Saltwater Stories - Shell Island: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours & Voyce announces “Saltwater Stories: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina,” a one-of-a-kind cultural event blending culinary excellence with powerful historical storytelling at Voyce, the Black-owned restaurant led by two-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Keith Rhodes, also featured on Top Chef.
Taking place on Sunday July 19th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This signature experience will center on the untold history of Shell Island, a once-thriving African American beach resort community at Wrightsville Beach that served as a space of freedom, joy, and cultural expression during segregation, before its legacy was largely erased from public narrative.
Chef Keith Rhodes brings his nationally recognized culinary expertise to the experience, designing a menu that complements the storytelling and reflects the richness of Coastal Carolina’s foodways.
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours has earned national recognition for its innovative approach to public history, with features in PBS, Travel + Leisure, The Washington Post, and Travel Noire. “Saltwater Stories” represents an evolution of that model extending the “time machine” experience beyond the tour and into an intimate, upscale dining experience.
Event Details
Event: Saltwater Stories: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina
Date: Sunday July 19th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Voyce, 11 market st Wilmington, NC
Tickets: $75 per person
About WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours is a place-based public history and cultural tourism initiative rooted in Wilmington, North Carolina. Through immersive, multimedia storytelling, the organization uncovers and shares historically overlooked African American narratives, most notably the 1898 coup, while driving education, cultural preservation, and economic impact.
Saltwater Stories - Seabreeze
Saltwater Stories: Seabreeze Edition Brings Nationally Recognized Voices to Historic Black Beachfront for an Unforgettable Evening of Food, History, and Cultural Preservation
WILMINGTON, NC — On Sunday, August 2nd, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., guests from across the country will gather on historic Black-owned beachfront property in Seabreeze, North Carolina, for a one-of-a-kind cultural experience that blends award-worthy cuisine, living history, and powerful conversation.
Presented by WilmingtoNColor and Voyce, Saltwater Stories: Seabreeze Edition will immerse attendees in the remarkable story of Seabreeze and Freeman’s Beach one of the most significant yet often overlooked Afro-Indigenous coastal communities in America.
The evening will feature storytelling by Sister Elise, a descendant of the historic Freeman family whose ancestors helped establish Seabreeze as a refuge, gathering place, and economic hub for Black families on the coast of the Carolinas. Guests will also hear from Brea Baker, nationally recognized freedom fighter, Yale University graduate, and bestselling author of Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership.
Together, their stories will illuminate the enduring connection between land, freedom, identity, and community preservation along North Carolina’s coast.
Guests will enjoy a curated 5 star seafood dinner prepared by Chef Keith Rhodes, acclaimed chef, former Bravo Top Chef contestant, and two-time James Beard Award nominee. Each course will be paired with stories that explore the cultural and historical significance of Seabreeze and the families who built it.
Following the dinner, attendees will participate in a live panel discussion featuring Sister Elise, Brea Baker, Chef Keith Rhodes, and Cedric Harrison, founder of WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours. The conversation will explore Black land ownership, cultural preservation, coastal heritage, food traditions, economic development, marine debris, and the future of historically Black communities in America.
Once known as the “Black Beach of the Carolinas,” Seabreeze became a destination for Black families throughout the Jim Crow era when segregation limited access to many public beaches and resorts. Today, descendants of the founding families continue the work of preserving this historic community and its legacy.
Saltwater Stories has quickly become one of North Carolina’s most sought-after cultural experiences, with previous events selling out and drawing guests from across the region. The Seabreeze Edition marks the series’ most ambitious installment yet, bringing together nationally recognized voices on one of the most historically significant pieces of Black-owned coastal property in the South.
As conversations around land ownership, cultural preservation, and American history continue to grow nationwide, Saltwater Stories offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the people, places, and stories at the center of those discussions.
Salt Water Stories - Shell Island (Wrightsville Beach)
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours & Voyce announces “Saltwater Stories: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina,” a one-of-a-kind cultural event blending culinary excellence with powerful historical storytelling at Voyce, the Black-owned restaurant led by two-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Keith Rhodes, also featured on Top Chef.
Taking place on Sunday June 28th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This signature experience will center on the untold history of Shell Island, a once-thriving African American beach resort community at Wrightsville Beach that served as a space of freedom, joy, and cultural expression during segregation, before its legacy was largely erased from public narrative.
Chef Keith Rhodes brings his nationally recognized culinary expertise to the experience, designing a menu that complements the storytelling and reflects the richness of Coastal Carolina’s foodways.
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours has earned national recognition for its innovative approach to public history, with features in PBS, Travel + Leisure, The Washington Post, and Travel Noire. “Saltwater Stories” represents an evolution of that model extending the “time machine” experience beyond the tour and into an intimate, upscale dining experience.
Event Details
Event: Saltwater Stories: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina
Date: Sunday June 28th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Voyce, 11 market st Wilmington, NC
Tickets: $75 per person
About WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours is a place-based public history and cultural tourism initiative rooted in Wilmington, North Carolina. Through immersive, multimedia storytelling, the organization uncovers and shares historically overlooked African American narratives, most notably the 1898 coup, while driving education, cultural preservation, and economic impact.
