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, Oct. 29
Indigo Girls
Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St. • Tickets: $55 and up
Originally scheduled at the Wilson Center to perform on Oct. 11, the Indigo Girls had to reschedule their stopover due to a fatal accident involving their tour bus driver, Kirk.
The Grammy-winning folk rock duo is coming to town on Thursday night and bringing along Songwriters Hall of Famer Linda Perry with them.
From Atlanta, Indigo Girls have had a 35-year-long career, releasing their first album in 1989, under the duo group name. The two are most known for their hit singles, “Closer to Fine,” “Galileo” and “Power of Two.” Since their debut, musicians Emily Saliers and Amy Ray have released 16 studio albums and sold over 15 million records. They received the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Recording in 1990 and were nominated seven times.
Perry is the former frontrunner of the alternative rock band 4 Non Blondes and an award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and producer. She released four studio albums during her solo career and has since produced and written music such as “Beautiful,” recorded by Christina Aguilera, and “Get the Party Started,” recorded by Pink. Perry was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
‘The Evil Dead’ — Thalian Hall is showing a cult classic favorite on Thursday with Sam Raimi’s 1981 flick “The Evil Dead.” It was Raimi’s gore-spattered debut and has become a hallmark of horror cinema. Five college students travel to a remote cabin in the woods and unwittingly unleash a monstrous evil force hellbent on their total destruction. Tickets to the four screenings — 1:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. — are $10 to $12 here. It takes place at the Ruth and Bucky Stein Theater.
Tate Farm’s Halloween Attraction — Open every Friday and Saturday in October from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tate Farm is hosting a haunted trail in the woods, an 8-acre corn maze, and a hay-ride at 5514 N. North Carolina 11 903 Highway in Willard, North Carolina. Refreshments such as hot apple cider will be available. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the door.
Panic Attack Haunted Attraction — The haunted experience located at 3245 Pine Level Church Road in Nakina, North Carolina,, begins with a bus ride that drops off customers at a swamp. On foot, guests walk through the dark woods and fog leading to an asylum. This season will also feature a new “Nightmare On Elm Street” themed warehouse with red lights and fog. The trail is 1,000 square feet and the actors show off Hollywood-grade special effects to create a realistic fear factor. It is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night in October starting Oct. 9 and closing Nov. 1. Tickets are between $39.99 and $79.99.
Galloway Farm’s Maze Craze — From now through Saturday, Nov. 7, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Galloway Farm in Hallsboro will host its 16th Maze Craze. Aside from the corn maze, the farm will feature opportunities to meet the animals, purchase food and dessert, and enjoy a giant pipe slide. Guests may go Tuesday through Friday by appointment only. Tickets cost from $15.27 to $37, depending on the package.
Cape Fear Community College’s Student Veterans Organization Trunk-or-Treat — There will be a family-friendly trunk or treat taking place on CFCC’s downtown campus in the student parking lot #2 located at 700 North Front St. The event is on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Festivities will feature candy decorated trunks, and Halloween costumes are encouraged.
Friday, Oct. 30
The Colonial Apparition
Burgwin-Wright House and Wilmington Water Tours 224 Market St. • Tickets: $40
“A Colonial Apparition” river cruise is a special collaborative event between Burgwin-Wright House Museum and Wilmington Water Tours.
Guests will hear stories of a snowy Christmas Eve in the late 1800s as Steamer Wilmington met ghosts of two Scottish Highlanders killed during the American Revolution on the Cape Fear River.
The cruise is offered during two holiday events — Halloween on Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m., and again on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Cruises can be booked at www.wilmingtonwatertours.net, with tickets costing $40.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Cauldrons, Cocktails and Curiosities — A Mystical Mixer is coming to Wilmington to Azalea Station, welcoming attendees to dress up, play mystical trivia for prizes, enjoy curated mocktails and cocktails, engage with intuitive readers, vendors, and other spooky fun, with giveaways. It’s $35 a ticket and includes one beverage of choice and a swag bag. The event takes place at 1502 Castle St., 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Ghoulden Hour Paddle — For the eco-conscious looking to celebrate Halloween in a different way, enjoy a paddle in Greenfield Lake after hours. Among the moss-laced cypress trees, gators, birds and more, kayakers will learn about the ecosystem with Cape Fear River Watch, which will detail threats haunting the lake —and how protecting water quality helps protect the Cape Fear River Basin overall. One-seater ($15) and tandem kayaks ($20) are available and costumes are encouraged; a free treat and binoculars are included with registration. The event begins at 5:15 p.m.
