SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday features dozen 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, July 3
Surf City 4th of July
Soundside Park, 517 Roland Dr. • Free
There will be live music, fireworks and fun planned for the Independence Day celebration in Surf City. It takes place for free a day early on Wednesday, July 3.
Starting at 6 p.m. the event will have 16 food trucks on site, as well as live music by Dalton Davis beginning at 6 p.m. Mayor Teresa Batts will give opening remarks at 7:15 p.m., followed by a flag ceremony and the singing of the National Anthem, with more music by Davis until just before 9 p.m. Fireworks will then light up the sky and the event concludes at 9:30 p.m.
Coolers, blankets, chairs and lunch boxes are welcome, though alcohol is prohibited.
Parking will not be allowed at Soundside Park during the event but an unloading zone for Uber, Lyft and taxis will be in a dedicated zone near the amphitheater. However, the city has designated parking zones (map accessible here) and limited handicap parking zones on Roland Avenue.
The Soundside boat ramp will be closed on July 3, though open will be the Lewis Road Access, at 613 Lewis Rd. in Hampstead and Turkey Creek Access at 619 Turkey Point Rd. in Sneads Ferry.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Carolina Beach Boardwalk Blast — Carolina Beach hosts its free concerts and fireworks show on Thursdays, meaning the fireworks for the Fourth actually takes place July 3. Free music will be enjoyed at the Carolina Beach Gazebo stage along the Boardwalk from Carl Newton Review, performing R&B and soul. They perform at 6:30 p.m. and will break at 9 p.m. for fireworks over the beach.
Mamma Mania! — It’s a celebration of ABBA at Bowstring Brewyard, located at 1002 Princess Street, with a concert suited for all the “Dancing Queen”(s). New York City’s premier tribute band Mamma Mania! performs the most popular songs from the Swedish disco and pop group, complete with costumes, harmonies, and an electric stage presence. Expect to hear “Mamma Mia,” “Waterloo,” “Fernando,” and more. Tickets are $23 and the show is open to all ages.
Southport 4th of July Naturalization Ceremony — Annually as part of the Southport 4th of July event, a naturalization ceremony takes place. People from other nations become new U.S. citizens during the event by taking the Oath of Allegiance and receiving official certificates. This year’s event will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum, 203 E. Bay St.
Friday, July 4
City of Wilmington’s 4th of July Celebration
Riverfront Park, 10 Cowan St. • Free
A family-friendly event, the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra is taking the stage at Riverfront Park to perform patriotic tunes and popular tracks ahead of downtown’s fireworks display on July 4.
There also will be kids activities and food, beer and wine sold onsite (no outside food or drinks are allowed, except for a sealed water up to 1 gallon or an empty bottle to refill). The gates open at 5 p.m. and local band Loud Music Company will perform at 6 p.m. before the orchestra takes over at 7:30 p.m. and performs for more than an hour-and-a-half.
The fireworks display over the Cape Fear River kicks off at 9 p.m.
Lawn chairs no taller than 9 inches and blankets are allowed; the venue only accepts debit, credit card and mobile pay apps — no cash.
Onstreet parking is free and city decks — 929 N. Front St., 115 Market St., 114 N. Second St, 14 Grace St. — will be operating, as well as the Wilmington Convention Center deck at 515 Nutt St., and the county deck at 212 N. Second St. There will be a $10 fee in decks after 4 p.m.
Multiple streets will close downtown and surrounding it.
The following streets will close as early as 6 p.m.
- Water St. between Dock St. and Red Cross St.
- Front St. between Dock St. and Red Cross St.
- Market St. between Front St. & Water St.
- Princess St. between N 2nd St. N Water St.
- Chestnut St. between N 2nd St. & N Water St.
- Grace St. between N 2nd St. & N Water St.
- Walnut St. between N 2nd & N Water St.
Below streets will close at 9 p.m.
- Davis St. between N 3rd St. & N 4th St.
- Northbound N 4th St. between Harnett St. & Davis St.
- Harnett St. between N 3rd St. & Front St.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Airlie Gardens Concert — The Cruise Brothers will be cruisin’ through Wilmington’s historic gardens near Wrightsville Beach for a July 4 concert. Performing everything from Detroit’s Motown to Nashville’s country, the show takes place under the 400-year-old live oak, with limited onsite parking, allowed by permit only. F free shuttle service runs from the Northeast Library (1241 Military Cutoff Rd.) beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets on sale here are $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 4-12.
