited. Email Sister Cities to reserve your place
Nov 19-22 (Wed - Sun)
Cucalorus 32 rocks Wilmington once again. Check www.cucalorus.org for festival schedules and updates. Please do not contact Cucalorus about any special sister cities events during the festival.
Gong Xi Fa Cai
Sister Cities Association of Wilmington
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