SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday, the weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, and more, continues to celebrate the Halloween season.
From the darkwave sounds of Wilmington Goth Fest kicking off Thursday to the spooky symphonic wind concert ending the weekend at UNCW, with plenty more sprinkled between: a Wizard of Oz-inspired art show, two beer festivals and one of the southeast region’s scariest haunted houses welcoming all who dare.
There is no shortage of fun ahead.
All featured events were scheduled as of Thursday; however, it’s wise to check in ahead of attending any one. Inclement weather, changes in schedules and unforeseen circumstances may shift for organizers at the last minute.
Thursday, Oct. 24
“Lizzie the Musical”
North Front Street Theater, 21 N. Front St., Tickets: $25
Panache Theatre Company is back scaling a bloody murder of a musical, “Lizzie,” at North Front Theater in downtown Wilmington.
The show features an all-female cast, backed by a rock band to retell the American mythology of Lizzie Borden. The story takes place in 1892, when Lizzie was accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an ax; however, she was acquitted due to muddled testimonies and insufficient evidence.
The stage show has a blistering rock score — less of the expected Stephen Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber sound and more akin to Bikini Kill, the Runaways, and Heart. Music is by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, and lyrics and book by Tim Maner.
It stars local actresses Sydney SmithMartin, Heather Setzler, Lily Zukerman and Amy Carter. Tickets are $25.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Wilmington Goth Fest — Four days of darkwave sounds will take over The Barzarre this weekend with Goth Fest. Featured will be 23 bands from Thursday through Sunday, including Third Realm (New York), Summore (Ohio), Night Rivals (North Carolina), 30 Year Sick (North Carolina), Brighter Than A Thousand Suns (North Carolina) on Thursday. Following on Friday will be Xentrifuge (New York), Vazum (Michigan), Metamorph (New York), The Rain Within (Virginia), The Mystic Underground (New York), Academy Order (Pennsylvania). Saturday will welcome Funker Vogt (Germany), Die Sektor (Georgia), Antania (California), Circuit Preacher (Virginia), Absynthe of Faith (Minnesota), Gothic Lizard (Virginia). Sunday will feature Modal Citizan (Virginia), Luna Del Luna (Pennsylvania), Frenchy and the Punk (New York), Mark Sinnis and 825 (North Carolina), Ghost in the Barn (North Carolina), Seraphim System (North Carolina). Tickets are $79 for all four days, and $10 to $49 for individual days; check out the breakdown here. All-ages show!
Friday, Oct. 25
Voracious Rare Beer and Wine Festival
Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan St. • Tickets: $40-$80
Taste the latest, greatest beers, yet to be discovered by connoisseurs.
Voracious Beer and Wine Festival will feature more than 50 select breweries, plus the most sought-after wine, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
A champagne bar will be set up, along with oyster stations from NSEA Oysters and Ghost Fleet Oyster Co. Food also will be available from Chef Eric Gephart with Kamado Grill, Castle Street Kitchen, Salt and Charm, Croftons Pretzels, On Thyme, and Nothing Bundt Cakes.
Also, The Midatlantic will perform.
The Voracious Rare Beer & Wine Festival is a precursor to Saturday’s Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival.
Tickets are limited, $30-$80.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
“Rocky Horror Picture Show” Shadowcast — Local comedy troupe Pineapple-Shaped Lamps has hosted two Rocky Horror shadow casts this season, but the motherlode will be Friday at Thali an Hall at 7:30 p.m. For virgins who have never attended, prepare for full entertainment as the comedy troupe dresses up as the characters and enacts the movie live as it screens. The audience also participates by doing callbacks and signalongs, utilizing props and more. There will be prop bags, a costume contest — so come donned as your best Janet or Frank-N-Furter — and prepare to be engaged and entertained. “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a musical starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Meat Loaf, Patricia Quinn and others, is a 1977 cult classic, perfect for every Halloween celebration. Tickets are $20 here and read PCD’s full coverage here.
The Warped Band — Bowstring Brewyard is welcoming a group of hard core bands bringing back to the life the “best summer ever” — which would be any summer The Warped Tour took place. Now, The Warped Band is welcoming you — eyeliner and skinny jeans included — to relive those glory days as it re-lives the high-energy rock show. Songs performed include artists such as Blink 182, Green Day, Paramore, Good Charlotte, Taking Back Sunday, Papa Roach, Less Than Jake, NOFX, Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine and more. Tickets are $20.
