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 below 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, April 16
Greensky Bluegrass
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive • Tickets: $95
The Michigan-based five-piece Americana band is returning to the Wilmington stage Thursday at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater.
The group blends bluegrass with rock music and other genres, made up of Dave Bruzza, Paul Hoffman, Michael Bont, Anders Beck, and Mike Devol. The band has won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and collaborated with artists like Phil Lesh, Billy Strings, Sam Bush and others.
They’ve released 11 albums to date, including 2022’s “Stress Dreams.” The band performs at Greenfield but tickets are sold out; verified resales are here for $95.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Bert Kreischer — Bert Kreischer’s career has evolved from being tagged as Rolling Stone’s infamous Number One Partier in the Nation to being recognized as one of the top-grossing stand-up comedians in the world. He was also named by Forbes as “one of the best storytellers of his generation.” In addition to comedy, Kreischer is an entrepreneur with successful podcasts, sporting events, and forays into the spirits industry. Kreischer also founded the Fully Loaded Comedy Festival, a national touring juggernaut that expanded in 2024 to iconic ballparks, arenas, and even the high seas with a sold-out cruise. Tickets start at $100 at Wilson Center.
Mt. Joy — The five-piece indie band from L.A. is embarking on a tour promoting their 2025 album “Hope We Have Fun.” Matt Quinn sings and plays guitar alongside guitarist Sam Cooper. Sotiris Eliopoulos is on drums, Jackie Miclau on keys and Michael Byrnes plays bass. The album also features collaborations with Gigi Perez and Nathanile Rateliff. The group also has toured with Dave Matthews Band and Tim Reynolds, as well as Greta Van Fleet. Mt. Joy has been to town before to promote its previous releases, such as 2018’s self-titled, followed by “Rearrange us,” which dropped in 2020 and charted on the Billboard 200, and 2022’s “Orange Blood.” Tickets to Thursday’s show at Live Oak Bank Pavilion start at $57 here.
‘A Ride Through the Country’ — By playwright Ray Kennedy, local production “A Ride Through the Country” is returning to Thalian Hall for the next two weekends, as produced by Big Dawg Productions. Last year the show premiered and sold out, so folks who want to see the original show this time around should clamor for tickets now. Kennedy’s storyline follows the Southern family matriarch, Louie, undergoing cancer treatments. However, the closest treatment center is 45 minutes away, so her friends and family travel with her for her appointments. With hilarious moments, also filled with poignant truth, the cast of characters showcase courage amidst adversity. According to Kennedy, the play “explores friendship, love, hope, and the importance of Tupperware.” The show stars Greg King, Deb Gillingham, Jenny Wright, Erin Hunter, Elizabeth Michaels, Matthew Thomas-Reid, Cindy Colluci, Fracaswell Hyman and Michelle Braxton. It will be directed by Holli Saperstein and Steve Vernon. Tickets are $35 here and shows take place April 16-19, 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, 3 p.m.
‘Bacchae’ — The famed Greek tragedy by Euripides will be staged by the Cape Fear Community College Department of Fine Arts for the next two weekends. “Bacchae” centers on Dionysus returning to Thebes to establish his cult. In the process, he punishes the city and King Pentheus who will not praise his divinity. The story was written more than 2,000 years ago and showcases the outcomes of abused power and manipulation, themes relevant today more than ever. Tickets are $5 to $15 and the show runs April 16-18 and 23-25 at 7 p.m.
Friday, April 17
‘Wizard of Oz’
Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $42.50
Based upon the classic motion picture, “Wizard of Oz” is coming to life at Thalian Hall this weekend.
Thalian Association is presenting the musical, by L. Frank Baum, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y Harburg. A familiar tale of whimsy, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are taken by a tornado to an otherworldly land and endure numerous obstacles as they try to make their way back home to Kansas. Along the way, they meet plenty of characters — the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good Witch, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion — as they’re introduced to the wonderful world of Oz.
The show features classic hits, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “If I Only Had a Brain,” among others. The Thalian Association show is being staged through April 19, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Piff the Magic Dragon — If comedy and magic is more your thing, Piff the Magic Dragon will perform his “The Clone Tours” show, joined by his new magical companion, Mr. Piffles 2.0, at 7:30 p.m. Known for his signature dry British wit and dragon costume, Piff rose to fame on America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. He is a long-running Las Vegas headliner and holds the record as the first performer to win Best Comedian, Best Magician, and Best Headliner at the Best of Las Vegas Awards. Piff, who has entertained over half a million guests as a headliner at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino since 2015, now performs with Mr. Piffles 2.0, the successor to his legendary co-star, the late Mr. Piffles, billed as the world’s only magic-performing chihuahua. The show promises awe-inspiring magic, new tricks, and award-winning comedy. Tickets start at $15 here.
‘Footloose the Musical’ — Wilmington Performing Arts is taking on the ‘80s classic that has kids fighting for their right to have a prom, as the strict, religious community they’re reared in has banned dancing. Ren McCormack moves to a small rural town from Chicago, where the kids race tractors and find ways to have fun around the strict tenets the local preacher has set forth in Bomont. McCormack rallies the town youth to take a stand against the restrictions; the show, with book by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, features music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Pitchford, but also tracks from the original 1984 film, by artists like Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman. Expect to hear the title track, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” and “Almost Paradise.” The show is staged by WPA students at North Front Theatre, with performances taking place April 16-19 and 23-25, with staggered showtimes at 7 p.m. or 3 p.m. Tickets are $17-$23; see the rundown here.
