SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday is a weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, pop-up markets and more.
READ MORE: Azalea Festival week is here: Here’s the rundown of events
Yes, it’s Azalea Festival week, meaning tons of events are taking place throughout the city; you can read about them all by clicking the link above.
However, for folks looking for other events to partake in, well, PCD has more than a dozen suggestions below. All events featured are 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 4
America: 56 Years After the Assassination of Rev. King
Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 401 South Eighth St. • Free
At 5 p.m. a documentary screening and discussion is scheduled to take place to commemorate the impact of Rev. King upon the anniversary of his death, April 4, 1968.
King was scheduled to appear in Wilmington, North Carolina, at Williston Senior High School but changed his plans last minute to unite with the sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. He delivered his last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” on April 3 at the Bishop Charles Mason Temple before being killed the next day while exiting the Lorraine Motel.
Thursday’s event will feature a 15-minute documentary about King’s assassination, followed by moderator Derrick Anderson leading a group of guest panelists, including retired school administrator and author Bertha Todd, Women Organizing for Women founder Lynn Shoemaker, Hanover for All community organizer Leo Hussein and former Senator Harper Peterson.
There will be refreshments, voter registration sign-ups and community information, as well as a drawing for the free book “The Plot to Kill King: The Truth Behind the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.” by William F. Pepper.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
The Wilmington Big Band — A 17-piece orchestra will be swinging through the art museum as part of its Jazz @ CAM series. The Wilmington Big Band performs traditional standards as well as swing and pop tunes. Tickets are $35 for members or $55 for nonmembers. The show starts at 7 p.m. and takes place at Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th St.
T-Pain — Azalea Festival is hosting two concerts for its 2024 event; the first kicks off at Live Oak Bank Pavilion along the downtown Riverwalk, featuring hip-hop artist Faheem Rashad Najm, better known as T-Pain. The rapper is attributed for popularizing Auto-Tune pitch correction in the hip-hop world, with artists like Kanye West and Snoop Dogg following suit. T-Pain has released two Grammy Award-winning hits, including “Good Life” with Kanye West and “Blame It” with Jamie Foxx. His latest effort is 2023’s “On Top of the Covers,” featuring takes on his favorite music, such as Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” Rising country singer-songwriter RVSHVD (pronounced Rashad) from Georgia is opening. He’s best known for “Deal with the Devil,” featuring singer Danny Worsnop of the band Asking Alexandria. Tickets to the show here. See all Azalea Festival events here.
Friday, April 5
Beauty and the Beast
Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $32
A tale of love will be brought to life for the next two weekends as Thalian Association Community Theatre presents “Beauty and the Beast.”
Adapted from Disney’s 1991 animated feature film, the musical — with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice — has been staged in 37 countries around the world. The story follows an entitled and selfish prince who’s been transformed into a beast as punishment for his unkindness. The spell will be overturned if he has someone fall in love with him, but the clock’s ticking else he becomes doomed forever more.
Enter Belle — whose father is imprisoned by the beast in an enchanted castle. She convinces the beast to allow her to trade places with her inventor father. What follows is a friendship-turned-blossoming love.
The musical includes songs such as “Be Our Guest,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Gaston.” It stars Sydney Smith Martin as Belle and Kaleb Edley as the Beast, with the cast also including Logan Mack, Jon Wallin, Kathy Enlow and others.
The musical opens April 5 and closes April 14; showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Herb and Garden Fair — Gardening season has arrived in southeastern North Carolina, and Poplar Grove is celebrating with its herb and garden fair. The annual event takes place this Saturday and Sunday in Hampstead, featuring more than 100 plant, herb, nursery, and garden vendors, as well as artists and artisans selling wares. Plus, food trucks and concessions will be on site. Admission is $5 (12 and under free) and all proceeds benefit the historic site, located at 10200 US-17. The event hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The manor house will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday; an additional $5 ticket required.
Shakin’ the Mess Out of Misery — A play by Shay Youngblood and directed by Regina McLeod is taking place at the Garage at DREAMS, 901 Fanning St., April 5 through 7 and April 12. “Shakin’ the Mess Out of Misery” is about a female reflects on her 12th year of life and the nontraditional Black women who helped raise her in preparation for womanhood. Tickets are $22.
Hobby Greenhouse Club and Sale — Taking place at 2318 Metts Ave., the annual fall plant sale from Hobby Greenhouse is a three-day event — Friday through Sunday. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. All plants sold are propagated or grown by club members. Cash or checks only accepted for all plants.
