SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday features more than a dozen ways to enjoy the weekend via theater, music, art, culinary happenings and more.
All events featured 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, March 6
Beauty and the Beast Jr.
North Front Street Theater, 21 N. Front St. • Tickets: $10-$20
Wilmington Performing Arts is putting on one of Disney’s classic tales at North Front Street Theater. “Beauty and the Beast” will run March 6 through 16, Thursday through Sunday.
The 37-deep cast is performed by youth ages 6 to 13, who bring to life the tale of Belle — a young girl under the spell of an enchantress. It will be reversed if a prince who has been turned into a Beast can learn to be loved; therein, he will return to his former self — but time is running out.
Shows begin at 6:30 p.m., except for 2:30 p.m. matinees also offered on Saturday; Sunday is one show only at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $20.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Jazz at CAM — The Dominican Jazz Project is performing at Cameron Art Museum at 7 p.m. The group consists of American composer Stephen Anderson, guitarist and vocalist Carlos Luis, drummer Guy Frómeta, tenor saxophonist Sandy Gabriel, trumpet player Mayquel González, bassist Ramón Vázquez, and percussionist David Almengod. The group released their debut album, “Desde Lejos,” in 2021, which won Best Jazz Album and Best Jazz Song (“Fuera de la Oscuridad”) at the 2023 Premios Indie Dominicanos. Tickets to the show are $15 and up here.
Amy Brown — Dubbed the Funniest Person in Rochester 2022, Amy Brown will perform for one night only at Dead Crow Comedy Room on Thursday at 7 p.m. Brown is a regular on the Atlanta comedy scene and her standup crosses a multitude of observations, from being dyslexic to motherhood to married life. In a fall bit last year in Georgia, she told the audience: “I moved to Atlanta for my husband’s job — he’s an atomic physicist. A fancy nerd guy, which is good because in college I studied musical theater. Oops. I feel like a rescue. Jazz hands is not an employable skillset.” Tickets to her show are $15 here.
Pleasure Island Restaurant Week — Taking place through March 15, Pleasure Island Restaurant Week features 29 eateries and drinkeries on the island, offering specials for one week only. For instance, a newer restaurant on the island, The Tropical, is offering lunch or dinner for two for $37, which includes a shared appetizer, two bowls and shared dessert. Salt Fish is offering an appetizer and a tiki drink for $20, while Havana’s is doing a three-course meal for $39.95. See all specials here.
Friday, March 7
Champions of Magic
Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St. • Tickets start at $15
Champions of Magic is coming to Wilson Center to present mind-bending illusions with humor and awe.
The group has been touring for a decade and features the UK illusionist duo Young and Strange, who has performed on Penn and Teller and whose videobombing of magic tricks on live newscasts have gone viral.
Liberty Larsen is a fourth-generation magician whose family is behind Magic Castle, Genii Magazine and the Academy of Magical Arts. Her co-star, Fernando Velasco, had ties to Magic Castle, where his father worked, giving Velasco an inside look into the world of wonder. The young magician is known for pushing boundaries as an escape artist.
Tickets to the March 7 (7 p.m.) and 8 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) shows start at $15 here.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Night Tour of Burgwin-Wright House — If catching a behind-the-scenes look at Colonial life is of interest, head to the Burgwin-Wright House night tour at 224 Market St. Guided by candlelight, visitors learn about rituals and superstitions of the era — a time without electricity and modern-day conveniences. The tour starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15; here is limited space so call (910) 762-0570 for reservations.
Emmet Cahill — Ireland’s young tenor is best known for his performances in PBS’s “Celtic Thunder” and he also has joined Tabernacle Choir for sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall. He has recorded multiple albums, including “Emmet Cahill’s Ireland,” featuring turns of his childhood. Tickets to his Thalian Hall show start at $42, with showtime at 7:30 p.m.
