
THURSDAY, OCT. 28
Let the Right One In
Thalian Hall Ruth and Bucky Stein Theater, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $32
Big Dawg Productions is producing a vampiric love story at Thalian Hall’s black box theater. “Let the Right One In” is based on the 2004 Swedish novel, 2008 movie and 2010 American remake, and became a play in 2013 (it’s slated to go into production as a Showtime series in 2022). The coming-of-age story follows two teenagers in a world that’s unforgiving, sometimes horrific, even full of violence and murder.
Oskar suffers from isolation and is bullied by his classmates often. He finds a kindred spirit and companionship in the girl next door, Eli, who is quite different from most her age. She doesn’t go to school, stays locked inside her apartment all day, and only emerges at night. Yet, Eli becomes Oskar’s biggest confidant, encouraging him to take up for himself and stepping in to help when she can.
Read more from Port City Daily’s interview with the cast and crew here. The show takes place through Sunday through Oct. 31. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. except on Sundays, 3 p.m. Tickets are $32; the show features adult language and strobe lighting.
MORE THURSDAY HAPPENINGS
Night of the Living Dead — Also taking place at Thalian Hall, on the main stage, will be the screening of George A. Romero’s 1968 classic, “Night of the Living Dead.” Two screenings happen at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; tickets are $12.
Leland Live at the Park — A free concert at Founders Park (113 Town Hall Dr.) in Leland will kick off Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. From Salisbury, N.C., The Tonez perform beach music and other dance classics.

FRIDAY, OCT. 29
Voracious & Rare Beer Festival
Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park, 109 Cowan St. • Admission: $79
Lighthouse Beer and Wine’s annual Voracious and Rare Beer Festival is back in action on Friday night. Taking place from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., it features the latest, greatest beers, yet to be discovered by connoisseurs, from 50 select breweries. Appetizers are included in the ticket price and live music will be enjoyed by Midatlantic. Normally hosted on the USS North Carolina on the Cape Fear River, the 2021 event will take place at downtown’s new Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park.
The next day, Oct. 30, Lighthouse Beer and Wine will present the Carousel Center Beer and Wine Festival, also at Riverfront Park. Tickets have sold out for the event; however, interested parties can join the waitlist for entry. Funds benefit Carousel Center, which continues serving children, ages birth to 19, from the tri-county region, who need help working through through physical and sexual abuse.
MORE FRIDAY HAPPENINGS
Striking Copper and Mike Blair — Waterline Brewing (721 Surry St.) will welcome two local acts in the beer garden for an evening of music. Striking Copper and a solo Mike Blair will perform, with music starting at 7 p.m. The food truck 2Bros Coastal Cuisine will be parked on site.
Monster Movie Madness at the Mansion — A double feature will take place at Bellamy Mansion (503 Market St.), featuring 1972’s “Horror Express” and “Night of the Living Dead.” There is a suggested $5 donation; food and beverages will be sold on site. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome, but outside snacks are not.
Movies at Wrightsville Beach Park — The Disney classic “Hocus Pocus” will be screened at Wrightsville Beach Park (1 Bob Sawyer Dr.) for free Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase; picnics, blankets and lawn chairs welcome.