Beach Clean Up
A lot of folks will be spending Juneteenth with us on Saturday June 20th celebrating freedom and the next day, we’re showing what freedom looks like when you take care of the land your ancestors fought to enjoy.
For generations, Seabreeze was one of the only beaches Black families in North Carolina could visit. Today, descendants of those families still own parts of this historic shoreline.
On June 21st, we’re not just picking up trash.
We’re honoring history.
We’re protecting legacy.
We’re making sure the next generation inherits more than stories
If you believe historic Black spaces deserve the same love, preservation, and protection as historic buildings, join us at 1112 S Seabreeze Rd email “info@wilmingtoncolor.com” to RSVP or just pull up to the address this event is free and is in partnership with Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
Juneteenth NColor
Juneteenth NCOLOR: A Black Beach Juneteenth Celebration at Seabreeze 🏖️
WilmingtoNColor, NColor Festivals, and The Freeman Family invite you to a powerful community celebration of freedom, culture, and legacy at Seabreeze The Historic Black Beach of North Carolina (widely known today as Carolina Beach).
Date:: Saturday, June 20
Time: ⏰ 4PM – 8PM
Join us on the very land where generations of Black families built joy, ownership, and tradition along the coast. This won’t just be an event, it’s a homecoming.
🎟️ Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can on Eventbrite
📩 Vendors welcome just email info@wilmingtoncolor.com to join
What to expect:
• Food vendors & local flavors
• Live fire breathing performance 🔥
• Art activities & cultural games
• Face painting & family-friendly fun
• Historical exhibits on Wilmington, Seabreeze & Freeman’s Beach
• Music, community, and celebration
This experience is about more than Juneteenth it’s about reclaiming space, honoring legacy, and bringing people together where history lives.
It also marks a new chapter: WilmingtoNColor now offers immersive group experiences exploring the stories of the Freeman Family, Seabreeze, and Freeman’s Beach 🏖️ one of the most important Black and Indigenous coastal areas in North Carolina.
Book your Seabreeze tour today at www.wilmingtoncolor.com or email Info@wilmingtoncolor.com
You bring the people, we’ll bring the history.
Salt Water Stories - Shell Island
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours & Voyce announces “Saltwater Stories: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina,” a one-of-a-kind cultural event blending culinary excellence with powerful historical storytelling at Voyce, the Black-owned restaurant led by two-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Keith Rhodes, also featured on Top Chef.
Taking place on Sunday May 24th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This signature experience will center on the untold history of Shell Island, a once-thriving African American beach resort community at Wrightsville Beach that served as a space of freedom, joy, and cultural expression during segregation, before its legacy was largely erased from public narrative.
Chef Keith Rhodes brings his nationally recognized culinary expertise to the experience, designing a menu that complements the storytelling and reflects the richness of Coastal Carolina’s foodways.
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours has earned national recognition for its innovative approach to public history, with features in PBS, Travel + Leisure, The Washington Post, and Travel Noire. “Saltwater Stories” represents an evolution of that model extending the “time machine” experience beyond the tour and into an intimate, upscale dining experience.
Event Details
Event: Saltwater Stories: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina
Date: Sunday May 24th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Voyce, 11 market st Wilmington, NC
Tickets: $75 per person
About WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours is a place-based public history and cultural tourism initiative rooted in Wilmington, North Carolina. Through immersive, multimedia storytelling, the organization uncovers and shares historically overlooked African American narratives, most notably the 1898 coup, while driving education, cultural preservation, and economic impact.
Charlotte NColor
the third stop of WilmingtoNColor’s statewide NColor Project, an ambitious effort to take Black storytelling across North Carolina to the next level.
This festival is an expansion of WilmingtoNColor and brings history, culture, and community together in one immersive experience. Attendees will:
• Learn about the 1898 government overthrow in Wilmington, NC
• Explore The Queen City’s heritage and Black history and culture
• Engage with art, games, music, and cultural activations that celebrate Black excellence across the state
🎟️ Passes are pay-what-you-can to ensure accessibility for all
🤝 We’re actively welcoming vendors, partners, supporters, and sponsors to be part of this movement.
This isn’t just an event — it’s a blueprint for how Black history, culture, and storytelling can live, travel, and thrive across North Carolina.
🔗 Get passes or get involved:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charlotte-ncolor-festival-tickets-1982436706555?aff=oddtdtcreator
Salt Water Stories
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours & Voyce announces “Saltwater Stories: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina,” a one-of-a-kind cultural event blending culinary excellence with powerful historical storytelling at Voyce, the Black-owned restaurant led by two-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Keith Rhodes, also featured on Top Chef.
Taking place on April 25th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This signature experience will center on the untold history of Shell Island, a once-thriving African American beach resort community at Wrightsville Beach that served as a space of freedom, joy, and cultural expression during segregation, before its legacy was largely erased from public narrative.
