Gear up for 2020 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina!

2020 is officially here and Elizabeth City is geared up for a great start to the decade! With exciting events, new Downtown developments and great accommodations for all types of visitors, you’re sure to find something new to discover this year in Elizabeth City. Read on for our guide to experiencing what’s coming to the Harbor of Hospitality in 2020.

 

NEW EVENTS

Love Your River
Love Your River is a new and exhilarating family-friendly event coming to Elizabeth City on April 18, 2020 at the Museum of the Albemarle and surrounding Waterfront Parks!  The event is meant to celebrate our waterways and Earth Day (April 22) as well as to learn all about caring for our waterways. The day will feature several water activities including kayaking, pontoon boat tours, and more as well as food trucks and live music.  The event is hosted by Green$avesGreen and is free to attend.

***Due to COVID-19 health concerns, Love Your River has been rescheduled for October 2, 2021. Please mark your calendar and join us for this fun event!***

 

Inaugural Coast Guard Half Marathon and Guardians of the Atlantic 5K running Events

Get your running shoes ready! Visit Elizabeth City and surrounding partners are working to develop the first official US Coast Guard Half Marathon and 5K running events here in Elizabeth City.  As an official Coast Guard City and home to the second largest Coast Guard base in the country, it is sure to be a noteworthy event! Save the date for the race on September 19th, 2020.

***Due to COVID-19 health concerns, the US Coast Guard Half Marathon and 5K running events have been postponed to March 6, 2021.***

 

DOWNTOWN & WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENTS

Along with exciting inaugural events, Elizabeth City is proud to announce new developments and updates coming to the area in 2020!

Waterfront Improvements 
The Harbor of Hospitality is well-known for the wide variety of water-related activities available for visitors. The newly developed Coast Guard Park is the perfect place for visitors to have easy access to the waterfront. At Coast Guard Park, guests will be able to rent kayaks or canoes, fish along the pier, or rent the park for private events! Opening Spring 2020

Rowing - the impact-free, whole body workout that is excellent for any age. With the added benefits of the rhythmic, meditative, calming effects of rowing, we couldn’t be more thrilled that 2020 is the year that this beautiful sport comes to downtown Elizabeth City! Camps, classes and more, including open rowing, no experience necessary, starting in June. 

Pailin’s Alley Renovation
Pailin’s Alley is a downtown staple for gathering for events. The newly renovated historical alleyway under sparkling lights, is sure to be a fun gathering spot for socializing or listening to live music while enjoying local dining and drinking establishments. Other special events will be sponsored by the Pailin’s Alley Collective. Check out their Facebook page to stay up-to-date on coming events!  

Ghost Harbor Expansion
The ever-popular microbrewery Ghost Harbor Brewing Company is expanding in 2020. The brewery is currently remodeling space for a new tap room across Pailin’s Alley from their old location. Have no fear, beer-lovers! The additional space will allow for Ghost Harbor to double production of its fantastic craft beers, as well as accommodate private events. The newly renovated Ghost Harbor is set to open in Spring 2020. 

Seven Sounds Brewing 
We are also welcoming Seven Sounds Brewing to Elizabeth City sometime in late 2020. The brewery will feature a first-floor brewery and snacks, while the second floor will accommodate special events and have a roof top area overlooking the Pasquotank River!

Weatherly Lofts
The old Weatherly Candy Factory is one of the first sights you see as you enter Elizabeth City and this year, this iconic building will be repurposed and renovated to be used for loft style apartments. The original building, built in 1932, has housed a number of businesses throughout the years and in 2020 it will be used as a part of the Adaptive Reuse Project to create living spaces that will preserve some of the historical aspects of the building. Click here to learn more about the building’s amenities and the renovation.  

 

ACCOMMODATIONS

Planning your next visit to Elizabeth City will be easy with all the new accommodation options available! Newly renovated rental spaces in downtown Elizabeth City, a new Bed & Breakfast and more will happily welcome you. Check out the list of new accommodations below!

• Harbor Place – an entire apartment available for rent with beautiful views of the Pasquotank River and Mariner’s Wharf. 
• Donnie’s on Main Street – two 1-bedroom apartments in historic district
• Philemon Bed and Breakfast – walking distance to downtown attractions
• Scattered Hotel – three 1-bedroom apartments in newly renovated historic building

See all Places to Stay in Elizabeth City

 

NEW SHOPS

Alongside updated accommodations and exciting new events, you’ll find new storefronts scattered throughout the downtown area on your next visit! 

• Brackwater Brush – find work from local artists, unique home gifts and more! 
• Dear Alchemy - In-house graphic design company offering a variety of unique products as well as a variety of art classes
• Willow Tree Medicine – healing center that focuses on alternative medicine, courses and more!  

Click here to learn more about the shopping in Elizabeth City 

NEW RESTAURANTS

No trip to Elizabeth City is complete without stopping in for some local fare. From new coffee shops and bakeries to local, fresh seafood restaurants, you are sure to find something new and exciting to try. Check out this list of restaurants coming to Elizabeth City this year: 

• The Sweeteasy: Bakery and coffee shop located in historic district. Opening May 2020
• Big Boss Burrito: Located in Downtown Elizabeth City, Opened January 22
• Pier 17 Seafood: Fried seafood, roasted oysters and Asian-Style hand-pulled noodles. Opening Spring 2020  
• Currituck BBQ: Enjoy hickory-smoked, slow-cooked Pork BBQ, Beef Brisket and more in-house favorites. Opening Spring 2020
• Happy Taco: Expanding from their old brick and mortar space to a new stand-alone restaurant. Opening Spring 2020 

See all Places to Eat in Elizabeth City

 

ENTERTAINMENT & ACTIVITIES 

Enjoy ample entertainment options during your next visit to Elizabeth City with new and updated area theaters. The locally owned RCE Theater will be getting renovated, which will double its capacity for movie-goers in 2020. Along with this, a new eight-screen Cineplex will be coming to Elizabeth City, opening Summer 2020. 

We’re looking forward to see what 2020 brings and we can’t wait for you to come see for yourself why Elizabeth City is the perfect place to discover in 2020. To stay up-to-date on all of the developments, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 
 

Check out these related articles...