SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday is the weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, and more.
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. 31
Murder on the Dance Floor
Eagle’s Dare, 420 N. Third St. • Tickets: $20-$50
“Murder on the Dancefloor” is a song by UK outfit Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Gregg Alexander’s 2001 album “Read My Lips” and saw a resurgence of popularity last year in the psychological thriller “Saltburn.”
Now, the Beehive Blondes — DJ’s Jess James and Lauren Jones, who host retro dance parties filled with music from the ‘50s and up — are taking it on as their Halloween celebration theme at Eagle’s Dare. For those who dare, Halloween night with the DJs will be filled with spooky songs, a black light bubble house, fairy hair, magic mirror photo booth, pop-up ice cream from Wandering Cone and more.
The Murder on the Dance Floor Halloween Costume Party will have attendants bringing their best moves to the floor, while dressed in their best digs. There will be a costume contest, with the winner receiving two free tickets to Wilson Center’s “Insidious: The Further You Fear” in March.
Tickets, including VIPs which come with Jello shots, snacks and more, are available here.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Satellite Halloween Bash — The South Front district will be turned up with costumes and Kicking Bird’s punchy pop-rock welcoming Halloweeners. The show is free at 120 Greenfield St. and following will be Fort Lowell spinning tunes on vinyl for its weekly Let’s Dance Party. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes.
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater — Cornelia’s Restaurant in Porters Neck is hosting a whodunnit event. Diners become detectives to unravel “Midnight at the Masquerade.” It’s $80 a ticket and includes a buffet dinner with a professional show at the Magnolia Event Center, 980 Roundhouse Circle. Must purchase tickets by calling 910-637-8026.
Funkwondo: Free Halloween Show — The art of funk will be celebrated with a free show at Bowstring Brewyard in the Soda Pop District. Funkwondo is a Charlotte, North Carolina, band who mixes psychedelia with soul and improvisation. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Fall Festival and Boo Bounce — From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hemenway Center at 507 MacRae St., Voyage Wilmington is hosting a family-friendly free event. It will welcome vendors, nonprofits, and small businesses to host a trunk or treat for costumed ghouls and goblins. There also will be face-painting, games and music.
Friday, Nov. 1
Cape Fear Kite Festival
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, 1000 Loggerhead Road • Free
The annual Cape Fear Kite Festival is returning to the skies this weekend on Pleasure Island.
Kites of all shapes, sizes, colors and styles will soar through the air, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, at the Kure Beach Pier. Then, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., glow-in-the-dark and illuminated kites will fly above the sand dunes and ocean as part of the night fly, while glowing floshades also will be set up along the beach. There also will be a DJ spinning tunes.
The festival will continue on Nov. 2 and 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Fort Fisher Recreation Center. There will be live music, face-painting, food trucks, and vendors both Saturday and Sunday. The event is free for all, with food and drinks available for purchase. Free shuttles run from Blakeslee Air Force Recreation Area to the festival as well. More than 100 kites will fly both days.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Coastal Carolina Clay Guild Pottery Sale and Show — There will be more than 50 local and regional potters and ceramic artists coming together for the 17th annual Coastal Carolina Clay Guild Pottery Sale and Show. It takes place on Friday, Nov. 1, 5 p.m. with an opening reception, live music by Dave Hervey and refreshments. There will be ceramic works aplenty for sale, plus a pottery raffle to support Good Shepherd Center and Asheville Arts District hurricane recovery efforts. The event takes place all weekend at Hannah Block Historic USO and Community Arts Center, 121 S. Second St.
Port City Blitz — If rocking out with some of the best heavy bands this weekend is more your vibe, head to Waterline Brewing Co. at the base of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge (721 Surry St.). More than 20 vendors will be set up as part of a punk flea, plus there will be food trucks, a skate demo and live music. More than 40 bands set up on five stages, including headliners Heathen Sun, Billy Batts and the Made Men, Scarlett, Scouts Honor and others. Tickets are $10.