Northwest Fall Festival — At Northwest City Park, 4891 Vernon Road in Northwest, North Carolina, there will be a free fall festival and trunk or treat on Friday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will consist of family games, costumes and food.
Phobia Haunted Trail — Open daily through Nov. 1, from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., the Phobia Haunted Trail includes a 30-minute walk with various horror actors providing jumpscares aplenty. The trail, located in Winnabow off Governors Road SE, will not be open on Halloween night. Tickets for general admission cost $27 and VIP tickets cost $37, with last sales taking place at 11 p.m.
Brunswick County Fall Festival — The Brunswick County Government Complex, 30 Government Center Drive NE in Bolivia, North Carolina, will host a fall festival on Oct. 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The free event will have food and water, a costume contest, games for all ages, hay rides and a walkthrough haunted trail.
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” — WHQR’s Cinematique is hosting a special screening of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” at 7:30 p.m. The film follows five friends driving through rural Texas to visit a grandfather’s grave. However, a family of deranged cannibals and a masked, chainsaw-wielding killer known as Leatherface enters the fray to terrorize them. Tickets are $10 and two screenings take place at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. A question-and-answer will follow with Juan Carlos Kase, associate professor and chair of the film studies department at UNCW.
Saturday, Oct. 31
Haunted Forest
WalkerWorld, 453 Ferry Blossom Road, Castle Hayne Tickets start at $33
A music and art festival at Walkerworld Organic Artist Retreat takes place in Castle Hayne on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 starting at 8 p.m.
There will be a haunted forest trail, live art by Zack Weaver, Brian Jones, Pat Briney, and Lacey Vilandry, a pirates and wenches themed costume contest, and live music from Domocile, Heter Pan’s Murder Mystery Band, Dubtown Cosmonauts, and Dirty Dead.
Tickets start at $33.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Nirvana Unplugged Halloween Tribute — A local group of musicians, This Petty Luxury, are bringing to life one of the 1990s’ most popular albums from grunge-rock icons Nirvana. “Unplugged in New York,” produced by MTV, was released in 1993 and is ranked as one of the best live albums ever released, selling 16 million copies worldwide. The live concert was highlighted by a cellist, acoustic bass and guitar and drumming, all of which was stripped down and more reserved than the distorted reverb that Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl became known for in Nirvana. With guest artists from the Meat Puppets, as well as covers of songs by The Vasolines, Lead Belly and David Bowie, the Unplugged concert has been hailed for its emotional depth and haunting aesthetic. After This Petty Luxury performs the album, they’ll crank up full blast Nirvana’s headlining set at the 1992 Reading Festival in England. The free show takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Flytrap Brewing, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets.
Alley-Ween at the Dive — Head to Carolina Beach for Halloween in the alley— or as The Dive is calling it, Alley-Ween — on Saturday, Oct. 31. Two events will take place to celebrate the spooky holiday: a family-friendly one from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with carnival-style games, trick-or-treating, apple-bobbing, snacks, costume contest and more. Following will be a party for adults from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with music from Jam Sandwich, a costume contest, dancing, and drinks. Both will take place near the Shag mural created by Brian “JEKS” Lewis, installed by the Carolina Beach Mural Project, along Raleigh Avenue near Lake Park Boulevard, next to The Dive Spirits and Food.
Boos and Brews Halloween Bash — Waterline Brewing is hosting an event from noon to 5 p.m. at its brewery under the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. It’s all ages and pet-friendly, with costume contests for both kids and four-legged friends, trick or treating, photo ops, Halloween movies, crafts, specialty drinks and more. Plus, there will be Smash n Dash on site serving up grub; it’s free to attend.
B.A.D Boo Bash — The Brooklyn Art District’s Boo Bash welcomes visitors from noon to 5 p.m., with entertainment, shopping, music, food and drink specials, decorations and a costume contest at 4 p.m. at Chow Town. It’s also a social district Saturday, meaning alcoholic beverages from participating bars and restaurants can carried in the public right to way along 10 blocks of the district. Trick-or-treaters are welcome all day.
