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, May 7
‘Colorful Reflections’
Burgwin-Wright House, 224 Market St. • Free
The Burgwin-Wright’s 100th art show with Janet B. Sessoms on display through June 20, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Colorful Reflections” features varied landscapes and seascapes in oils. Sessoms’ art is a reflection of the environment around her and her love for the southeastern coast, its flora and fauna.
She has been painting since age 8 and was an art educator for more than 20 years. Her studio is in ArtWorks and she is a member of the Wilmington Art Association, the Art League of Leland and Oil Painters of America.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Green Thumb Plant Social and Bingo — Plant lovers are welcome to Brunswick Beer Exchange at 113 Village Road Northeast for the Green Thumb Plant Social. There will be Plant Bingo, giveaways, plant tips and fun facts. The $44 ticket includes a draft beverage, plant bingo, free mini plant, and prizes!
A Year of Fiber Art — Bellamy Mansion has quilts on display as part of “A Year of Fiber Art” from the Quilters by the Sea. The exhibit consists of 41 quilts from 25 members in the guild — with colors, textures, and creativity abound through impeccable craftsmanship. The exhibit is free to view during regular museum hours, Mondays through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A reception will take place on Friday, May 22, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. To gain access to the exhibition, stop by the Carriage House Visitor Center upon arrival.
Friday, May 8
‘Dolly’
Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $42
One of country’s most beloved singers is being honored in a musical tribute at Thalian Hall this weekend. “Dolly” celebrates the iconic career and timeless songs of the Queen of Country Music.
The show brings to life the sounds of Dolly Parton, including “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “Here You Come Again,” among others. Plus, there are costume changes a plenty.
Tickets are $42 here.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
‘Outlander in the Cape Fear’ Walking Tour — Capturing the popularity of “Outlander,” both the TV series and books, Burgwin-Wright Museum is hosting a walking tour this weekend, May 8-9. Attendees will be able to walk in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie Fraser with North Carolina history at the forefront as the tour covers Colonial Wilmington that real Scottish Highlanders like Claire and Jamie found when they arrived in America in the 1770s. The tour departs from the Burgwin-Wright House at 224 Market St. at 9 a.m. on May 8 and noon on May 9 and will stop around a dozen places in downtown. Tickets are $25 by calling 910-762-0570.
Free Concert Friday — The Eagle’s Dare summer concert series taking place every Friday kicks off this week with Fake Happy, a Paramore tribute act bringing to life the group’s pop punk and alternative rock sounds. Joining them will be the band Good Grief, starting at 7 p.m. The concerts are free and the Dare is located at the corner of Red Cross and Third streets.
Lighthouse Films on the Lawn — At 926 N. Fourth St. in the Brooklyn Arts District a free move night on the lawn will be hosted at 8 p.m. Marvel’s “Black Panther” will be screened with free pizza, popcorn, and pop served before the screening at 7:30 p.m.
Autumn Bruewer — A comedian and actress based in Los Angeles, who got her start in Second City and IO West, will perform at Dead Crow this weekend. Autumn Bruewer has guest starred on the Netflix series, “Dear White People” and appeared on the Laugh Factory Spotlight and Don’t Tell Comedy series. A rising force in the comedy world, Bruewer has toured nationally and opened for Jay Leno, Jimmy Pardo and Laurie Kilmartin. In a bit last year, she quipped: “I have big feet, I wear a 9 ½ and am 5’5”. … for those who don’t understand that reference, that just means I have a really big penis. I got my feet in fifth grade. When all of the other girls were getting their boobs, I was getting my feet. Boobs never came in. But my hands did. I do like to think God gave me these to help men find their prostate.” Tickets to her show are $24 to $36.
Saturday, May 9
Movies on the Fantail
USS North Carolina, Battleship Road • Tickets: $5-$10
“Movies on the Fantail” returns to the Battleship this weekend as part of a four-film series through the fall.
The film screened will be the 1942 classic, “Casablanca,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Set in Morocco, the romantic wartime drama follows a cynical American overseeing a nightclub as his former lover shows up with her fugitive husband and tests his emotions and morals. The movie will begin at 8:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.
The series ran in the early-to-mid aughts and is being hosted by the Friends of the Battleship. The community will enjoy a screening on the fantail, just as the crew did during World War II.
Other “Movies on the Fantail” will feature: “Wall-E” on June 6, “They Were Expendable” on Sept. 26, and “Mary Poppins” on Oct. 23.
