Programs & Events
Public Programs
Group Programs
Radio Programs
Special Events
Calendar of Events
Lecture series & online Programs
Public Programs
Battleship Alive!
Watch and interact with World War II living history interpreters as they bring the Ship to life by re-enacting daily duties and drills. This event is perfect for families and scout/youth groups. Bring your questions and cameras!
2026 Dates
► April 11
► May 16
► September 26
► December 5
8 am – 5 pm, free with regular Battleship admission.
Battleship 101
Friendly, knowledgeable volunteers stationed throughout the Ship engage visitors in specific subjects and areas such as gunnery, sick bay, engineering, and daily shipboard life. Enjoy the opportunity to go behind the doors and inside normally closed spaces. Hands-on opportunities for the young and young at heart! This event is perfect for families and scout/youth groups. Bring your questions and cameras!
2026 Dates
►February 14
►March 14
►May 9
►October 24
Free with regular Battleship admission.
Group Programs
Meet the MARDET
This program is designed for Marine Corps personnel. Held inside the Marine compartment, a retired Marine gives an insightful illustrated presentation on the Battleship and her Marines. The program includes an array of period artifacts and weapons followed by a self-guided tour of the Battleship. This program is dependent upon volunteer availability.
Minimum group size is 15 participants; maximum group size is 25 participants. This program is available Monday – Friday, October – April.
Admission
► $5 (per participant)
To make a reservation or to receive more information, please contact Shelly Robinson or call 910-399-9101 between 9 am – 3 pm, Monday – Friday.
This program requires Battleship group rate admission.
Azalea Coast Amateur Radio Club
Guest HAM Operator Program
The Azalea Coast Amateur Radio Club welcomes licensed HAM operators to the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA to transmit via Voice, Digital or Morse Code from Radio Central. Contact the club to make arrangements at least 10 days in advance of your visit.
Free with regular Battleship admission.
NCQSO Party
The NC QSO Party is a statewide ham radio event. Operators try to make contact with all 100 North Carolina counties within a 9-hour period. It is a friendly contest as every contact contains points, and those hams with the most points in certain categories win in that category. The Battleship is NI4BK, and HAM operators may contact the ship via Voice, Digital, and Morse Code. NI4BK is a “Bonus” point station that is highly prized by contestants, and NORTH CAROLINA’s presence is posted throughout the day on a “spotting cluster” for the world to see. The Battleship is NI4BK, and we look forward to hearing from YOU!
2026 Dates
► March 1, 2026
9 am – 4 pm, free with regular Battleship admission.
Museum Ships Weekend
Operating aboard Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, the Azalea Coast Radio Club participates in the annual Museum Ships Weekend. Sponsored by the Battleship NEW JERSEY Radio Club, HAM operators on 102 museum ships worldwide take part in the event. The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is NI4BK and HAM operators may contact the ship via Voice, Digital, and Morse Code.
2026 Dates
► June 6 – 7, 2026
9 am – 4 pm, free with regular Battleship admission.
North Carolina State Parks on the Air
The North Carolina State Parks on the Air is an annual event that attempts to “activate” all 107 North Carolina state parks over the course of a weekend. The event is an outgrowth of the international Parks On The Air phenomenon that is so popular within amateur radio. To “activate” a park means to set up an amateur radio station in the park and make at least 10 radio contacts with that station. The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is a highly sought after “park” by HAM operators worldwide.
2026 Dates
► 2026 Parks on the Air Dates To Be Announced
Free with regular Battleship admission.
Pearl Harbor Day and Veterans Day Remembrances
Operating aboard Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, the Azalea Coast Radio Club hosts worldwide HAM radio operator events commemorating:
- The December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor
- Veterans Day
The Battleship is NI4BK, and HAM operators may contact the ship via Voice, Digital, and Morse Code. NI4BK looks forward to hearing from YOU!
Radio operators making contact will receive a special postcard verifying the contact.
Save the Date
► December 7, 2025
► November 11, 2026
9 am – 4 pm, free with regular Battleship admission.
Special Events
Memorial Day Observance Ceremony
Remember those who gave their lives in service by honoring veterans at the Battleship’s annual Memorial Day Observance featuring special guest speakers, recognition of the fallen, patriotic music performed by the Brunswick Brass Band, and a memorial wreath cast into the waters.
2026 Military Guest Of Honor:
Vice Admiral John G. Morgan, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Keynote Speaker:
Becky Aikman, author of Spitfires: The Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II
2026 Date
► Monday, May 25
The public is invited to attend this observance at no charge.
10:30 am – Memorial Day Observance begins on the Battleship fantail.
► Fantail Observance is Weather Permitting.
Friends on the Fantail Fireworks Celebration
Members of the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina and their guests have the opportunity to watch the City of Wilmington’s annual fireworks display from the decks of this impressive ship on Thursday, July 4.
Members may order up to the number of tickets allowed based on their membership level. Join the Friends of the Battleship and secure your spot for the best show in town at the most patriotic place!
Save the Date
►Saturday, July 4, 2026
2026 Event Time, Details, & Ticket Info To Be Announced