Wilmington Fur Ball returns Nov. 4 to raise funds for animal shelters

The event moves to Plaza on Princess in Wilmington and includes live entertainment and a raffle for cruise tickets

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The 15th Wilmington Fur Ball is back Nov. 4 for a fundraising extravaganza in the Port City.

The annual event took a pandemic “paws” but returns this year with live entertainment by the Justin Cody Fox band, food by MOI catering and a raffle for a chance to win cruise tickets.

The Wilmington Fur Ball raises money for no-kill animal shelters in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender Counties.

It started in 2005 and has grown each year to include more people, more partners and more money for shelters and organizations that house pets and other animals that don’t have a permanent home.

Organizer Tre Ricanek stopped by WWAY’s Good Morning Carolina to preview Saturday’s event with co-host Donna Gregory.

He says, the grant money helps support animals you might not expect.

“We do birds, cows, sheep, horses, you name it,” he laughed.

There will be some new things at this year’s event, and Ricanek says the organizers are excited about the changes.

“We are at a different venue, which is Plaza on Princess which is part of the Harrelson Center campus,” he explained.

He said, in prior years attendees had dressed to match the yearly theme, but Saturday’s event will be a return to elegance.

“This year is our 15th anniversary so we’re doing Crystal Jubilee, so it’s a classic black-tie affair,” Ricanek said.

There’s also a raffle with a chance to win a dream vacation for $25/ticket.

“We actually are offering a 5-day cruise to the Bahamas, leaving out of Charleston, with a 2-day pre-cruise hotel stay in Charleston as well,” Ricanek explained.

“You don’t have to be there to win, you don’t even have to go to the event [in order to win the raffle],” Ricanek continued.

The event costs $150 per person and tickets are available here.

The Wilmington Fur Ball runs from 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Plaza on Princess, 410 Princess St. in Wilmington, NC.