SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday features dozens of ways for people 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, June 4
Port City Music Festival
Various locations • Free
A summer series dedicated to elevating accessibility of classical music for everyone, Port City Music Festival kicked off June 1 and wraps up June 5, but two more shows are available.
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m. oboist Stephanie Caulder, violinist Gared Crawford, violist Sarah Sutton, and cellist Stephen Framil are performing at B’nai Israel, 2601 Chestnut St. The group will perform Franz Schubert String Trio in B-flat, D. 471, Jiří Družecký Quartet in G minor and Ludwiv van Beethoven’s String Trio No. 3 in G, Op. 9 No. 1.
On Friday, June 5, a performance will take place at Cameron Art Museum in partnership with the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra. Performers include violinist Gared Crawford, violist Sarah Sutton, cellist Stephen Framil, mezzo-soprano Kyle Engler, oboist Stephanie Caulder, and pianist Daniel Lau. The concert will include Jean Sibelius’ String Trio in G minor, JS210, Henry Purcell’s Collected Songs, JC Bach’s Oboe Quartet in B-flat, and Charles Stanford’s Piano Quartet in F, Op. 15.
There is a $5 suggested donation at the CAM door. Registration is open here.
Before the show, there will be a community master class from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Wilmington Faith Leaders Pride Gathering — As part of Pride month, faith leaders will gather at 6:30 p.m. at St. Jude’s Metropolitan Church, 19 N 26th St., at 6:30 p.m. Titled “We Honor Your Path,” the meeting will connect faith traditions, honor every journey, celebrate the diversity of God’s beloved community, and proclaim radical inclusion and joy with music, messages of hope and communal gathering.
The Phantom Playboys — The Leland Cultural Arts Center will host the rockabilly and ska sounds of local quintet The Phantom Playboys. The group is known to bring the party with high energy and raw fun every time they take the stage and tickets to Thursday’s show, which begins at 6 p.m., are $17. LCAC is located at 1212 Magnolia Village Way.
‘Taming of the Shrew’ — Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green youth company opened its 20th season on Wednesday with a production of the Bard’s “Taming of the Shrew,” featuring the Mermaid Tavern Players. The show explores themes of feminism and perseverance, but has been challenged as well by critics for its misogynistic tone. The story follows a headstrong Katherina, ebing courted by Petruchio, who engages in psychological and physical torments in an attempt to make her obedient. It’s free to catch the show, which continues June 9-12, 16-17, and 23-25 at 8 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and audiences are welcome to bring a picnic to catch the show, which continues by CF Shakespeare adult company. Admission is free.
Friday, June 6
Jay Chandrasekhar
Dead Crow Comedy Room, 511 N Third St. • Tickets: $30 and up
An American comedian, writer and director, Jay Chandrasekhar will be performing at Dead Crow Comedy Room, 511 N. Third St. Having performed at comedy clubs and college campuses in the mid-1990s, Chandrasekhar has become known for his work with sketch comedy troupe Broken Lizard. The group is behind films like “Super Troopers” and “Beerfest.”
Though the comedian is probably best known for directing 2005’s “Dukes of Hazzard.” He also has led the helm of episodes for TV series including “Community,” “Arrested Development” and “The Goldbergs.”
He often tours as a standup with Broken Lizard troupe members including Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan and directed the Broken Lizard comedy special, “Broken Lizard Stands Up.”
In 2023, during a bit, the L.A.-based comedian stated: “When you make a film called ‘Beerfest,’ people want to drink with you. It doesn’t matter where I go — breakfast, lunch, dinner — two shots of whiskey will arrive and some guy will go, ‘Hey, Barry!’ Stop, you’re ruining my life.”
Chandrasekhar will perform four shows this weekend, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; tickets are $30 to $41.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
‘Beetlejuice Jr.’ — Love the ghost with the most? Want to see his hijinks on the living in a live theater setting? Let a group of youth thespians entertain you with Thalian Association Community Theater’s “Beetlejuice Jr.” It’s based on the Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect, book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, and based on the Geffen Company Picture from the 1980s. The show follows Lydia Deetz who has a natural proclivity for seeing the afterlife and finds herself caught up in a spectacle to keep her newfound friends Adam and Barbara Maitland. Tickets to the show, held at the USO/Hannah Block Community Theater, are $30 and can be secured here. Shows take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday and runs June 6-8 and 13-15.
