SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday is a weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, pop-up markets 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. 10
Lotus
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive • Tickets: $35
Penguin 98.3 and Live Nation are hosting a fundraiser with the Indiana band Lotus who will perform at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. All net proceeds will go to World Central Kitchen, an organization founded by celebrity chef José Andrés in 2010.
WCK deploys teams into areas facing natural disasters or war-torn countries to ensure no one faces hunger during stressful situations. It’s set up across western North Carolina, with distribution sites open to everyone — residents, first responders, construction and line workers.
Lotus is a five-piece instrumental band and blends funk, jazz, rock and disco. The band originally intended to perform at Salvage Station Asheville, which was demolished by Hurricane Helene. Live Nation is presenting the band at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, instead, on Thursday, Oct. 10.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Alligator Adventures — The Town of Leland is hosting a series for residents to learn more about the American alligator, in both history and biology. Shared will be facts about the species and how human impacts have benefited and threatened the animals. The event is free and is aimed at ages 5 years and up; it will take place in the multipurpose room of town hall at 5 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 11
Nosferatu
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 16 N. 16th St. • Tickets: $10
Annually, Dorothy Papadakos — a composer and award-winning musician — takes to the pipe organ at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to perform live the score for F. W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film, “Nosferatu.”
The German Expressionist vampire film is a “symphony of horror,” based on the adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel “Dracula.” Papadakos — who has also performed to silent films “Phantom of the Opera” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide” — will play the church’s Goulding and Wood 38-rank, 30-stop instrument with the pipes. The film will show on the large screen in the sanctuary.
Tickets are $10 and the show takes place at 7 p.m. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 16 North 16th St.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Vincent Bryant — Dead Crow Comedy Room will host Atlanta-based comedian and writer Vincent Bryant. A writer and actor as well, Bryant has appeared in “Hart of the City” on Comedy Central, where he dishes on a relationship that ended due to being cheated on with an NFL player. He claims “women’s intuition isn’t real,” to plenty of boos nonetheless. “If it’s so real, how come it wouldn’t warn you that I wasn’t shit at the beginning,” he asks women in the crowd, to plenty of applause. Bryant has received an Emmy nomination for “The Ms. Pat Show” on BET+ and “Primo” on Freevee. Tickets are $18 to $28 and he performs both Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“The Wizard of Oz” — Dorothy and her crew of scarecrow, lion, tin man and Toto are off to see the wizard at Scottish Right Temple, as performed by Wilmington Performing Arts. The show takes place Oct. 11-13, and 18-20, with shows at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The show stars Zeke Dawson, Archer Fiskin, Linc Jabaley, and others, as directed by Mandy Dawson. Choreography is by Judy Greenhut, with music direction from Trudy Yeatts. Tickets are $20.
Fall Festival — Maides Park is hosting its annual free community festival on Friday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Maides Park, 1101 Manly Ave. Activities include bounce houses, trick-or-treating, games, plus food and music.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Futurebirds
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive • Tickets: $39.50
Athens, Georgia’s indie-rock band is playing the Greenfield Lake stage this weekend.
The band recently released its fifth studio album, “Easy Company.” It includes sounds from all genres, including an upbeat country track, a folksy ballad, and 1990’s alt-rocker. It was produced by Brad Cook and includes collaborations, as heard on the album’s title track sung with Katie Crutchfield, or on “Soft Drugs,” which includes a monologue from Drive-By Truckers’ frontman Patterson Hood.
The band is coming off a year of touring with Nude Party and performed at My Morning Jacket’s festival in Mexico, as well as two nights at Red Rocks with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.
Their Wilmington show will include the opening act Good Looks, an Austin, Texas, rock band with two albums under their belt.
Tickets are $39.50.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Veg-Out Festival — From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Greenfield Lake Park by the Rotary Wheel Garden, a festival focused on healthy living is underway. Veg-Out takes place Oct. 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it’s free. There will be vendors galore, providing vegan and vegetarian food, fitness, massages, ethically sourced crystals, traditional and alternative health care. Naturally sourced beauty products and hemp-based wellness products, plant protein mixes, holistic nutrition and more will be available. Learn more at www.veg-out.org
Brooklyn Arts District Arts Fest — This weekend Brooklyn Arts District hosts its first district-wide festival. More than 40 local artists will display and sell art to support a local nonprofit. Operation Pretty Things assists victims of domestic violence by providing hair and skincare services ahead of important life events, such as job interviews or court obligations. Participating locations in BAD include: The Eagle’s Dare, Flytrap Brewing, Edward Teach Brewery, Commodore, The Kitchen Sink, Brooklyn Cafe, Dalisay Bridal Suite & Salon, Bottega Art & Wine, Pineapple Studios, Palate Bottle Shop, Don Luca Pizzeria, Chow Town and Goat & Compass. The event is free and open to everyone from noon to 5 p.m.
Wilmington Record Show — Coming back to Waterline Brewing, Wilmington Record Show will bring in more than 20 vendors to tempt vinyl lovers to stock up on their favorite music. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the brewery, located adjacent to the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. Participants include Gravity Records, Fort Lowell Records, Squidco, Phil’s Magic Exchange, School Kids Records, Fuzzy Needle, Record Bar, Eccentric Pop and others will be vending, with all goods individually priced. There will be a listening station set up to listen before buying and Kids Making It will be set up taking orders for bespoke record related wood creations. Music will be spun by DJ Stowe first from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Ethan Hanson takes over from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Food trucks will be on site.
