19 things to do in Wilmington this weekend, including arts festivals and spooky events

It's fall in Wilmington, so try to keep up, if you can.

Which is to say, there's so much happening that you could never do it all, which is a good problem to have, maybe, unless you've got a crippling case of FOMO.

At any rate, let's take a look at this weekend's offerings, which include a classic play, a powerful musical, plenty of concerts and a festival or three.

If you're looking for Brunswick County events, we do a separate story for that.

Also check out our list of Halloween-related events in October if you want to get straight to the spooky season stuff. Link is below.

Spooky Season: 25 Halloween events in Wilmington: Haunted houses, festivals, movies, concerts and more

Brunswick events: NC Oyster Festival in Brunswick: What you need to know about the bands, parking and vendors

ALL WEEKEND

'Waiting for Godot'

At Thalian Hall (studio theater): As long as absurdity is a staple of the human experience, Samuel Beckett's brilliant, funny and confounding 1953 play "Waiting for Godot" will have a place in our collective narrative.

Hence, Big Dawg Productions' current staging of "Waiting for Godot" in Thalian Hall's Stein Studio Theatre, a show that delivers moments to ponder side-by-side with laugh-out-loud silliness.

Under the direction of Steve Vernon, who last did "Godot" more than 20 years ago as pub theater in the old Bessie's space (where the boarded up Orton's pool hall is now), Beckett's play is quickly paced, well-acted and good-looking, with a simple yet effective set by Donna Troy and some truly lovely, dusk-evoking lighting by Cole Marquis.

Our leads are Jon Wallin as the serious-minded, ever-worried Didi, and Randy Davis as the slightly more upbeat yet still fatalistic Gogo. They're a great pair, doing the yeoman's work of delivering Beckett's simple-yet-complex, often circular dialogue, hitting the funny bits lightly but effectively and infusing such sticky lines as "nothing to be done," "let's not do anything, it's safer" and "we are not saints, but we've kept our appointments" with a conversational tone that belies their existential resonance.

If you can figure out what "Waiting for Godot" is "about," well, you'd be the first. For me, it's a kind of meditation on what it feels like to be a person trapped by a brain and thoughts and a body, and on the confusing and deeply troubling nature of relationships both personal and societal.

The only plot to speak of is in the title, but along the way of their endless wait, Gogo and Didi do encounter some others, including the cruel, well-off Pozzo (a devilish, delightful James Bowling) and his mute (except when he's not), beaten-down servant Lucky, who's given a rictus of suffering and glimpses of humanity by Kevin Wilson.

Apparently, absurdity is in the zeitgeist, because Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon is getting ready to open an off-Broadway version of "Godot" in November. Luckily for us, though, we don't have to go all the way to New York for some well-staged absurdity, because we've got as good a version as you'd ever want right here in the Port City. 7:30 p.m. Oct 19-21, 3 p.m. Oct. 22. 910-632-2285.

'The Color Purple'

At Thalian Hall: Wilmington's Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co. presents the musical version of Alice Walker's classic novel about how the women of a Black, Southern family persevere through the generations. With songs that mine a range of traditional styles, from ragtime and jazz to blues and gospel. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19-21 and 16-28, 2 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29. 910-632-2285.

On the boards: Wilmington troupe aims to 'reclaim' Black experience at Thalian Hall

Autumn with Topsail

At Topsail Beach: The 34th annual fall festival put on by The Historical Society of Topsail Island returns for a weekend-long celebration. With arts and crafts vendors, children's activities, food trucks and beach-music-heavy live tunes, including The Notorious Clam Slammers on Friday; The Carolina Band and North Tower Band on Saturday; and The Band of Oz on Sunday. Proceeds from the festival support the Historical Society of Topsail Island. 5-7:30 p.m. Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 21 and 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 22. $5 opening night, free all other times.

Langston Kerman

At Dead Crow Comedy Room: L.A.-based comic, actor and writer returns to Wilmington's top comedy club for a weekend of shows. Kerman, who's been on Prime's "The Boys" and Peacock's "Bust Down" and been featured on Comedy Central, has some great takes on race as well as many other topics. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 20-21, tickets are $18 and $28.

THURSDAY

Sunset Peformance Series

At Cameron Art Museum: The historic Williston Alumni Choir, originally comprised of graduates of Wilmington's former, all-Black Williston Senior High School and Williston Industrial School, will perform a range of gospel numbers and spirituals as part of this outdoor performance series. Recently, the choir has been recruiting new members to keep its legacy alive. The concert will take place next to "Boundless," the sculpture of U.S. Colored Troops by Durham aritst Stephen Hayes. 7 p.m. Oct. 19, free.