Cape Fearful Skies — The new Cape Fear Museum’s Planetarium is open, and at 1 p.m. on Saturday, it’s hosting Cape Fearful Skies: Family Edition. Witches, ghosts and ghouls are welcome for a family-friendly Halloween planetarium show. A museum educator will take visitors on a live tour of tonight’s sky with plenty of spooks and surprises along the way. After, visitors will take off and fly out through the universe on a perilous journey. Suitable for all ages, the museum team will be in costume and welcomes the community to join them — though no masks or weapons allowed. The cost includes museum admission plus planetarium show, with the planetarium dome seating 58 people per show. Tickets available here.
Murder Mystery Costume Ball — Tempo.33 is hosting the Skull Manor Costume Ball. An old estate in the heart of Spider City has become renowned for captivating architecture, mysterious ambiance, and unspeakable history. While its townspeople bustle to prepare for a night of great food, conversations, and gossip, there is still dissension and discord among many Spider City’s residents, with rumors of scandalous controversies, blackmail and thievery running rampant. It comes to a head at the ball. Come dressed up and ready to solve the mystery at Tempo.33, with a $100 prize up for grabs. Tickets are $15, light bites included, and the event takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Zombie Fest — At the Eagle’s Dare, Zombie Fest continues its decades-long celebrations. Hosted on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., it will feature live music from The Tremors Band, The Phantom Playboys, and Screamin’ Rebel Angels. There will be a cash prize for the winning costume. Tickets start at $19.05.
Romanstasy Ball — The second annual Romantasy Ball is hosted by Burning Pages Bookstore. There will be sealed fortunes and forbidden romance, with vendors, authors, dancing, live entertainment, food and fantasy to help create a magical evening. The event takes place at The Elia, 254 N Front St., and tickets are $165 to $225 here, which come with signed merch and event swag, live music, a biscuit and dessert bar, plus affogatos, interactive experiences, photo-ops, author meet and greets and more. The theme is Gothic Regency, so come dressed to impress.
The Great Downtown Pumpkin Hunt — From noon to 4 p.m., downtown Wilmington is turning into one big pumpkin hunt this Halloween. Explore downtown, discover businesses, and find hidden pumpkins along the way. The Downtown Business Alliance is hosting the Great Downtown Pumpkin Hunt and participating businesses will hide special pumpkins in their shops, restaurants and other spaces. Find as many as you can for a chance to win prizes, including passes to Cape Fear Museum, the Children’s Museum of Wilmington and the Wilmington Railroad Museum. Register online at greatpumpkinhunt.com/dba, then explore downtown at your own pace. Each pumpkin has a unique QR code to scan, check in, track progress and earn an entry for a chance to win.
Satellite Bar and Lounge — Known for decking out its digs in spiders, webs, pumpkins and more, the Greenfield Street bar is hosting its annual Halloween Bash on Oct. 31. They will feature live music from Kicking Bird and DJ Professor Dub, as well as a costume and dance contest. The bash starts at 8:30 p.m.
Shadows in the Parlor — It’s your last chance to catch Latimer House’s Shadows in the Parlor. The Latimer House is offering night ghost tours at the 126 S. Third St. home for attendees to be immersed in Victorian spiritualism and paranormal investigation from Carolina’s Unknown Paranormal Research, while learning about the tales, lore and legends surrounding the property. Guests 12 years of age and up are welcome and tickets start at $30 here.
Topsail’s Halloween Walking Tour — A 1-mile Halloween walking tour takes place on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., for all ages. It is also wheelchair and stroller accessible. The meeting place is the Missiles and More Museum; registration is free and costumes are welcome.
Sunday, Nov. 1
Art in the Arboretum
New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive • Admission: $5, free for kids 12 and under, military members, friends of Arboretum
After being delayed due to weather earlier this month, Art in the Arboretum is taking place this weekend at the New Hanover County Arboretum. It takes place Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Multitudes of vendors will be set up selling their artwork in the 7-acre gardens. A special display of youth art will showcase the creativity, and talent of young artists from the Dreams Center for Arts Education and from Kids Making It also will be on display. A fun activity will also be provided for youth by the New Hanover County 4-H Youth Development program.
There are raffle tickets sold as well to win 14 different prizes. Learn more here.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Trask Family Farms’ Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch — Through Sunday, Nov. 1, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Trask Family Farms located in Castle Hayne, will open their corn maze through Sunday featuring 10 acres, with four different games inside the maze. Attendees who solve it will win a prize. There are also pumpkins, hay rides, a flower field, local honey for sale, homemade ice cream, food from local vendors, live music, and more. Tickets for the corn maze, sold at the farm or available online, cost between $10 to $15. Entry for the maze is allowed until an hour before closing, and children 3 and under are free.
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