Off to See the Wizard: Art Inspired by the Land of Oz — Flying monkeys, the cowardly lion, Glinda the Good Witch — they’ll all be featured this weekend as part of Fourth Friday Gallery Night’s opening show at Acme Arts Studios on 5th Avenue. The studio collective will feature a dozen or more artists featuring works inspires by the yellow brick road that leads to the Land of Oz. Dumay Gorham, Todd Carignan, Tom Fleming, Anne McCombie, Renato Abbate and others will showcase all media, from sculpture to watercolors, paintings to ceramics. The opening reception will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
ARTfall Show and Sale — The Thalian Association of Community Theater will have a juried art show and sale of new works completed in last two years by area artists. It takes place at the Community Arts Center/Hannah Block USO through Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Awards given first through third places, as well as honorable mention, and people’s choice; cash prizes total $525.
Mike Cannon — New York-based comedian Mike Cannon will perform at Third Street’s Dead Crow Comedy Room this Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Cannon has been touring clubs and released two independent specials on YouTube in recent years. “Mike Cannon’s Huge Mistake” features the comedian’s penchant for crowd work while on edibles, and “White Privilege Homeless.” “I have a 2-and-a-half year-old son,” he said in the latter. “I’m with him all day, every day, so I’m ti-ti.All day, everyday I just dream about doing cocaine. … It would make me a better dad. … Coffee’s not cutting the mustard; I’m never awake but I’m pumping with anxiety.” Tickets are $20 to $30.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Panic Attack
3245 Pine Level Church Road, Nakina • Tickets: $30 and up
An hour west in a swampy, desolate area, a haunted attraction created by film industry professionals is officially open. Panic Attack is not for the faint of heart; it brings extreme scares to all who dare enter.
The attraction is brought to life by set designers, mechanized props, and actors who take on demonic clowns, threatening queens, dragons, zombies, swamp hags and witches.
The attraction tends to pack in audiences every season, so reservations are recommended. Food vendors are on site and there are plenty of photo opportunities to capture the fun of the season. Plus, there’s a DJ dance party for everyone while waiting in line.
New this year is also a side attraction called “Buried Alive: The Dark Descent.” It combines two primal fears: the terror of being buried alive and the disorientation of navigating a pitch-black maze. Will you get out alive?
Open from dark until to midnight every Friday and Saturday and until 10 p.m. on Sundays through Nov. 2, tickets are $30-$70.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Riverwalk Monster Mash — The Town of Belville is sponsoring a day of fun in time for Halloween at Belville Riverwalk Park. From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. there will be trunk-or-treating for the costumed ghouls and goblins under 14. Prizes will be awarded to the best dressed car set up to give out candy to kids in the parking lot. (vehicles should be parked by 3:45 p.m.). Then at 7 p.m. “Monsters Inc.” will screen and there will be movie trivia and prizes, plus food trucks parked on site. https://belvillepr.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail…
Wilmington Zombiefest — It’s going to be a rip-roaring good time at Eagle’s Dare this weekend. Zombiefest 2024 has become a Wilmington Halloween staple and welcomes attendees to dress in their best costume to enter the contest, and listen to live music from The Hillbilly Hellcats, The Phantom Playboys and Viva Le Vox. Food trucks will be parked on site and tickets are $15 the day of and $20 at the door.
Seawitch Spooktacular Halloween Bash — Carolina Beach’s 12th annual Halloween bash — 21 and over only — at Seawitch will get underway at 8 p.m. There is a $5 cover to enjoy live entertainment by The Cut. Come donning the best garb, as the costume content begins at 11 p.m. and the best dressed wins $200, with second getting $100 and third place scoring $50. Cutoff to enter is 10:30 p.m. and the top 20 will be called onstage for a live vote (a booth at the back of the bar will take photos of all entries with judges paring down to the top 20).
Cape Fear Pop Culture Fest — A pop-culture Hallowee-theme party is planned at The Elks Lodge, 5102 Oleander Dr. There will be more than 85 vendor tables, lots of comic books, toys, video games, Pokémon cards, movies, anime collectibles, arts and crafts and more. Kids are welcome to wear costumes and go trick-or-treating. Admission is $3, but kids 12 and under are free. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Autumn” — Brunswick Little Theater is hosting its latest production, “Autumn,” all weekend. Written by Peter Quilter and directed by Cat Thomas, the show tackles sisterhood, aging and learning to laugh through life’s challenges. Tickets are $28, available here. Shows are at 8068 River Road SE in Southport.