Shot Thru The Heart: The Bon Jovi Experience — If New Jersey’s famed ‘80s rockers Bon Jovi is more your jam, then catch Shot Thru the Heart at Bowstring Brewyard. The band brings to life the Bon Jovi experience, paying homage to their greatest hits, from “Livin’ on a Prayer” to “Bad Medicine,” “I’ll Be There for You” to “It’s My Life.” Tickets to the 7 p.m. show are $20 here,
Marcella Arguello — Making waves on the standup scene over the last decade, Marcello Arguello is a 6’2” comedian proud of her stature. On her 2023 HBO special “Bitch, Grow Up,” she addresses as much: “I’m tall for a woman — bitch, take it in. I don’t play volleyball, I’m not a model and since I have everyone’s attention, I just want to let everyone know the tops of your refrigerators are f*****g disgusting.” She brings up her height often, as when it comes to dating guys shorter than her, and tackles race and gender, being from a Latinx family. The comedian will be in the second season of “Poker Face” on Peacock this year, has appeared on Comedy Central, and was the host of “The Cache” on Tubi in 2021. Tickets to her show are $20-$30 and she performs at Dead Crow, 511 N. Third St., at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
Saturday, March 8
North Carolina Rice Festival
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson Historic Site, 8884 St. Philip’s Road SE, Winnabow • Free
Celebrating Gullah Geechee Heritage and their impact harvesting local rice crops at area plantations in the 19th century, Brunswick County hosts the 2025 Rice Festival at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson Historic Site.
It’s free to attend, with events taking place for four days, culminating with speakers, performers and more from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Included will be dancer Shea Ra Nichi and The Cultural Ensemble, presenting an original performance reflecting deeper aspects of North Carolina’s unique Gullah Geechee history and culture. Also performing will be Africa Unplugged, led by djembe drum master, guitarist, and songwriter Atiba Rorie, combining West Africa traditional percussion with guitars and bass.
There also will be children’s pavilion that will host drumming and singing Harriet Tubman reenactor Carolyn Evans and storyteller Marva Moss.
Food trucks will also be parked, some serving traditional Gullah-Geechee specialities.
Find out more here.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Wilmington Dark History Tour — The history lover’s alternative to a ghost tour can be enjoyed Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on a Wilmington Dark History Tour. The event delves into the sometimes seedy tales of Wilmington’s past, when pirates plied the local waters and goes into wartime tales, including one involving a Confederate spy and her unusual death while running a blockade. The tour is three-quarters of a mile, so wear comfortable shoes. Tickets are $22 and up here.
Curated on Castle Street Vintage Market — The vintage market on Castle Street takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the 600 block. Visitors will shop through wares from Gravity Records, Second Skin Vintage, Jess James + Co., Threads By Sydney, The Vintage Cellar, Dots & Doodle, Holly’s Typewriter Poetry, and more. It’s free to attend but all items are individually priced.
Dean Day 2025 — Broomtail Brewing (6404 Amsterdam Way) is celebrating its former employee Dean Goodyear, who unexpectedly passed away in 2019. A scholarship was launched in his honor for CFCC students, so the celebration benefits the fund, with proceeds also going to The Bee Conservancy. All proceeds from the special batch of Bee Kind Honey Kolsch, created in honor of Dean will be donated to the conservancy. T’Geaux Boys Food Truck will be parked from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and City Wheelz from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Stefan Edward will be playing music from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Blue Karma/Domocile — A local multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter is returning to the Bourgie Nights stage after making his debut there last year. Jacob Adams is inspired by the ethereal, dreamscape rock of bands like Tame Impala and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Last year, his show included originals — he has released an EP, “Square One” — and covers, such as Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” and King Gizzard’s “The River.” Joining the show will be Domocile — another Wilmington band, playing electronic-infused instrumental jams. Inspired by Papadosio and Phish, the four-piece crosses boundaries of sound, from funk to atmospheric and dancey. Tickets are $10 here.
Battleship 101 — If you’ve ever wanted to tour the U.S.S. North Carolina, now is the time. The ship will have volunteers who help bring history to life by sharing expertise regarding specific battleship subjects. Visitors will learn about the gunnery, radar, sickbay, galley, engineering, and daily shipboard life. Folks will able to try on helmets, raise signal flags, “text” using semaphore flags, tap out your name using Morse code, and more. Battleship 101 is to help visitors fully understand what life was like aboard a WWII Battleship; admission is $6 and up here.