Weekend in Wilmington — UNCW Alumni hosts the second annual Weekend in Wilmington event, June 6-8. The goal is to reconnect with fellow Seahawks and events include a summer social, 7 p.m., at UNCW Center for Marine Science ($5-$10). It’s family-friendly and will include a cookout, with food and drinks from alumni-owned businesses. An awards reception will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday honoring distinguished alumni; tickets are $30 and it takes place at Kenan House. Other events to take place include a meetup at downtown’s Rally Point arcade and bar at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and a Sunday Seahawk Classic game of pickleball at 7 a.m. at Shoreline Pavilion on UNCW’s campus. Learn more about events here.
Saturday, June 7
Carolina Beach Music Festival
Carolina Beach Boardwalk Beach Strand • Tickets: $38 and up
Annually, the Carolina Beach Music Festival features multiple bands from the Southern beach music scene as crowds of hundreds shag on the sand. Concerts take place on the shoreline in front of the Carolina Beach Boardwalk.
This year a second day has been added as well to feature a different genre of music — reggae — to appeal to even more music lovers.
Saturday’s beach music lineup includes The Tams, Band of Oz and Jim Quick & The Coastline and takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday, June 8, reggae bands will include Tropidelic, fresh from their Red Rocks performance, and self declared “beach rockers” Ballyhoo!, as well as Dale and the ZDubs. The shows take place 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Daily tickets start at $38 and a two-day pass costs $65. No glass, pets or refunds are allowed and food and drink can be purchased at the event. Read more about the festival here.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Wilmington Punk Flea Market — Numerous DIY vendors, including local makers and artists selling taxidermy, handmade jewelry, horror B-movies and memorabilia, comic books, weirdo creations, vinyl records, vintage clothes and odd and strange chotchkes, will be set up at Scottish Rite Temple, 1415 S. 17th St. The event takes place 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with admission $10, though kids 12 and under enter for free.
Flytrap Frolic — Annually, a free community environmental and educational event takes place in honor of southeastern North Carolina to celebrate its indigenous carnivorous plants at the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden, 3800 Canterbury Road. Attendees to the 15th annual Flytrap Frolic, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will learn why they grow here and how they trap prey. There will be a garden guide who will lead visitors to the plants, with activities and games, arts and crafts and painters hosted. Vendors will be set up and there will be ethically sourced flytraps for sale, with proceeds benefiting the Coastal Land Trust. The flytraps will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis as supplies last.
All You Can Eat Crawfish Boil — Seaview Crab Company is celebrating the end of crawfish season, typically January through June, with peak crawfish available March through May. An all-you-can-eat ticketed Louisiana boil will take place noon to 2 p.m. at 6458 Carolina Beach Road. Tickets are $35, available at the door, and the event takes place in collaboration with the Plastic Ocean Project, a nonprofit that works toward eliminating single-use plastics from the ocean.
The Hellhowler Tour — A Madison, WI, death metal group, Casket Robbery, is on tour bringing their heavy rock sounds to Wilmington, along with acts Autumn Lies Buried, Australia’s Nicholas Cage Fighter, Blackwater Drowning and local support from the The Eighth Circle and A Shelter for Holly. Casket Robbery is touring in support of their latest album, “Rituals of Death,” and its feature single “The Lacryphagist.” The show takes place at Third and Red Cross streets’ The Eagle’s Dare; tickets are $25 here and show starts at 7 p.m.
10th Anniversary of Street Clones — A local punk rock outfit is celebrating 10 years and its 100th show at Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern this weekend. Street Clones will perform Saturday night, along with bands KIFF (Raleigh), Jack Chick Army (Greenville) and Mark Sinnis & 825 (Wilmington). It starts at 8 p.m. and there will be a cover charge.
‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ — Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts is presenting C.S. Lewis’ famed literary piece on stage at the Wilson Center. It follows four siblings — Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy — who become transported to Narnia, a land of enchanting characters such as Aslan and the treacherous White Witch. The kids must battle evil to restore peace to Narnia. It’s brought to life through choreographed movement, magical costumes and music, as well as immersive visuals and narration. Created by Cory Smith, the show features local dancers, Wilmington Conservatory students, and professional guest artists. Tickets start at $19.
On the Border — An Eagle’s tribute band will take the Bowstring Brewyard stage. The group plays note-for-note the famed California Americana band’s catalog, including songs like “Take It Easy,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “I Can’t Tell You Why” and “Take It to the Limit.” The show takes place at 7 p.m. and tickets are $18 here.
Rock the Day for The United Way — A nonprofit concert to raise money for Cape Fear area nonprofits will take place in Ogden at The Bend this weekend. The June 7 show begins at 3 p.m. to support The United Way, which helps provide financial support to area organizations. The music will include local acts Signal Fire, Blue Footed Boobies, Krispee Biscuits, MC J Sales, and Brooke Renshaw from Oc3ans. Also set up will be an artist and vendor village. Gates are at 3 p.m. and tickets are $20 here or $25 the day of and children 5 and under enter free.
Food Truck Rodeo — The Town of Belville will host its annual Food Truck Rodeo beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday and featuring more than 20 food trucks. There also will be live music from the School of Rock, a beer garden, kids play area including inflatables and yard games, and local artisan and craft vendors. The event is free to attend with individual sales for food, drinks, beverages and wares open from vendors. The third annual event takes place at Belville Riverwalk Park and ends by 4 p.m.
Trash’n Fash’n Show — Another fundraiser to take place for Plastic Ocean Project is in effect this weekend as the fourth annual Trash’n Fash’n Show takes place at New Hanover County Arboretum from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. High school students organize the event in order to raise awareness in the community about waste. The fashions on the runway are made of recycled and reused materials, created by designers of all ages. They use old fabrics, vintage clothing from thrift stores, plastics, and other single-use materials, such as paper. The event features live music, food and drink trucks (Birriria La Rosita, Better Days Mobile Bartending) and features original designs set to the Pop Culture theme. Tickets are $5-$25 here and at the door, with proceeds going to Plastic Ocean Project, which works to eradicate single-use plastic waste from the ocean.
Community Day at CAM — The Cameron Art Museum is hosting its Community Day, which means museum exhibits are open for free to everyone and includes the newest opening, “Space Makers: The Art and Disability in North Carolina.” The exhibit showcases work by artists of varied abilities statewide — visual, experiential, and experimental works exploring access, ability, and lived experience. Community Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will have immersive engagement opportunities. Until 2 p.m., local artist Ben Billingsley and others will embark on a community art project inspired by Robert Rauschenberg’s Quarter Mile. Participants will be able to learn about silkscreen, monotype printing, and image transferring techniques. There also will be live music student performers from the DREAMS Center for Art Education and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted tour of the Space Makers exhibition takes place at 11:30 a.m. The Well-Fed Ed food truck will be on site serving from its plant-based menu.
Sunday, June 8
Macbeth
Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green, 1941 Amphitheater Drive • Tickets: Free
Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green opened its 32nd season last weekend with the Bard’s most famous tragedy, “Macbeth.” Directed by Caylan McKay, “Macbeth” follows a Scottish general who, from a prophecy told by three witches, learns he will become king one day.
But what it takes to get there is a psychological twister and, with his wife by his side along the way, erupts in violence and eventual tyrannical ruling due to political power and ambitions.
“Macbeth” continues at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater on June 8, 13-15, 21-22, and 26-27, with shows at 8 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and audiences are welcome to bring a picnic to catch the show, which continues by CF Shakespeare adult company. Admission is free.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Dispatch — Independent rock-roots outfit Dispatch is returning to Wilmington, this time to play Live Oak Bank Pavilion with John Butler. Dispatch began in the 1990s and has toured on and off since, also releasing new music. On Friday, the band will drop its latest album “Yellow Jacket,” Tickets to Sunday’s show start at $30 here.
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