Freedom Fest at Waterline — From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Waterline Brewing at 721 Surry St. is getting into the flag-waving spirit with fun for all ages for Independence Day. Freedom Fest will include games, face-painting, water-balloon fight, pie-eating contest, reptile petting zoo, snowcones and live music. There also will be a food truck on site, Feelin’ Swine.
Jazz Club with Bill Ladd’s Jazz Vipers — Though the fireworks will be flying over the Cape Fear, be sure to get your swing on at Bourgie Nights with jazz night that begins at 7 p.m. Local musician Bill Ladd has performed in numerous bands in Wilmington, including Whiskeytown, Two Dollar Pistols, Onward Soldiers, and Da Howlies. He got his start in the ‘90s as leader of punk band Johnny Quest. Ladd returns to the stage with the Jazz Vipers,’ performing gypsy and swing-era sounds. Find tickets here.
Hannah Block USO/Community Arts Center Open House — Take it back 80 years at the historic Hannah Block Historic USO and Community Arts Center, which will celebrate the World War II era with 5 cent sodas, free coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts as part of its annual July 4th open house event. There will be WWII exhibits open, including the newest one — a WWII era phone booth complete with vintage phone and Bell Telephone System posters. The building has been restored to its 1943 appearance with reproduction furnishings. Entertainment will be provided by the Cape Fear Swing Dance Society — known for dancing the Lindy Hop — is hosting a demonstration in the museum lobby. Plus, there will be a free introduction lesson at 2 p.m.A 5-minute documentary, “Home Away From Home – the USO at 2nd and Orange,” produced in 2016 by Emmy nominated filmmaker Rob Hill, will screen throughout the event. It takes place from noon to 4 p.m.
Ocean City Jazz Festival — The annual jazz festival at North Topsail Beach takes place beginning July 4 and lasts all weekend long. The annual event in North Topsail Beach celebrates the historic Ocean City community and its Gullah Geechee heritage through jazz music. The festival features performances by renowned jazz musicians, food and beverage vendors, and merchandise booths, and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere. It’s also a celebration of the community’s founding as the first area developed for African Americans. This year’s schedule of events can be found here and tickets costing $25 to $130 here.
North Carolina 4th of July Festival — If you head to the coastal town of Southport for the official statewide Independence Day festival, plan ahead for traffic and crowds. Plenty of events are planned, from a 9/11 exhibit to art shows to live music (see the full schedule here). The annual July 4th parade begins at 11 a.m. — the route moving down Moore and Howe streets. Beforehand, the reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place at 10:15 a.m. and there is a flag-raising ceremony at 10:30 a.m. An arts and craft fair will host numerous vendors and artisans from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Southport Waterfront Park, where food concessions also will be set up. Bands perform at the Waterfront Stage all day as well, including Bounce and Back Porch Rockers. Fireworks will fly at 9 p.m. over the water, visible from the park.
Ocean Isle Beach Fireworks and Parade — Also in Brunswick County, sparks will fly over Ocean Isle Beach Pier beginning at 9:15 p.m. on July 4. The show lasts around 20 minutes. Earlier in the day at 10 a.m., participants interested in joining the golf cart and bicycle parade should meet at 9:15 a.m. at E. 2nd Street. There are 10 allowed floats as well. Come decorated in your patriotic best — both clothes and mode of transportation. Judging takes place at 9:20 a.m., with awards at 9:50 a.m.
Empire Strikes Brass — At Wrightsville Beach’s Palm Room (11 E. Salisbury St.), Asheville’s brass-funk-rock outfit, Empire Strikes Brass, will take the stage. The nine-piece plays NOLA-inspired, second-line funk, and has joined onstage the likes of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Galactic, The Big Something, and others. The band plays for two nights on July 4 and 5, with Issac Hadden. Tickets are available at the door.
Onslow County Freedom Festival — Further north, Jacksonville, N.C, the Freedom Festival will take place, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., at 1250 Onslow Pines Rd. Onslow Parks and Recreation hosts the event, which is free, family-friendly and welcomes a celebration of the red, white and blue. There will be live entertainment, food trucks, and activities for all ages. Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome and it concludes with a fireworks display.