The Spelling Hornet — While a Spelling Bee may be for school-aged kids, Tap Yard Wilmington is hosting an adult version: The Spelling Hornet. The games begin at 2 p.m. and welcomes all hyperlexic participants to test their dictionary might. Hosting is Daredevil Improv Comedy Troupe, so expect quite a few laughs along the way as well. There will be prizes as well for the best and worst spellers. Tap Yard is located at 502 S. 16th St.
Astronomy Adventures — Have a propensity for the stars, moon and galaxy overall? Head to Carolina Beach State Park Visitor Center as The Cape Fear Astronomy Society will be set up for an evening of out-of-this-world adventures. There will be telescopes for viewing the night sky, planets, myriad stars and more often obscured by urban area light pollution. The program begins at sunset and wraps 15 minutes before the park closes. Stay abreast of the weather as the event could be canceled should it rain.
Circle the Wagens — It’s the fifth annual event celebrating all-things Volkswagen. Circle the Wagens brings an array of vintage Volkswagens under the bridge to Waterline Brewing Company. Not only are vehicles on display, but vendors are also set up. The car show is from noon to 4 p.m., with awards announced at 3:30 p.m. It’s free to attend.
Sunday, March 9
Scotopia Play Festival
Dreams of Wilmington, 901 Fanning St., and Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $17 and up
Mouths of Babe is a local theater company that has revered itself for boosting playwrights and performers to tackle thoroughly researched works — highlighting local lore and history, others giving voices to the underserved, and embracing drama, comedy and more. Many plays center on social justice as well.
For the next three weekends it’s hosting its Scotopia Play Festival at Dreams of Wilmington and Thalian Hall, including multiple productions and staged readings, workshops and more. “Flashlights: Short Plays to Light Your Way,” will be hosted Sunday, featuring eight works that were picked from more than 400 submissions worldwide.
The festival also features Mouths of Babe After Dark —content best suited for ages 18 and up.
Plays often delve into modern topics and two of MOB’s originals are to be featured. “Gerald’s Quilt a MoB Original from Quilt Stories: Voices from the AIDS Quilt” and “Ghost on the Roadside,” regarding Wilmington’s “poor man’s burial ground,” Oak Grove. The group hosted a staged reading of the latter in November.
There is also a play, “Sweet Spot,” about the friendship between local tennis icon Althea Gibson and tennis star Angela Buxton planned for March 16 and a dance tribute to Seabreeze — located south of Carolina Beach and once a destination for Black vacationers during the Jim Crow era, when beach resorts were racially segregated — paired with MoB’s ongoing development of Wilmington Reconstructed, which explores the 1898 massacre. That, too, will show on March 16.
To see the full lineup of plays and to get tickets, click here.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Sushi Showdown — Hi-Wire Brewing is welcoming GringoNinja to the brewery to teach participants how to make the perfect roll and then throw down in a roll-off to claim the Sushi Champion honor. The event will include sushi-making, tasting, and fun. Five chefs will craft their best creations in three categories: nigiri, maki and poke. There will be 15 unique menus, featuring five dishes per category and ticket holders get to taste the dishes, cast the vote and ultimately decide the winner. Tickets are $76 and include one beverage; the event takes place at 5:30 p.m.
New Orleans Songbook — Just in time for Mardi Gras, Thalian Hall is welcoming a group to perform the iconic sounds of the Crescent City, from Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong to Ellis Marsalis and James Black. Pianist Luther S. Allison, with vocalists Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs, will perform New Orleans Songbook at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The event is part of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the leading advocate for jazz, culture, and arts education globally. Tickets to the show start at $42.
Jason Vieaux, Roberto Diaz and Friends from Curtis Institute — Highlighting the soundscapes of guitar and strings, GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux with be joined by renowned violist Roberto Díaz and emerging artists from Curtis Institute — from where both Diaz and Vieaux work. They’ll perform Wenzel Matiegka’s Notturno, Op. 21 for guitar and string trio; Manuel de Falla’s Suite Populaire Espagnole for cello and guitar; Zhou Tian’s Red Trees, Wrinkled Cliffs for guitar and string trio and Niccolò Paganini’s Quartet in A minor, M.S. 42 for guitar and string trio. Tickets are $19 and up here.
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