Chase Rice — Rice was raised on a farm in Asheville, North Carolina, and has performed — and vacationed — in Wilmington for years. When visiting, Rice has been seen hanging out at Jimmy’s, a popular bar near the beach. After working a stint in NASCAR and then going on the show “Survivor: Nicaragua,” the country artist launched a career in music with his 2014 bro-country release, “Ignite the Night,” scaling number one on the country charts. Rice has released six albums to date, including 2023’s “I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go to Hell.” The album set him on a more authentic and thoughtful approach on his musical path, he told Port City Daily last year — writing music that touches on deeper themes about love, the small joys of life and working through hard times. He performs at 7 p.m. at Live Oak Bank Pavilion; opening the show is Lanie Gardner. Tickets are $55 and up, available here. See all Azalea Festival events here.
Saturday, April 6
Alt-zalea Festival
Multiple locations • Brooklyn Arts District, North Fourth Street
While crowds flock to Front Street for the Azalea Festival street fair, North Fourth Street will be a celebration of all local music at almost a dozen locally owned businesses.
This year’s stops include:
- Brooklyn Cafe
- Bottega
- Dead Crow Comedy Club
- Flytrap Brewing
- Goat and Compass
- The Half
- The Kitchen Sink
- Palate
- Pineapple Studios
- Pizzeria Don Luca
- Three10
All venues are within walking distance from the others in the Brooklyn Arts District or on the outskirts of it. Upward of 70 bands are playing throughout the day, with most sets starting at noon and bands switching up every hour on the hour. From rock (Audiomelt at Pizzeria Don Luca, noon) to punk (The Explainers at Bottega, 4 p.m.; feature photo), acoustic (Perry Smith at Palate, 5 p.m.) to funk (Dubtown Cosmonauts at Brooklyn Cafe at 2 p.m.), multiple genres will be featured. See poster for full listings and times.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Poor Man’s Garden Party — Miss out on tickets to Wilmington’s favorite day-drinking party: Friday’s Airlie Garden Party, as part of the 77th Azalea Festival? No worries. The Eagle’s Dare (420 N. Third St.) is hosting an unofficial festival event for the everyman with the Poor Man’s Garden Party. It gets underway at 4 p.m. and will feature three bands: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Cary Benjamin; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: The Cowpokes; and 9:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: Hannah Dasher. The master of ceremonies will be Cornbread Cowboi; tickets are $15.
Mac and Cheese Festival — The Island Men’s annual food festival draws in upward of 1,000 people to Good Hops Brewing (811 Harper Ave.) on Carolina Beach Road. More than 40 types of mac and cheese will be served to the public, who then vote on the best, with the winner taking home cash prizes and the Golden Noodle award. Community members and a handful of restaurants enter the competition, which takes place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Monies raised from the $10 entry fee go toward helping community civic programs and nonprofits assisting youth education and sports, food insecurities and those with disabilities. Read PCD’s coverage from last year here.
Family Movie Night — The Town of Belville welcomes families to its Riverwalk (580 River Road SE) at 7 p.m. to enjoy “The Mario Brothers Movie.” There will be food for sale from Highway 55 and Happy Face Funnel cakes. Chairs, blankets and picnics are welcome. It’s free to attend, plus there will be games and trivia.
The Big Picture — Cape Fear Chorale will be putting on its second concert of the season, celebrating 26 years of bringing the power of vocal performance to the forefront. The show, “The Big Picture,” will showcase works by composers Judith Weir, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Roderick Williams and Tomás Luis de Victoria. Also joining the 85-member chorale will be baritone vocalist Thandolwethu Mamba. The show takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Kenan Auditorium; Cape Fear Chorale is led by artistic director and conductor Aaron Peisner. Tickets are free but still must be secured here.
Tina Friml — Dead Crow Comedy Room will host Tina Friml for four shows this weekend. Friml brings to the stage bits about living with cerebral palsy: “I’m like the bisexuality of abilities,” she said during a Comedy Central standup special. She brings brutal honesty to the social assumptions of living with a disability and has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” In 2019, Friml was honored with the New Face award in the acclaimed Just For Laughs Festival. Tickets are $18 to $28 and her shows take place at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Sunday, April 7
Pleasure Island Restaurant Week
Various locations • Menus: here
Kicking off for the next seven days, Pleasure Island Restaurant Week is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and has a dozen participants offering specials and prix-fixe meals to the dining public.
Diners can go to the following restaurants to participate in restaurant week, taking place through April 15:
- Carolina Beach Pier
- Havana’s
- Hurricane Alley’s
- Jack Mackerel’s
- Lake Park Boulevard Steakhouse
- Malama Cafe
- Michael’s Seafood
- The Peach Cobbler Factory
- Remini’s
- The Sandspur
- SeaWitch Cafe
- Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar
Check out all the specials here.
Tips or comments? Email info@portcitydaliy.com
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