Cape Fear Fair & Expo — The fair is back! Wilmington International Airport has all the rides popping up, along with funnel cakes, carnival games, corn dogs, livestock and other attractions. The fair will be set up through Nov. 7, Mon. – Thurs., 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.; Fri., 5 p.m. – midnight, Sat., noon – midnight; and Sun., 1 p.m. – 11 p.m. Tickets are $22.
Galloway Farm Maze Craze — Perhaps one of the coolest corn mazes in the southeast can be enjoyed at Galloway Farm (370 Artesia Rd.) in Hallsboro, N.C. Their 2021 maze has been designed with a graphic of Lukas Nelson’s face and name. The fourth generation working cattle farm is 40 miles west of Wilmington. During the fall, the 13-acre maze includes 5 miles of pathways, a QR code hunt, plus games, tractor-pulled wagon rides, barrel trail rides, live farm animals, concessions, and more. It’s open weekends through Nov. 7 and tickets are $12. Read more here.
Nightmares Haunted Trail — West in Columbus County, Nightmares Haunted Trail will offer the biggest haunts, shocks and twists this Halloween season, with a Tomb of Darkness and blackout maze included. Plus the attraction features well-known horror greats, including Billy Mosley, who performed in Rob Zombie movies, which will be on site this weekend. The haunted trail is located at 7027 Sevens Creek Hwy., Nakina, N.C. and will open two more weekends, Oct. 29-31, Nov. 5-6, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Tickets: $20
Halloween Carnival — Mike Chappell Park (501 Dow Rd.) in Carolina Beach will host a Halloween Carnival Friday, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., open to families and kids 12 and under, who must be accompanied by an adult. Entry is a donation of two canned goods for the Federal Point Help Center. DJ Tommy Gunn will spin tunes and there will be carnival games with prizes, hayrides, inflatable bounce houses, hotdogs, and a photo booth! The costume contest begins at 7:15 p.m.
Halloween Trick-or-Treat Fair — The New Hanover County Special Olympics is hosting a trick-or-treat fair at Legion Stadium (2149 Carolina Beach Rd.). There will be a best costume prize. Masks are required, hand sanitizer will be on available, and social-distancing will be practiced. Please, register to attend; anyone who wants to donate candy can drop it off at 302 Willard St.
Pup-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest — From 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., furry friends (and their humans) are welcome to celebrate the season at Hi-Wire Brewing (1020 Princess St.) dressed in their Halloween best. Prizes will be given to the quadrupeds for Best Overall, Scariest, Bartenders’ Choice, Best Circus Theme, and Most Waggiest categories. The event is presented by Aunt Kerry’s Pet Shop, Von Barkees Dog Spa, and Paws Place Dog Rescue.

SATURDAY, OCT. 30
Pawz in the Park
Long Leaf Park, 314 Pine Grove Dr. • Free
After going virtual in 2020 because of Covid-19, the 8th annual Pawz in the Park will launch again in-person, featuring over 30 pet-friendly vendors. Businesses such as Einstein’s Canine College, Three Monkeys Candles, BOSS BONES, Aunt Kerry’s Pet Stop, The Dog Wizard Wilmington, and others will be on site.
Admission is free, but proceeds from raffles and the silent auction go to local pet rescues. There will be live music, as well as beer and food for sale.
Families looking to add a furry friend to their brood will find information at the event about adoptions. Multiple rescues will be on hand to chat about their nonprofits.
More information can be found here.
MORE SATURDAY HAPPENINGS
Rims on the River Vintage Car & Hot Rod Show — The 17th year anniversary of the car show takes off this weekend with vendors and music. On Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., downtown Wilmington will have cars and hot rods 1980s and older aligning the streets. There will be a pinup contest at 3:30 p.m. at the corner of Chestnut and Front streets, with car show winners announced at 4 p.m. (best in show takes home $500). Sunday will have participants take an hour cruise from CFCC’s Schwartz Center to Moore’s Creek Battlegrounds Park. Interested parties can meet at the Schwartz Center at noon to participate. Find more info here.
Satellite’s Halloween Bash — Live music will be performed by The Phantom Playboys, 7 p.m. – midnight, and a tarot-card reader will be on site, along with fire-slinging hula hoopers, and a costume contest, with a $100 Satellite gift card up for grabs. Free — 120 Greenfield St.
Rusty Nail Halloween Party — Rusty Nail (1310 S. 5th Ave.) will feature a night of music from Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos. It’s $10 at the door, and there will be a costume contest with prizes.
Halloween Decades Party — Seven Mile Post (7219 Market St.) welcomes guests to flashback to the ‘90s and dress in the decade’s best as part of the costume contest. The band Alternative Vision will go on at 8 p.m. and play hits from Green Day, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, and others.
Big Something Afterparty — Big Something will play three days at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater for Halloween, costume contests included. The afterparties will be going strong at Varnish, located at the foot of Market Street in downtown Wilmington. On Saturday, Rebekah Todd will take to the stage from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Live music starts at 10 p.m., and there also will be a $500 costume contest.

