Topsail Guide

In eight years living in Hampstead, I’ve watched our coastal community boom with new homes and new neighbors, and with that growth comes a shared challenge – finding reputable local electricians when something goes haywire. Whether you’ve been here forever or just moved to Surf City or Sneads Ferry, you want electrical issues handled safely … Read more

As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to pause and look back — not with a full accounting of everything that happened around Topsail Island, but with a curated snapshot of the moments that stood out most. This year-in-review was pulled together by the editorial team at Topsail Guide, drawing on reporting from trusted … Read more

Once the holidays wrap up, there’s one last task that sneaks up on a lot of Topsail residents: What do you do with the Christmas tree? If you have a real tree, the good news is that tossing it isn’t the best option anyway. Around Topsail Island, Christmas trees are collected and reused in ways … Read more

Two years after plans for a potential Target-anchored shopping center in Hampstead captured local attention, new filings suggest that the same 42-acre property along U.S. Highway 17 could soon host a Walmart Supercenter. According to StarNews Online, the tract — once proposed as the future home of a Target store — was sold earlier this … Read more

With October 31 fast approaching, there’s still plenty of fall magic left across the Topsail region. Whether you’re looking for pumpkin patches with a view, family-friendly trunk-or-treats, or haunted trails to scare your socks off, the next 10 days are packed with opportunities. This list is for locals and visitors alike — if you’re in … Read more

Mid-October brings cooler evenings across southeastern North Carolina, and more people are getting outside on neighborhood sidewalks, greenways, and places like Holly Shelter Game Land. It’s also the time you’re most likely to spot juvenile copperheads. A neighbor in Hampstead recently flagged one in our front yard — the first we’ve seen in eight years … Read more

As of Friday, October 3, Moores Creek National Battlefield is closed to the public due to the federal government shutdown. Local reporting confirmed on October 1 that the entrance gates are locked and access is not permitted. The closure includes the visitor center, the short loop trails, the reconstructed bridge area, and picnic spots. Regional … Read more

The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. today after Congress missed the funding deadline, and the effects will be felt quickly across coastal North Carolina. This update focuses first on local impacts for military families, residents, and visitors in the Topsail area, then broadens out to statewide context. Immediate Impacts Around Topsail Town services … Read more