Saturday, July 5
‘Hairspray’
Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets start at $36
John Waters’ famed musical “Hairspray” will be running for one final weekend on Thalian Hall’s mainstage, as produced by Opera House Theater Company.
The show follows the dancing craze of the 1960s amid heightened racial relations. Tracy Turnblad is dying to get on “The Corny Collins Show,” but also must face her nemesis, Velma von Tussle, to become the reigning Collins’ show dancing queen. Turnblad becomes an overnight celebrity in fashion, fun and dance and rallies against segregation.
This run also features former “Hairspray” Broadway national touring performers — and local actors — Erin Sullivan, Melissa van Pelt and Rhon Saunders. It also features numerous local faces, such as Jeff Phillips reprising his role as Edna Turnblad. Sullivan, who originally played a young Amber von Tussle on her Broadway tour will now take on Amber’s mother, Velma.
Directed by Jason Aycock, the music is overseen by Brian Whitted and choreography from van Pelt and Saunders.
Tickets start at $36 here and the show runs through July 6, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Let’s Dance — If groovin’ out to celebrate the end of the week is more your style, then The Underfront (265 N. Front St.) is the place to be. Fort Lowell Records founder James Tritten will be spinning vinyl, including pop, disco, boogie, indie rock, R&B, electronic and more throughout the last five decades. There is a $5 cover at the door and the jams start at 8 p.m.
Comedy for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity — The local chapter of Habitat helps home ownership become a reality for low to moderate-income workers. To keep the nonprofit’s outreach going, a comedy show by area standups is taking place at Dead Crow Comedy Room on Saturday evening. The show features headliner Steve Marcinowski, along with local favorites Wills Maxwell Jr., Lew Morgante, and Steve Melia. Tickets are $25 with a portion of proceeds to benefit the housing ministry.
Thalian Hall Cinema Series — If you haven’t heard: a new cinema series has started at downtown’s historic theater. Thalian Hall’s Cinema Series kicked off July 1, brining in new screenings, vintage films, family-friendly movies, as well as cult classics and special events and premieres. This weekend it will screen the cult classic “Wet Hot American Summer” on July 5 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. The movie stars Paul Rudd, who also is featured in the new film “Friendship,” also screening at Thalian on July 3 at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on July 5 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. And for a throwback family-favorite, the Hall also will feature “The Sandlot” on July 3 at 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and July 5 at 10 a.m. Tickets are available here and to learn more about the series, check out PCD’s reporting here.
Sunday, July 6
Gary Clark Jr.
Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan St. • Tickets start at $30
The four-time Grammy-winning Texas guitarist is coming through Live Oak Bank Pavilion to entertain audiences with his powerhouse playing.
Gary Clark Jr., having last played Wilmington’s Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in 2017, has released six studio albums to date, including 2024’s “JPEG Raw.” He broke out in 2012 with the single “Bright Lights” from “Blak and Blue.” His 2020 release “This Land” won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album, Best Rock Performance, and Best Rock Song. The album’s title track was inspired by racist questions asked from his neighbor regarding Clark’s ownership of his ranch in Kyle, Texas.
The musician also has appeared onscreen with his band in “Chef” and as part of Miles Davis’ band in Don Cheadle’s “Miles Ahead.” In the 2022 Baz Lurmann film “Elvis,” he performed as Arthur Crudup, known for writing the song “That’s All Right.”
Tickets start at $30 here.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Steel Pulse — Reggae will be at the forefront Greenfield Lake Amphitheater on Sunday night with Birmingham’s Steel Pulse — the first non-Jamaican band to win a Grammy for Best Reggae Album. The nine-person band has performed the style of music since 1978, rotating numerous band members across 12 studio albums. Four-piece Mystic Vibrations will open. Both sing of social justice and oppressed people’s tribulations with hope, love and unity. Tickets start at $42 here. Read PCD’s interview with the band from 2022 here.
Punk Brunch — In the Brooklyn Arts District, Bottega Wine and Art Bar (723 N. 4th St.) will be hosting Sunday’s Punk Brunch. The music starts at 3 p.m. and features local bands Prone, Hyperloops and Escape Velocity. Parked onsite will be ThreePeas food truck.
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