Ibiza $1k Costume Contest — Halloween at Ibiza can come with a hefty payout for the person who brings their A-game to the Halloween bash, which gets underway at 9 p.m. at Ibiza (118 Market St.). Competitors in the Monster Bash costume contest must register by 11:45 p.m. The party goes until 2:30 a.m.; must be 18 to enter.
Happy, Healthy Halloween — Every year Panacea (4107 Oleander Dr.) offers an alternative to the saccharine sweets given away in copious amounts every October. Its annual Happy, Healthy Halloween Trick-or-Treat event is for families and children with diet restrictions, vegan diets, and are health conscious. Vegan and non-food-related treats will be offered from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and a pop-up market will take place until 9 p.m. Masks and social-distancing is required.
Halloween Donkey Palooza – Skywatch Bird Rescue is hosting a kid-friendly event, welcoming the little ones to come decked out in their costumes for a chance to win the contest. Plus, donkeys and emus will be all gussied up for the visit. Taking place at 3600 Lynn Ave., Castle Hayne, a photo booth will be open for visitors to snap a photo of a raptor ambassador. Raptor friends Opie, Karma, Archie, Nev, Curly, and others will be on hand from the Cape Fear Raptor Center. Tickets: $10 for adults and $5 for kids; free for 3 and under.
Trunk or Treat – Starting at noon, Mac’s Speed Shop (4126 Oleander Dr.) will be welcoming kids for trunk or treat. Car trunks will be decorated to fit the spooky season, as kids can don their costumes for candy from noon to 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCT. 31
Goosebumps in the Grove
Poplar Grove Plantation, 10200 US-17 • Admission: $5
Poplar Grove is celebrating Halloween all weekend long with two days of more than 75 arts and crafts vendors, plus food trucks. Kids will be able to trick-or-treat through the vendors, plus Mr. Twister will be onsite making balloon creations, and Mr. Mark’s Monster Mash sing-a-long will take place. There will be vintage themed carnival games, the barnyard animals will be available to visit, and the manor house will be decked out for all who dare to take its tour (an additional $5).
Goosebumps in the Grove will take place both Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets can be booked online.
All proceeds benefit Poplar Grove Plantation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, conservation and preservation.
MORE SUNDAY HAPPENINGS
Food Truck Rodeo — Taking place at Long Leaf Park (314 Pine Grove Dr.), Sunday’s food truck rodeo will feature more than a dozen food trucks, such as Lobster Dogs, Tasty Tees, Kono Pizza and more. Cash and credit will be accepted and there will be music by Boba Funk. The event is free to attend, noon – 5 p.m.
UNCW OctubaFest — At UNCW’s Beckwith Recital Hall (5270 Randall Dr.), a festival of sounds will get underway with musicians performing seasonal music on euphoniums and tubas at 4 p.m. Tickets are $9.
Panic Attack Haunted Attraction — Every Halloween season Panic Attack (3245 Level Church Rd., Nikina) opens to the public Friday through Sunday, 7:30 p.m. – midnight. The haunted attraction has been built by a former film industry crew, so the aesthetics are movie-level frightful. Plus, the haunt’s actors — nurses in a psych ward, violent clowns with chainsaws, demonized elves — level up the experience. Read more from Port City Daily’s coverage last year — complete with a photo gallery — and make reservations now, as the haunted swamp packs it out annually. Tickets: $30 – $70.

Phobia Haunted Trail: CarnEvil in the Woods — Set up on Maco Road in Leland, complete with clowns and wicked doctors as part of “CarnEvil in the Woods.” The 30-minute outdoor haunted trail features live actors who will work to instill all your worst nightmares (no worries, though, they’ll keep their hands to themselves). The attraction is open on weekends only, 8 p.m. – midnight, through Nov. 6. All guests must wear a mask on the trail. Tickets are $17 and can be purchased at www.phobiahaunted.com. The last ticket will be sold at 11:30 p.m.
Hubb’s Corn Maze — Fall has officially arrived, which means all the harvest-time activities are in full swing, including at Hubb’s Farm, an hour north of Wilmington. Open through Nov. 7, the Hubb’s Farm Corn Maze includes a 4.5-acre pumpkin patch, farm animals, human foosball, giant slides, wagon rides, duck races on weekends, and of course a 15-acre corn maze. All tickets should be purchased online in advance. Various events will take place throughout the season as well, such as sip-and-paint sessions, pumpkin painting, an antique festival, and more. Located at 10276 U.S. Hwy 421, Clinton; tickets are $14-$20
Halloween Punk Show and Art Market — From 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Bottega (723 4th St.) will feature local artists and makers selling wares, as well as Rictus Grim performing as punk rockers The Misfits. The Explainers and Blab School also will take over the stage.
Have an event you want to schedule for Port City Daily? Email info@portcitydaily.com
Want to read more from our staff? Subscribe now and then sign up for our newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.