Halloween Comicfest — IronMan, Captain America, Spidey, Batman — come dressed as your favorite comic-book hero for Halloween Comicfest at Fanboy Comics. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., families are welcome to 419 S College Rd. for free comics, free candy, and more! All ages are welcome to enjoy a selection of complimentary titles, such as Venom Bedlam, Star Wars Kylo Ren, Spider-boy The Webless Wonder, Fantastic Four The Dinosaur Fantastic Four, and Spidey and his Amazing Friends. Local artist Bryan Jacobs of Lines By Bernie will also be on site selling his horror art.
Castle Street Outdoor Movie Night — It’s showtime! And “the ghost with the most” will be on the big screen as part of Castle Street’s outdoor movie night, starting at 7 p.m. at 512 Castle St. (next to Graham’s Barbershop). Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” from 1988, starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, will show, as hosted by Castle Street Collective. Blankets, chairs and snacks welcome; there will be free popcorn and drinks while available. There is onstreet parking and spots available at the Rescue Mission (502 Castle St.).
Old MacFaye’s Barnyard Bootacular — A Castle Hayne farm is opening for a day of fall festival fun. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. families are welcome to bring the kids for pony rides, animal dress-ups, halloween treats, hay rides and games. Kids are encouraged to dress up. The farm is located at 2814 Springs Dr. and it’s $20 per child and $5 per adult, available here.
Howl-o-ween Paw Pup Market and Costume Contest — Ruff Draft, Wilmington’s premiere dog park, is hosting its monthly vendor faire, with pet-friendly makers set up. It will celebrate Howl-o-ween as well and so all animals and their humans are encouraged to dress up. The event takes place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 2144 Wrightsville Ave.
Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival — Annually, one of the biggest and tastiest fundraisers for the Carousel Child Advocacy Center takes place in October with Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival. More than 100 beer, wine, and seltzers vendors are on site offering samplings of their sippers. Plus, there is live music and food trucks. VIP ticket holders are allowed in an hour earlier at noon with general admission at 1 p.m. Tickets are $38 to $140, with music from Blue Footed Boobies, The Swellians and Sound Waves. It takes place at Riverfront Park’s Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan St.
Omnium Circus — Diversity, empathy and fun is at the center of Omnium Circus, with all-ability performers bringing jaw-dropping entertainment to fans. There are basketball players on unicycles, acrobatics of all levels, tightrope spinners, and more. Tickets start at $32.83 and the show is at Third Street’s Wilson Center.
Sunday, Oct. 27
“Night of the Living Dead”
Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $35
George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” is being scaled as a live theatrical version by Big Dawg Productions for the next two weekends.
Just in time for Halloween, the show follows seven people trapped inside a farmhouse under siege by zombies. The 1968 classic film has long been a favorite of horror fan Chase Harrison — also a local writer who has adapted it for the stage. Harrison is directing the show, which runs for two weekends, Oct. 24-27, with shows at 7:30 p.m., except for on Sundays — matinees are at 3 p.m.
It’s staged in the Ruth and Bucky Stein theater and tickets are here.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Family Pride Fall Festival — The LGBTQ Center is hosting a family fall gathering at Long Leaf Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be music, dancing, crafts, a costume parade, and family fun, including refreshments from Walking Tacos and hot dogs prepared by our board and Sunset Slush.
It’s free and open to the public at Long Leaf’s picnic shelters 5 and 6 (314 Pine Grove Dr).
“Hocus Pocus” — The famed Disney flick, starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, will screen in Thalian Hall in celebration of Halloween. The movie follows three sister witches from the 17th century who are conjured back to life in modern-day Salem and are on the hunt for fresh kids in order to become immortal. Tickets are $10 and the film screens at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Wilmington Symphonic Winds — A free concert will take place on Sunday, 4:30 p.m. at Kenan Auditorium. Wilmington Symphonic Winds is celebrating its 10th season with “Night Light” — a musical excursion for the spooky season. The premise revolves around being a lone traveler on a deserted runaway train, with songs including “Haunted Objects” by John Mackey, “Rail Lights” by Jennifer Higdon, “Tango Club” by Roberto Molinelli, featuring saxophone soloist Gabriel Sánchez Porras, and “Night Mares” by Roshanne Etezady. Audience members are encouraged to attend the concert in costume. Though free, tickets must be procured here.
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