Creative Castle launches new First Friday art walk on Castle Street

Beginning Oct. 2, Wilmington's Castle Street will become home to a new monthly celebration of creativity, community, and local business. Creative Castle, a free First Friday art walk spanning the 10-block corridor between Third and 12th streets, will invite visitors to explore one of the city's most eclectic neighborhoods through art, music, shopping, food, and hands-on creative experiences.

Key takeaways

• The bigger picture: Creative Castle is a new monthly First Friday event designed to showcase the creativity, independent businesses and community spirit already thriving along Wilmington’s Castle Street.
• The details: Beginning Oct. 2, the free art walk will stretch for 10 blocks between Third and 12th streets, with participating shops, restaurants and businesses offering art, music, food, shopping, demonstrations, pop-ups and other creative activities.
• Why it matters: The event aims to make the arts more approachable while also giving emerging artists, makers and small businesses opportunities to connect with the community and introduce their work to new audiences.
• The more you know: Creative Castle was created by three Castle Street business owners — Sara Edge of River’s Edge Art Supplies, Kathy Lindenmayer of Home Plate Provisions and Erin Jones of The Roasted Bookery. The event is intended to complement Wilmington’s established Fourth Friday Gallery Nights while offering a more eclectic, business-focused experience.

The idea was sparked by three women business owners who saw an opportunity to showcase the unique character already thriving along Castle Street: Sara Edge, owner of River's Edge Art Supplies; Kathy Lindenmayer, owner of Home Plate Provisions; and Erin Jones, owner of The Roasted Bookery. Together, they envisioned something that complements Wilmington's established Fourth Friday Gallery Nights while creating a distinctly Castle Street experience. 

"We wanted something complementary but different," Edge said. "We wanted it to be not just gallery-focused, more relaxed, and incorporate businesses as well."

That broader vision is reflected in the event's name. "We chose 'Creative Castle' to reflect that our street has a broad creative identity, which includes visual arts, but also movement, music, craft, culinary arts, and other disciplines," Lindenmayer said.

Visitors can expect much more than traditional gallery exhibitions. Participating businesses will host local artists, musicians, crafters, makers and vendors, while restaurants and shops offer special experiences and promotions. From live painting and sketching to poetry, literature, vintage vendors and creative pop-ups, the event embraces the many ways creativity shows up in everyday life. 

"It can be intimidating for some people who don't know much about art or are not into the arts to go to galleries," Edge said. "This is a way to get more people interested in art and creativity and expand people's minds or horizons."

The event is also designed to support emerging artists. While Fourth Friday often features established gallery artists, Creative Castle aims to create opportunities for those just beginning to exhibit their work.

"We have the opportunity because Castle Street is more diverse and eclectic to do something different and bring some new folks in," Lindenmayer said. "It's a springboard for artists before they are trying to submit to one of the galleries."

That commitment reflects the collaborative spirit of the women behind the effort. All three businesses are woman-owned, and both Edge and Lindenmayer speak passionately about mentorship, community-building, and creating opportunities for others.

"Something that's nice about our neighborhood is that it's very diverse in every way," Lindenmayer said. "I feel like it's leveling the playing field a little bit for businesses like ours to be able to invite folks in and provide opportunities." 

For Edge, the goal is simple: to help people discover Castle Street.

"I hope they leave feeling inspired and excited," she said, “and want to explore Castle Street more, even not on a First Friday.”