Saturday, April 18
Porchfest
Various addresses in downtown Wilmington’s historic district • Free
An art and music event featuring all local talent is planned for Saturday, April 18. Porchfest will take place in downtown Wilmington.
Like a farmers market for area artists, a similar event took place during the height of Covid-19, with varied houses in the historic areas welcoming the public to their doorsteps to see varied art work and hear from area performers. There are eight addresses featuring upward of 40 artists, such as Addie Wuensch, Jahde Art, Todd Carignan, Renato Abate, Nick Mijak, Bahr III, Ryan Small and others.
Artists will be selling their works and also live painting, with Rachel Rowse also working on an art installation.
Musicians performing include Josh Petty, Brent Harrell, George Rutherford, Brian Johnson, Justin Heter Pan, Loopylix, and Emily Burdette, among others.
It’s free to attend though everything for sale is purchased one-on-one with the artists; the public is not allowed inside the homes, but potty stations will be set up along the routes.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Bands, Brews and BBQ — The Belville Riverwalk will be packed on Saturday with bands, brews and barbecue, hosted by the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce. The annual celebration features award-winning ‘que, local craft beers, music and vast views of the Cape Fear River. The event includes a BBQ Cook-Off from both professionals and amateurs. There will be vendors selling wares as well as music from the Emily Burdette Duo, Port City Rockers, and Elijah Harris. Food trucks include Webo’s Hot Diggity Dogs and others, with beer from Waterline Brewing and Brunswick Beer and Cider. Free to attend.
Wilmington Dance Festival — At UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium, the local dance community will come together to feature ballet, contemporary, and modern moves at works at the Wilmington Dance Festival. The 24-year event highlights the creativity of local dancers and choreographers. 2026 also features a silent auction with prizes from local businesses. It’s presented by the Dance Cooperative and UNCW’s Office of the Arts, with tickets costing $31.50 to $35 here.
Record Store Day — Time to celebrate vinyl specialty releases for 2026 Record Store Day. Plenty of local stores are getting in on the action this Saturday, carrying special Record Store Day titles, from old school limited runs to exclusive releases, from artists like Jeff Buckley, Brandi Carlisle, Neko Case, Tyler Childers, Black Sabbath, The Cure, Flat Duo Jets, Billy Strings, Dinosaur Jr., Charli XCX and others. See the full list of Record Store Day releases here. Area stores celebrating include The Record Bar, School Kids Records, The Fuzzy Needle, Gravity Records and Yellow Dog Discs.
New Hanover Arboretum Master Gardener Plant Sale — If you’re still in the spring planting season mode, then New Hanover Arboretum’s master gardener plant sale will be underway from April 16-19, featuring more than 5,000 high-quality plants grown on-site by volunteers and local growers. Whether you are looking for annuals, perennials, herbs/veggies, azaleas, Japanese Maples, native plants, or shrubs, we have something for every garden. There also will be educational talks on Japanese Maple pruning, a free seed swap, and garden decor and gifts. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from April 16 to 18, and April 19, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. It’s free to attend but plants are individually priced.
Sunday, April 19
Botania
Sycamore Bend Estates, 1305 Middle Sound Loop Rd. • Tickets: $10-$100
Billed as “an infused garden soiree,” the first annual Botania will take place at Sycamore Bend Estates venue on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., featuring live music, modern plant culture, holistic wellness, and mindful consumption.
There will be legal hemp-derived edibles and sips available, as well as dispensaries and vendors on site, such as Addicted Sweets, Nature’s Cabinet, The Green Room, Bud Babes, Kimchi Taco, and more.
“We wanted Botania to feel lush, welcoming, and a little transportive,” Kimberly Rhine, founder, said in a release. “It is a chance for people to experience hemp in a way that feels modern, thoughtful, and genuinely fun.”
There will be live music from DJ Quay, violinist Will Maxwell with Nick Panaro, Signal Fire, and a comedy show. Yoga and wellness events are scheduled to take place throughout the day as well as educational experiences. Check out the full schedule of events and ticketing information here.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Dog the Bounty Hunter Live Podcast — The Warehouse on Water is hosting a live podcast event on Sunday from noon to 6:30 p.m. featuring Dog the Bounty Hunter and his children Leland and Cecily Chapman. Known for his A&E reality TV series that ran for almost a decade, the bounty hunter gained fame by finding and capturing fugitives with his family. Sunday’s event, sponsored by Off the Hook Bail Bonds, offers attendees a chance to meet the family, take photos with them and engage in live question-and-answers about his life’s work and time on the show. Tickets are $217 here.
“Crimes of the Heart” – Three dysfunctional Southern sisters, Lenny, Meg, and Babe Magrath, are reuniting in Mississippi at their grandfather’s house and dealing with familial trauma, past resentments and scandal. Such is the plotline to American playwright Beth Hanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Crimes of the Heart,” which will be staged from the UNCW Department of Theatre this weekend. The show touches on survival and a woman’s resilience and was turned into a film adaptation in the 1980s, starring Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange and Diane Keaton. Tickets to the UNCW show are $5 to $14 here and the show is performed at 7:30 p.m. April 16-18 and 23-25, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees offered on April 19 and 26.
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