Chef Keith Rhodes brings his nationally recognized culinary expertise to the experience, designing a menu that complements the storytelling and reflects the richness of Coastal Carolina’s foodways.
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours has earned national recognition for its innovative approach to public history, with features in PBS, Travel + Leisure, The Washington Post, and Travel Noire. “Saltwater Stories” represents an evolution of that model extending the “time machine” experience beyond the tour and into an intimate, upscale dining experience.
Event Details
Event: Saltwater Stories: An Immersive Dining and Storytelling Experience of Coastal Carolina
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Voyce, 11 market st Wilmington, NC
Tickets: $75 per person
About WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours
WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours is a place-based public history and cultural tourism initiative rooted in Wilmington, North Carolina. Through immersive, multimedia storytelling, the organization uncovers and shares historically overlooked African American narratives, most notably the 1898 coup, while driving education, cultural preservation, and economic impact.
DurhamNColor Festival
NColor Heritage Tours Announces Inaugural Durham NColor Festival as Part of Statewide NColor Festival Tour
On March 28, we’re proud to launch Durham NColor Festival — the first stop of WilmingtoNColor’s statewide NColor Project, an ambitious effort to take Black storytelling across North Carolina to the next level.
This festival is an expansion of WilmingtoNColor and brings history, culture, and community together in one immersive experience. Attendees will:
• Learn about the 1898 government overthrow in Wilmington, NC
• Explore Durham’s Black Wall Street and the Bull City’s historic Black neighborhoods
• Engage with art, games, music, and cultural activations that celebrate Black excellence across the state
🎟️ Passes are pay-what-you-can to ensure accessibility for all.
🤝 We’re actively welcoming vendors, partners, supporters, and sponsors to be part of this movement.
This isn’t just an event — it’s a blueprint for how Black history, culture, and storytelling can live, travel, and thrive across North Carolina.
🔗 Get passes or get involved:
http://Durhamncolorfestival.eventbrite.com
“This festival is about joy, truth, and community,” said WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours Founder Cedric Harrison. “We believe history should be experienced, not just read about. NColor Festivals allow families to celebrate their city’s culture while also learning how the events of 1898 in Wilmington still shape North Carolina — and America — today.”
The Durham event follows WilmingtoNColor’s Black History Month Carnival in Wilmington on February 21, and is part of a broader NColor Festival Tour that will travel across North Carolina in 2026. A Charlotte NColor Festival is currently in the planning stages, with the official date to be announced soon. WilmingtoNColor is also looking for other cities that would like to partner to have a NColor experience in their city.
NColor Heritage tours is known for WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours its immersive, multimedia “Time Machine”-style experiences that combine storytelling, historic sites, and present-day cultural connections. Through the NColor Festival Tour, the organization aims to expand its impact beyond tours and create large-scale community spaces where education, celebration, and reflection can exist together.
For more information, wristband purchases, or partnership inquiries, visit www.WilmingtoNColor.com , Eventbrite http://Durhamncolorfestival.eventbrite.com , or email Info@wilmingtoNcolor.com
Black History Month Carnival
On Saturday Feb. 21st WilmingtoNColor will be celebrating the rich black heritage of Wilmington NC and beyond from 11am - 4pm at Chow Town Food Truck Park across the street from the 1898 Memorial Park on the Historic Northside of downtown Wilmington Brooklyn Arts District for the Black His/Her-Story Month Carnival
Attendees will be able to experience the following:
Mini Black History Bus Tours provided by WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tour
HBCU informational booths
Bounce Houses
Video Gaming (Xbox, PlayStation, old arcade games and more)
Cornhole
Face painting
Balloons
Spades
Dominoes
Vendors
Speeches
Performances
Music
And more
With this event WilmingtoNColor will look to entertain and educate guests on Wilmington’s Rich Heritage around food, music, culture and fun
This Family Friendly Event is “Pay what you can” but if you would like to be a sponsor please contact us at Info@WilmingtoNColor.com
Who:WilmingtoNColor
What:Black History Carnival
When:Saturday February 21st, 2026
Time: 11-4pm
Where:Chow Town across the street from the 1898 Memorial Park - (1125 n 4th st Wilmington NC 28401)
Why:Black History Month Celebration, Community, Culture, Music, Family, Legacy
About WilmingtoNColor:
wilmingtoNColor is the only shuttle tour in The World that tells the story of the only successful coup d'etat (Government Overthrow) on US Soil.
On November 10, 1898, an angry mob of white supremacists led the only successful coup in America, where a massacre took place that wiped out the educated, rich and influential African American population. This coup took away the roots of the academic and economic foundation of the Black community, and its effects still haunt the community today. wilmingtoNColor, or Wilmington in Color, is here to connect the past with the present, in hopes of rebuilding a future that can reflect what Wilmington, NC looked like before the events of 1898 took place.
Guest will see and learn about Green Book Locations, Religious, Educational and Medical Institutions, Fraternity and Sorority Houses, Current Black Owned Businesses and more. This hour long tour packs centuries of rich heritage into 90mins.
Interested in booking a tour click here or email info@WilmingtoNColor.com