- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Carolina Beach Today
By the People, for the People
Carolina Beach Considers Social District Proposal
The proposed district would allow open-container alcohol consumption in designated areas.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Carolina Beach Town Council discussed a proposal to establish a social district that would allow people to purchase alcoholic drinks at participating establishments and consume them within a designated area in the Central Business District and Boardwalk. The North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation in 2021 to create a framework for social districts, and Wilmington's Brooklyn Arts District launched the region's first social district in the fall.
Why it matters
The proposed social district aims to bridge the gap between lunch/dinner service and late-night nightlife, encouraging foot traffic and longer visitor stays in the area. It's part of a broader trend of cities and towns exploring social districts as a way to boost economic activity and tourism.
The details
The proposed district would span from Lake Park Boulevard on the north to Hamlet Avenue on the south, with the western border at Pelican Lane and the eastern border at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Officials propose a timeline starting with the Lo Tide Run on March 15, followed by a summer trial from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The proposed hours of operation would be 10 a.m. to midnight.
- The North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation in 2021 that created the framework for social districts.
- Wilmington's Brooklyn Arts District launched the region's first social district in the fall.
- The proposed timeline for the Carolina Beach social district would start with the Lo Tide Run on March 15, 2026.
- The proposed summer trial period would run from Memorial Day (May 22-25, 2026) to Labor Day 2026.
- The proposed hours of operation would be 10 a.m. to midnight.
The players
Carolina Beach Town Council
The local government body that discussed and is considering the social district proposal.
North Carolina General Assembly
The state legislature that approved legislation in 2021 creating the framework for social districts.
Wilmington's Brooklyn Arts District
The first region in North Carolina to launch a social district, which it did in the fall following the state's 2021 legislation.
What’s next
The Carolina Beach Town Council did not vote on the proposal and will revisit it at a later date, when time allows.
The takeaway
Social districts are becoming more common as cities and towns look for ways to boost economic activity and tourism. The Carolina Beach proposal is part of this broader trend, aiming to create a designated area where people can freely move between establishments while enjoying alcoholic beverages.
