SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday features plenty of 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, Oct. 9
NC Symphony All Beethoven
Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St. • Tickets: $21
Wilson Center is welcoming the North Carolina Symphony on Thursday, Oct. 9.
Conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto will oversee the show, centered on the music from Ludwig van Beethoven. Performing on violin will be Paul Huang doing the Overture to Fidelio, Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 4.
Tickets start at $21 here and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Babushka’s — Concept Kitchen at End of Days Distillery is going Polish this weekend with Babushka’s. The menu consists of charcuterie, platters of stuffed cabbage, pierogi and smoked kielbasa, as well as varied batches of homemade pierogi stuffed with sauerkraut and mushrooms or potato and onion or farmer’s cheese. Created by Chef David Scott Rishel of the nonprofit 86 Hunger Now, all proceeds — menu prices vary from $6 to $22 — benefit the organization. Bulk items are also being sold, ranging from $10 to $50 for jars of sauerkraut or three dozen pierogi. 86HN works to feed families and individuals financially struggling but who don’t qualify for public assistance. Babushka’s kitchen is open Oct. 9-12, noon until the food sells out at 1815-A Castle St.
Banned Book Fair — Hi-Wire Brewing is celebrating Banned Books Week at 6 p.m. featuring five local book shops and other organizations and businesses. There will be trivia as well, with two rounds being banned-book themed. As well, it’s pint night at Hi-Wire, with proceeds benefiting Cape Fear Literacy. It’s free to attend, but beer and books are individually priced.
Friday, Oct. 10
Sean Patton
Dead Crow Comedy, 511 N. Third St. • Tickets: $24-$35
You may have seen him on the recently launched Hulu series “English Teacher” as the Libertarian coach and gym teacher Markie Hillridge, who embraces his liberal friends. But Sean Patton is a standup comedian, also returning to Dead Crow Comedy Room this weekend.
He’s released three comedy albums to date, including “Standing Operating Procedure,” “Scuttlebutt” and “King Scorpio.” Though from New Orleans, the comedian is based in New York and often brings a manic energy to stage as he waxes love, smoking weed, friendships and everyday engagement. His work is never without self-deprecation.
“Don’t you think I look like a beer?” he quipped to the audience in a January 2024 bit. “I did a sober January for like two weeks and then said f**k this; this is stupid. I love those people who do sober January and then proceed right into s**tfaced February. Like 31 days of sobriety makes you impervious to anything — like I’m doing heroin now, who cares? I did sober January.”
Tickets to Patton’s show are $24 to $35 and he performs Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Blackberry Smoke — Coming off the loss of their drummer Brit Turner — who passed away in March after a two-year battle with brain cancer — Blackberry Smoke has a new touring bandmate in Kent Aberle. The group, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 2000 by Charlie Starr (guitar), Paul Jackson (guitar), Richard Turner (bass), his brother, Brit (drummer), and Brandon Still (keyboards). The band has added touring members in recent years. Performing for two decades, the band is known for their high energy andSouthern rock sounds. It has released eight studio albums, 2024’s “Be Right Here” (3 Legged Records), including the track “A Little Bit Crazy” — and the last record featuring Brit Turner. Read the band’s PCD interview here, published a few weeks ago, and tickets start at $47 here.
‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ — Every October, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church hosts organist Dorothy Papadakos to play live against a classic silent horror film and this year it will be the 1920 “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Papadakos improvising the film’s screening in real-time on the church’s pipe organ. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $12.
Saturday, Oct. 11
American Aquarium
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Dr. • Tickets: $36 and up
Alternative country-rock outfit American Aquarium — which started in 2006, with a name derived from Wilco’s song “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” — are performing at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater Saturday.
Fronted by BJ Barham, the North Carolina-bred band embodies a gritty Southern sound, particularly on their latest album “The Fear of Standing Still.” It’s the band’s 10th LP, recorded live in L.A.’s Sunset Studios with Grammy winner Shooter Jennings.
