20 things to do: Wilmington weekend is filled with touring concerts, homegrown festivals
Fall in Wilmington is a hotbed of activity.
Take this weekend, for instance, when multiple touring musical artists will play concerts, joined by a handful of super-cool homegrown festivals and even a play that's regarded worldwide as an absurdist classic.
Check below for an expertly curated list of all the weekend's best events.
If you're looking for Brunswick County events, we do a separate story for that.
Also check out our list of upcoming Halloween-related events in October if you want to get ahead of the game for spooky season.
Spook season: 25 Halloween events in Wilmington: Haunted houses, festivals, movies, concerts and more
ALL WEEKEND
3 Chambers Fest
The two-day, multi-event festival masterminded by Wilmington filmmaker Christopher Everett ("Wilmington on Fire") is an uncommon blend of hip-hop, martial arts and anime culture.
On Friday, Wilmington-based rapper Solemn Brigham of hip-hop duo Marlowe will perform in his hometown for the first time in over a decade when he headlines a concert at Waterline Brewing. Old-school Wilmington rapper Fuzz Jaxx will host and the show will include sets by Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo and Wilmington's own Louis. and MoeSOS DC. 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, $10 in advance, $20 at the door.
On Saturday, a screening of Wilmington-shot cult film "The Crow" at UNCW's Kenan Auditorium will include a live hip-hop/jazz/funk score remixed by Washington, D.C., group Shaolin Jazz. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. martial arts demo. $20 in advance, $30 day of show. $15 for UNCW students. Anime-themed after-party at Waterline, 10 p.m.
Tickets and details at the 3 Chambers Fest website.
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'Waiting for Godot'
At Thalian Hall (studio theater): If the scariest thing you can think of is the ultimate meaninglessness of existence, then head on down to Thalian Hall's intimate Stein Studio Theatre for a performance of Samuel Beckett's absurdist classic about two guys who are, um, waiting for Godot. Presented by Big Dawg Productions, it's the first time the play has been done in Wilmington since the 1990s, when BUMP Productions did it as pub theater at the old Bessie's club on Front Street. Steve Vernon directs. 7:30 p.m. Oct 12-14 and 19-21, 3 p.m. Oct. 15 and 22. 910-632-2285.
Amy Miller
At Dead Crow Comedy Room: A veteran of NBC's "Last Comic Standing" and "Up Next" on Comedy Central, California comic Amy Miller brings her raw, unfiltered style to Wilmington's top room for laughs. Miller's got material about such topics as not wanting kids, because "they come out of your body and turn into people," and on being a former teacher, "which you can probably tell by my face, voice, outfit, haircut and body." 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 13-14, tickets are $18 and $28.
AMC final weekend
At AMC Classic Wilmington 16: See a movie one last time at Wilmington's oldest multilex, which will close after Sunday. On-screen options include "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" and "The Exorcist: Believer."
Bye now: What's next for a soon-to-close Wilmington theater, including a 'Swift' ending?
Wilmington Boat Show
At the Wilmington Convention Center: The boat show will take place inside and outside the convention center, with boats and marine products on display, along with a range of family-friendly demos and activities. Don Dingman (of TV show "Hook the Future") will teach a fishing clinic for kids, a fishing expo will offer a range of tips for the amateur angler, and there will be kayak demos, a boat safety workshop, a demo from CFCC's Wooden Boat Building Program, free rides to the Battleship from Wilmington Water Tours and live tunes from Wilmington treasure Randy McQuay. Noon-6 p.m. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 14 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 15. $10, or $15 for a two-day pass; discounts available.
Art in the Arboretum
At the New Hanover County Arboretum: The 28th annual event will host 75 artists throughout the arboretum and gardens, in areas both inside and out. An opening reception billed as "Sip, Savor, and Shop" is 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 14, noon-4 p.m. Oct. 15. $5, free for children under 12.
Ocean Fest
Downtown Surf City: This award-winning event ("Event of the Year" from N.C. Association of Festivals & Events, "Best Green Initiative" from the Southeast Festivals & Events Association) features live music, environmentally themed exhibits, a 5k beach run, a surf contest with riders on vintage boards, arts and crafts vendors, kids' activities, food trucks, two beer gardens and more. Wilmington reggae act Signal Fire headlines Friday, with bands Sun Room, The Vegabonds, Emily Wolfe, FeelFree and more on Saturday. 5-10 p.m. Oct. 13, 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Oct. 14. Free. Festivities take place just north of the Surf City Pier.