FRIDAY

Leftover Salmon

At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Longtime Colorado jam band with a funky name brings its rootsy, heavily improvised songs to town for a concert at this beloved Wilmington venue. Will be part of this season's final weekend of shows at GLA. 6 p.m. Oct. 20, tickets start at $30.

'The Other Mozart'

At Kenan Auditorium: One-woman stage play written and performed by Sylvia Milo tells the story of Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart, older sister to Wolfgang Amadeus. With crazy-cool costumes and an engrossing score, the touring show explores how unknowable amounts of work by female artists has been lost to history over the centuries. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20, tickets start at $25. 910-962-3500.

Toubab Krewe

At the Palm Room: Longtime Asheville band (and Bonnaroo vets) formed in 2005, and is known for blending rock, jam, folk and world music styles from across Africa. The band has visited Wilmington many times over the years, and on Friday they'll take the stage at Wrightsville Beach venue The Palm Room. Tracks including "That Damn Squash" are typified by deeply danceable grooves. 9 p.m. Oct. 20, tickets at the door.

Corey Hunt and the Wise

At Bourgie Nights: Asheboro band plays a contemporary brand of deeply felt country that can also incorporate the classics, like their original take on "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." 9 p.m. doors, 10 p.m. show, Oct. 20. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Cann Sisters Duo

At Beckwith Recital Hall: Sisters and concert pianists Kimberly and Michelle Cann will take the stage to play pieces for duo piano. It's a low-ticket price for a world-class event, with the sisters performing a range of pieces from the classical repertoire. 8 p.m. Oct. 20, tickets are $19. 910-962-3500.

Maides Park Halloween Festival

At Maides Park: Free community festival at 1101 Manly Ave. is open to all and will have "safe trick-or-treating," games, food, music and more. 6-8 p.m. Oct. 20.

SATURDAY

Flow ILM

At the Cameron Art Museum: Third annual festival event is an uncommon blend of science, art and environmentalism focused on local and global water issues. The first part of the event (4:30-6:30 p.m.) will focus on new research by labs at UNCW and elsewhere, with the latter portion (6:30-9 p.m.) given over to various multimedia performances, art installations and more. Much of the work will be projected and/or experienced outside on the grounds and walls of the museum. 4-9 p.m. Oct. 21, free. Rain date is Oct. 28.

Paul Cauthen

At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Texas singer-songwriter blends classic and outlaw country into a hard-living, contemporary concoction that's all his own. He's known for putting on a lit live show. Will be part of this season's final weekend of shows at GLA. 7 p.m. Oct. 21, tickets start at $30.

SteelDrivers

At Kenan Auditorium: Grammy-nominated bluegrass and country act, whose former members include Chris Stapleton, has played the Grand Ole Opry (where they were joined by John Prine and Bill Murray) and had its music featured on hit TV show "Yellowstone." Lead singer Matt Dame joined the group in 2021. 8 p.m. Oct. 21, tickets start at $30.

A Very Heathen Halloween

At Waterline Brewing: Wilmington rocker Billy Heathen, whose songs "Mammoth" and "Tooth" are some of the best punk anthems ever to emerge from the Port City, headlines this eponymous Halloween-themed fest that will include Patrick Basquill's performance-art robot band Real Life Party as well as mask-wearing surf rockers The Swellians. Might be the (Real Life) party of the weekend. With spooky vendors, a video game zone, food trucks and a costume contest. 8-10 p.m. Oct. 21, $5 at the door, or $3 with costume.

Burlesque Nights

At Bourgie Nights: Burlesque artist Puppie Buffé brings performers with names like Lextacy, Rusty Dawn, Honey Glaze and Sweet D to this Halloween-themed night of naughty in downtown Wilmington. 8 p.m. Oct. 21, tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

SUNDAY

'Jane Eyre'

At CFCC Wilson Center: Wilmington's City Ballet presents an original, full-length ballet -based Charlotte Brontë's gothic 1847 romance novel. It's about a plain "Jane" whose much older love harbors a dark secret from his past. 3 p.m. Oct. 22, tickets are $25, or $15 for students and children. 910-362-7999.

Bachtoberfest

At Fermental: Move over, Oktoberfest. Or should I say stand Bach? Wilmington's Tallis Chamber Orchestra presents an afternoon of classical music by some of the many Bachs, as well as music from other composers. 4 p.m. Oct. 22, free, with donations accepted for Nourish NC.

The Cat Empire

At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Final show of the season at GLA will be headlined by this genre-bending Australian band, which blends jazz, funk, pop, rock and more into a dance-tastic sonic stew. Should take concert season on the Lake out on a high note. 6 p.m. Oct. 22, tickets start at $30.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do in Wilmington NC Oct. 19-22: concerts, theater, festivals