“In our live show the band’s like a freight train that never lets up, and for this record I really wanted to showcase how big and anthemic we can be,” Barham noted about the release.
He and his bandmates — guitarist Shane Boeker, pedal-steel guitarist Neil Jones, keyboardist Rhett Huffman, drummer Ryan Van Fleet, and bassist Alden Hedges — are touring in its support. The group is known for its energetic live shows, with tickets to GLA starting at $36.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
The Arty Party — It’s the Art Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County’s major fundraiser of the year taking place at Cinespace Studios (formerly Screen Gems). The Arty Party takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will include a fine art sale, performances by Mangroove, Techmoja Dance & Theater, Kim Pacheco Beatty, and Big Dawg Productions. The event is hosted by Broadway-touring actress and local Erin Sullivan-Wertz, with beats by Sandra “The Midday Miss.” There will be gourmet bites and themed cocktails, with tickets costing $100 here. All proceeds benefit the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County, which drives the region’s creative economy through grants, programs, and advocacy.
Wilmington Record Show — The Wilmington Record Show is taking place at Waterline Brewery from noon to 4 p.m. featuring more than 20 vendors selling vinyl and other music-related items. There also will be live entertainment with STOWE doing a vinyl DJ set from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by local singer-songwriter Delia Stanley performing solo from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Chef Driven and Moores Grille and Smokehouse will be parked on site as well. It’s free to attend, but all wares — beer, vinyl, food — are sold separately.
Witches Paddle — An event is being hosted to benefit survivors of domestic abuse this weekend at Wrightsville Beach. The Witches Paddle, held by Wrightsville Beach SUP, welcomes all paddle-boarders, starting at 7 a.m. for lineup and 9 a.m. launch. Return is scheduled for 11 a.m. with awards and closing remarks taking place at 11:15 a.m. Wear your witchiest get-up! Reservations are open for $65 and up; all proceeds benefit the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services Inc.
Swing Dance Social with The Speakeasy Seven — A local jazz band is taking over the Hannah Block Historic USO and Community Arts Center, 120 S. 2nd St. A beginner’s lesson will take place at 6:30, and no partner or experience is needed; tickets are $15. And if you prefer to take advantage of more swing dance lessons, workshops will be hosted all weekend teaching the Heel Shag, Collegiate Shag, and vintage inspirations of the Lindy Hop; a full weekend pass is $50. The workshops take place at The Studio Collective, 5629 Oleander Dr. on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 2 p.m. Singular workshop classes are $10 and guest instructors JuJu and Skyler will be on hand. Learn more here.
Oktoberfest Block Party — Multiple breweries and bars in the vicinity of downtown’s Dock Street are coming together from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. to host a collective block party. Guests are encouraged to wear their best dirndls and lederhosen to enjoy festbier, pretzels, live tunes, and friendly competition with stein-holding contests. Each venue will bring its own spin to Oktoberfest, with participating businesses including: Oden Brewing Company, Savard Beer & Board, Prost Biergarten, The Husk, Hidden Grounds, Banter and Duck & Dive. It’s free to attend but food and beverages are individually priced.
Drag Show and Masquerade Ball — Blind Elephant (21 N. Front St.) is getting spooky fabulous this weekend with a drag show and masquerade ball starting at 5 p.m. Dress in your masquerade best — especially masks, though some will be available as well at the bar. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the event is for 21 and up only, with tickets costing $17.85. New fall-inspired elixirs will be served as well.
Pleasure Island Fall Restaurant Week — Restaurants in Carolina and Kure beaches are lined up for Pleasure Island Restaurant Week, taking place Oct. 11 – 18. More than two dozen participants are involved, offering specials on healthy starts and coffee drinks, lunch and dinner of every cuisine, fun nostalgic sweets and pancakes. Also, for every four restaurants visited during the PIRW and entered onto bingo cards here, diners will be entered for a chance to win a $500 prize package. All restaurant week specials are listed here.