THURSDAY
Thalian Hall's 165th
At Thalian Hall: Interim director Rob Zapple leads a VIP tour of the historic Wilmington theater, located in Wilmington City Hall, for its 165th anniversary of being built way back in 1858. Includes a demonstration of the antique "thunder roll" sound effects device and an on-stage champagne toast. 6 p.m. Oct. 12. 910-632-2285.
Switchfoot
At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Longtime hard/alt-rock act, a staple of early 2000s radio, rolls into town as part of a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of its 2003 album, "The Beautiful Letdown." 6 p.m. Oct. 12, tickets start at $40.
FRIDAY
Nick Carter
At CFCC Wilson Center: Singer best-known for his association with The Backstreet Boys, Carter is doing a solo tour and has a new single, "Superman," which bears a poppy, acoustic vibe. On a darker note, Carter has also been accused of sexual assault by multiple women, charges the singer has denied. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13, tickets start at $46. 910-362-7999.
Common Kings
At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Grammy-nominated California reggae-rock band brings its slippery pop sound to Wilmington. Common Kings are touring in support of its appropriately named 2023 album "Celebration." 7 p.m. Oct. 13, tickets start at $25.
Tyler Ramsay
At Bourgie Nights: Best-known as a guitarist and songwriter with North Carolina indie folk group Band of Horses, Ramsay will play a mix of solo tunes and older, Band of Horses songs for what's being billed as an intimate, "evening with" performance. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, Oct. 13. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of show.
Tapestry: The Music of Carole King
At Thalian Hall: Tribute band plays the songs of King, from her days as part of the Goffin-King songwriting team ("Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "One Fine Day") to such deeply personal solo hits as "You've Got a Friend" and "I Feel the Earth Move." Part of the Hall's Main Attractions series. 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13, 910-632-2285.
'Poundcake'
At Jengo's Playhouse: Former Wilmington filmmaker Onur Tukel made his bones in the Port City circa 2000 with his classic indie comedy "Ding-a-ling-less," about a man with no penis. Since then, Tukel has gone on to develop one of the most distinctive voices in all of filmmaking, bringing novel/outrageous concepts to the screen in films like "Catfight," in which Sandra Oh and the late Anne Heche fight it out in increasingly brutal terms. Tukel's latest film, "Poundcake," centers on a serial killer who specifically targets straight, white men, and all the ways in which that triggers various segments of society. Screening as part of the Friday Night Films series from the Cucalorus Film Festival. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13, tickets are $10.
'Bumps in the Night'
At Modern Love: Longtime Wilmington artist Bryan Jacobs will debut some of his latest work, specially selected for the spooky season. At Modern Love, 545 Castle St. 7-10 p.m. Oct. 13.
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SATURDAY
Pam Tillis
At CFCC Wilson Center: Country singer and daughter of country legend Mel Tillis returns to Southeastern N.C. to play tunes from a career spanning four decades. Tillis, a Grammy-winning artist whose songs include "Maybe it was Memphis," "Mi Vida Loca" and "When You Walk in the Room," starred on Broadway in "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and had a recurring role on the hit TV series Nashville." Her latest album is "Looking for a Feeling." 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14, tickets start at $25. 910-362-7999.
Chatham County Line
At Bourgie Nights: North Carolina roots music favorites have played Wilmington many times over the year (they used to play every Christmastime for their Electric Holiday Tour show). Their songs mix a range of styles, from folk and bluegrass to country and jazz. A 2019 album covered their favorite influences (Wilco, John Prine) and 2020's "Strange Fascination" saw them incorporating drums for the first time. 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, $20 in advance, $25 day of show.
Backdoor Kitchen Tour
Downtown Wilmington: Annual fundraiser for the Residents of Old Wilmington (ROW) takes you into the some of the coolest homes (and kitchens) of downtown Wilmington. ROW celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 14. Tickets are $40.
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Fire in the Pines
At Halyburton Park: Family-friendly, educational festival is dedicated to raising awareness of the longleaf pine ecosystem and the importance of controlled burns to sustaining it. Includes kids' activities, educational demos, live music, food trucks, fire equipment and even a live, controlled burn.10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 14, free.
SUNDAY
SOJA
At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Longtime, Grammy-nominated Virginia reggae band has played Wilmington many times over the years. Their most recent album, 2021's "Beauty in the Silence," featured collabs with similar acts including Rebelution, Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid, UB40 and Collie Buddz. Opening acts include two fellow reggae artists: the singer Hirie and musician Mihali Savoulidis. 5 p.m. Oct. 15, tickets start at $38.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do in Wilmington NC Oct. 12-15 2023 concerts festivals