Mekki Lepper — Emmy-nominated Mekki Lepper, stars as juror Noah on “Jury Duty” and has earned accolade recognition for his writing on the series, is coming to Dead Crow Comedy Room this weekend. He’s also been seen on “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and “St. Denis Medical.” Featured on Comedy Central as well, the stand up comic talks about his own heritage, such as being Moroccan — though he has very white skin. “People say weird stuff about it, especially now,” Lepper said in a 2020 special. He said he often gets questioned: “Has it been hard for you, has anybody been racist to you?” To which he responds: “I mean, does it look like anyone has been racist to me? Do you think I’m going around telling people my family’s Arab? No. Honestly, racist people think that I’m racist.” Tickets to his show are $20 to $30 and he performs at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
Saturday, Nov. 2
St. Stan’s Polish Festival
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 4849 Castle Hayne Road • Free
The 24th annual Polish Festival is returning to the Cape Fear region this weekend at St. Stanislaus Church in Castle Hayne from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors by the thousands — upward of almost 10,000, actually — descend on the area annually during the first weekend of November to indulge in Polish foods, deserts, drinks, music and more.
The church ships in authentic kielbasa, pierogi, golabki, kruschiki, and more from Pennsylvania to sell. Homemade food prepared by parishioners will also be for sale, featuring potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, sausage rolls, topped with homemade sauerkraut, and pastries, like chrusciki cookies and nut rolls, priced $8 and up.
Admission is free, but proceeds benefit the upkeep of the church and help subsidize its food pantry, Helping Hands.
Polish music will be played live by the Harbour Towne Fest Band, bringing pop-polka sounds, and Front Street Brewery will have its annual Polish beer for sale.
The festival will also feature crafts for purchase, a raffle with cash prizes, and will have a children’s area with games and inflatables.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Taste of Wrightsville Beach — The 11th annual Taste of Wrightsville Beach will be hosted in the parking lot of Bluewater Grill (4 Marina St.) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m The festival is a celebration of local eateries and drinkeries, and will welcome 35 tasting booths, including locally prepared cuisine and beverages from area culinarians. Awards are decided by celebrity judges and there are People’s Choice awards. The event proceeds benefit Weekend Meals on Wheels, which provides food to seniors in the greater Wilmington area. Deliveries are sent out on weekends and on days not covered by the weekday Home Delivered Meals program in New Hanover County. In addition to bites and sips provided to attendees — tickets are $100 for adults and $25 for children — there will be a raffle and auction. Funds from it will benefit shut-in seniors in the western region of the state, affected by Helene last month. Proceeds will help seniors in the Swannanoa and Ashe County regions, in particular, which endured devastating damage due to landslides. Tickets are available here.
Stomp — The international percussive theater troupe will take the Wilson Center stage for two shows this weekend, at 3 p.m. and then 7:30 p.m. What began as a street performance in the U.K. has grown into a global phenomenon. Artists in Stomp use paint cans, garbage can lids, and shopping carts to create rhythms and perform acrobatics and pantomime. Tickets start at $40 here.
LakeFest — Annually, Cape Fear River Watch hosts a celebration of Greenfield Lake, which will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the boathouse at 298 Park St. There will be games, live animals, boat rides, face-painting, crafts and more. It’s free to attend!
Sunday, Nov. 3
Some Enchanted Evening
Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $42.80
Some Enchanted Evening is a show of Broadway tunes that get the jazzy treatment and are turned up by modern hooks and instrumentation. The show celebrates a century of music and includes songs from “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Sound of Music,” “Guys & Dolls,” “Hamilton,” “Oliver!” and “South Pacific.”
Performing the tracks are Stella Cole and Emmy-nominated trumpeter Benny Benack III. They are joined by tap dance phenom Jabu Graybeal, as well as a five-piece band.
Tickets start at $42 and the show gets underway at 6 p.m.
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