Lawn chairs, food, and beverages are welcome aboard the fantail and tickets are $5 for Friends of the Battleship members and $10 for the general public, on sale at www.battleshpncfriends.com. The money helps Friends of the Battleship fundraise for the ship’s ongoing restoration and programming.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
‘The Varsity Line’ — An original show by two Wilmington natives is being staged at Thalian Hall for the next two weekends. “The Varsity Line” was written by Mack Webb and is directed by his father, Bo — whose work in the film industry can be seen on “Veep” and “Outer Banks.” The two have been working on the show over the last year, including refining jokes, adding comedic bits based on casting and working out kinks in the story. The farce stars Jon Stafford, Sam Robison, Tyler Patrick Smith, Jake Brenden Taylor and Ed Wagenseller and is set in 1938. The play follows the antics of the train’s passengers, as they learn a safe full of money is among them, along with at least one train robber. The play’s structure follows the events in three separate rail cars over the same 20-minute period; some of the jokes are essentially in reverse, meaning audiences may not understand the humor until the third installment. Some items turn up one moment with no explanation until the subsequent scene. Tickets to the show are $27 and “The Varsity Line” will be staged at Thalian Hall’s Red Box Theater one final weekend, through May 9; Friday showtimes are at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays are 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday showing is at 3 p.m.
Art in the Harbor — The Harbor Way Gardens will be welcoming 20 artists this weekend to sell the plein-air works they created during the 2025 Wrightsville Beach Invitational Paint Out, showcasing the beauty of coastal North Carolina. Plus, there will be a plant sale, multiple food trucks, pollinator-friendly gardening tips and milkweed plants, beekeepers, self-guided tours of the gardens and more. The event is presented by the The Harbor Island Garden Club, Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation and Artful Events by Star, with a portion of all sales
benefiting the continued upkeep and improvements at The Harbor Way Gardens. It’s free to attend and open to the public, with free parking on site of the softball field at Wrighstville Beach Park.
‘The Drama’ — Don’t miss the latest twist to the romantic comedy genre. “The Drama,” starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, follows an engaged couple put through the ringer during their wedding weekend. Can their love survive? Directed and written by Kristoffer Borgli, Thalian Hall is screening the film at 4:15 p.m. in the Ruth and Bucky Stein Theater, though there are also Thursday and Friday screenings as well; see the lineup here and buy tickets, $10-$12.
Waylon Wyatt — A 19-year-old Tik Tok star, Waylon Wyatt, is performing at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. Wyatt started writing songs at the age of 12, inspired by country greats like Waylon Jennings and Zach Bryan. His music has gone viral on social media and Spotify, including songs like “Everything Under the Sun” and “Arkansas Diamond.” Already he has performed at Stagecoach and Bonnaroo music festivals. This year he has released singles “In Loving Melody” and “Didn’t Forget” with Wyatt Flores. Tickets are around $50 here.
Marriage and Other Atrocities: A Horror Cabaret — Burlesque, drag comedy and more awaits from La Big Bouche Burlesque at downtown’s Yacht Club Wilmington (formerly Bourgie Nights). A bride and groom will lead attendees through a wild ride of monsters and weirdos, as they attend the bloodiest wedding of the year. Tickets are $20 in advance here or $25 at the door.
Riverfront Farmers Market — If you haven’t been to the downtown farmers’ market since the season kicked off last month, be sure to head to Dock Street from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Local farmers and vendors will be selling homegrown produce, plants, herbs and more, plus meats, farm-fresh eggs, local honey, roasted coffee, bread and handcrafted artisan items. The market is set up on Dock between Front and Second streets.
Walkerworld Arts and Music Fest Wellness Retreat — With live music and around 30 vendors, including artists and massage therapists, Walkerworld is hosting a day of wellness vibes beginning at 2 p.m. The venue overlooks the Cape Fear River and attendees can expect chair massages, psychic mediums, energy work, yoga on the water, reiki, as well as artists like Linda Callison, Queen Esther Teas, Keith Dilena, Addie Wuensch, Clinton Burke, and others. Performances will be from fire spinners Gene+Allison, as well as music from Chalice of Light Duo, American Chestnut, Isaac Clowers, Mars in Spring, plus a drum circle and A Jam. Tickets are $25 here and a food truck will be parked onsite from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with Rude Bwoys Jerk.
Sunday, May 10
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Wilson Center, 703 Third St. • Tickets: $47.98
The three-time Grammy winners from Long Beach, California, are headed to Wilmington’s Wilson Center in support of their latest tour, All the Good Times: The Farewell Tour — 60 Years of Dirt.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is known for their blend of folk rock and pop, country and bluegrass. In the ‘70s their cover of the “Mr. Bojangles” became a top 10 pop hit and 17 years later they marked country airwave charts for “Fishin’ in the Dark.”
Throughout the years, the band has collaborated with icons like Mother Maybelle Carter and Doc Watson.
Tickets to the show start at $47 here.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Momosa Brunch — Waterline Brewing, 721 Surry St., is welcoming mom for an afternoon of bubbles, brunch, and blooms as part of a Momosa Brunch. There will be a complimentary lite brunch bar to snack and sip, with florals decorating the space. It takes place from noon to 4 p.m.
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