Halloween Circus — The spookiest season continues to bring the fun at Barzarre, 1610 Castle St. There will be entertainment by aerialists, fire performances, acrobats and adult carnival games, cotton candy, and tarot readings. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15 ahead of time or $20 at the door. It’s for ages 21 and up only.
Fall Festival — Oak + Fennel Farms at 4525 Castle Hayne Road is preparing for a celebration of fall. Saturday’s festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will have pumpkins for sale, more than 30 local vendors set up, a petting zoo and fall activities, such as a hayride and hot apple cider for sale. Cost is $10 per carload. The pumpkin patch is also open the next two weekends.
The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra — Thalian Hall is celebrating its 166th birthday with a little music on its main stage at 7 p.m. Saturday. Savannah, Georgia’s Fabulous Fall Equinox Orchestra will perform songs from the Great American songbook, Motown, country and more. Tickets are $42 and up.
ROW Back Door Kitchen Tour — Want a sneak peek into the kitchens of locally renovated historic homes? The Residents of Old Wilmington present the Back Door Kitchen Tour featuring nine homes in downtown Wilmington. The self-guided tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and guides are at each home to discuss the history of the house as well as renovations. Tickets and maps are available here and can be purchased at any home on the tour; cash is accepted only at 624 Dock St.
Pawz in the Park — The 11th annual Pawz in Parkis happening from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Long Leaf Park. Rescue groups will be on hand featuring adoptable pets and there will be vendors, food trucks and more. Admission is free.
Noisy By Design Fundraiser for Helene Victims — 5 Foot Nuttin, Signals.etc, NoisybyDesign, Rose Rebellion, and Righteous Roots are bringing a punk show to Broomtail Pub and Arcade in Ogden from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The concert is also a benefit for Helene support needed in western North Carolina so donations will be accepted to go to United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. It’s free to attend and open to all ages at 7211 Market St.
‘Richard III’ — Alchemical Theatre Company, behind modern twists on Shakespearean classics like “Comedy of Errors,” “Twelfth Night” and “Much Ado About Nothing,” is hosting a dramatic reading of “Richard III” at Cameron Art Museum from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The company was founded by UNCW theater professor Christopher Marino seven years ago. It follows one of Shakespeare’s most notorious villains in the final chapter of the War of the Roses — consisting of Henry VI, parts one through three, and “Richard III.” The show follows the Duke of Gloucester, whose political ambition leads to betrayal as he schemes and murders his way to the throne.
Movies in Portia Hines Park — Cucalorus and Northside Grocery Store are hosting movies in Portia Hines Park, 400 N. 10th St. The family-friendly films are free and open to the public. Chairs and blankets are welcome for the 7 p.m. screening and there will be free food — hot dogs, hamburgers (vegan options available) and drinks. Come early for the vendor market set up at 5:30 p.m. The Oct. 12 film will be “Inside Out 2,” a Pixar movie following protagonist Riley’s various emotions as she reaches her teenage years. It’s business as usual for Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust — until Anxiety shows up.
Sunday, Oct. 13
Pleasure Island Restaurant Week
Various locations. • Carolina and Kure beaches
Around 25 restaurants on Carolina and Kure beach are coming together to host a week of specials and indulgences.
It’s Pleasure Island Restaurant Week from Oct. 12 through 18, as hosted by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce. Specials run the gamut and include everything from $5 tacos atNollie’s, to $25 prix fixe from Buzz’s Roost, to a free cup of chowder from Michael’s Seafood when ordering an Admiral’s Platter.
See all participants and specials here.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Operation Not 86’d — A group of Wilmington hospitality professionals, including The Eagle’s Dare, Rebellion, Front Street Brewery, Jimmy’s, Circle Pit, The Husk, Goat and Compass, Barbary Coast, and Perfect View, are banding together to raise funds for those affected by Helene who also work in the food and beverage industry. There will be music by the band Oc3eans at 5 p.m. and The Midatlantic at 7 p.m. A pig pickin’ will take place with $20 barbecue plates, a silent auction and more with all funds going to nonprofit organizations helping in the cleanup aftermath. It takes place at Eagle’s Dare, 420 N. Third St.
Make Wilmington Weird Fest — Hi-Wire Brewing (1012 Princess St.) is calling all the freaks and ghouls. Make Wilmington Weird Fest is open to all ages from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a costume contest, fire spinning, sword-swallowing, belly dancing, tarot readings, plus special effects makeup, Henna tattoos, and a petting zoo. Unique vendors will be set up on site and photo ops will be available with a pimped-out hearse. It’s free to attend.
Chopped on the Coast — Area chefs are being pitted against one another to create a one-of-a-kind dish for the judges decide who should rise to the top at the Harrelson Center (20 N. 4th St.). It’s part of a fundraiser for Northside Food Co-op. Chopped on the Coast is based on the famed food show “Chopped.” Four chefs — Kory Sanderlin from Smash N’Dash, Christie Walker from The Basics, Sam Cahoon from Savorez and Gerald Hawkins Jr. from Beach Shop & Grill and Country Club at Landfall — will be given access to a pantry of food and a basket of mystery ingredients required to use to create a dish on the fly and in front of an audience. The participants can bring one signature ingredient to the showdown as well, whether it’s a special seasoning blend or oil. Tickets are $65 but a VIP entry is $80; the latter includes a Mixology competition before the event gets underway. Learn more from PCD’s writeup here.
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