Back Door Kitchen Tour — Have you always wanted to see how people design their kitchens — particularly in historic homes? The Residents of Old Wilmington put together an annual self-tour through eight homes in the historic district to share in its architectural history and beauty. The tickets are $40 and all proceeds benefit ROW to help nonprofit organizations in town, including Carousel Center, DREAMS Center for Arts Education, Castle Street Collective, Williston Middle School, Alliance for Cape Fear Trees and others.
Gunild Carling and the Benny Hill Orchestra — Vintage glamour and flair is at the heart of the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist best known from Postmodern Jukebox: Gunhild Carling will perform with the Benny Hill Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Carling is known for her energetic and genre-blending performances, transforming classic jazz sounds with a modern take. Tickets start at $48.
Sunday, Oct. 12
Lukas Nelson
Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan Dr. • Tickets: $44
Nelson has been performing in Wilmington for more than a decade, starting in small clubs and working up to Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. He last performed locally with his band Promise of the Real in 2023. Nelson is returning to Wilmington for his first performance at downtown’s 7,000-seat Live Oak Bank Pavilion.
“American Romance” is the ninth album from Nelson, though not with Promise of the Real. It was produced by Shooter Jennings and includes country, Americana, folk and blues sounds and features collaborations with Sierra Ferrell, Anderson East, and Stephen Wilson Jr.
Wilson will join Nelson on the tour. Experiencing a rise in popularity, due to his prodigious guitar playing, Wilson has coined his clever amalgamation of grunge, indie rock, and country into “Death Cab for Country.” (Check out his cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.”). Special guest The Band Loula also will perform as part of the American Romance Tour.
Wilmington is Nelson’s only stop in North Carolina — a place he has championed in the past and even visited to perform a post-Hurricane Florence fundraiser at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in 2019, after the superstorm devastated Wilmington.
The son of country icon Willie Nelson, Lukas has performed at his father’s Farm Aid concerts and collaborated with numerous artists, from Neil Young to Lady Gaga — the latter of whom he worked with on 2018’s soundtrack for the hit film “A Star is Born.” Nelson scored a Grammy and BAFTA for his work on the film.
Tickets to his show can be accessed here; tickets are $44.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Make Wilmington Weird Fest — Make Wilmington Weird Fear Fest is a free event featuring fire performers and dancers, hearse photo ops, and creative vendors. It’s slated to take place at Hi-Wire Brewing from noon to 6 p.m. and is free to attend. Come dressed in your weirded getup to participate in the costume contest as well. Expect a lot of weird vibes but a welcoming space where everyone belongs. The event is free and sponsored by City Gypsy Boutique.
Phantogram — American electronic rock duo Phantogram, consisting of multi-instrumentalists Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, is coming to Greenfield Lake this weekend. The group has released five studio albums in the last 15 years, including 2024’s “Memory of a Day.” It was inspired by the lockdowns initiated during the Covid-19 pandemic and has been reviewed as “pushing the boundaries” of pop music, according to The Tennessean. Tickets are $48 here.
Panic Attack — It’s baaaack! The southeastern NC region’s most haunted attraction is open for the season. Panic Attack! is a haunted house created by film industry pioneers, meaning the graphics, special effects, actors, and set designs are top-tier in every way and will scare the bejesus out of you — we promise. In addition to the original haunted house, this year’s attraction also has a secondary event that takes visitors through the Irongate Penitentiary, located in the swamps of Nakina, deep into the woods of Brunswick County. For six decades, inmates told stories of ruthless guards, medical “experiments” and severe punishments. However, by the summer of 1983, the inmates revolted and all hell broke loose, including Warden Krayz issuing a final order. Panic Attack and Irongate general admission is $29.99 singularly or bundle both for $49.99; tickets are here and the haunted attractions are located at 3245 Pine Level Church Road in Nakina.
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