24 things to do in Wilmington this weekend, including multiple Halloween events

I hope you guys are ready, because it just occurred to me that, once Halloween is over next week, we are running headlong into the holiday season.

Which, to me at least, is just as scary as any of the many, many spooky events on the docket this jam-packed weekend. If you haven't gotten your fill of Halloween-style events already, you've got multiple opportunities this weekend, from dark-hued concerts and performances to more family-friendly, fall-focused events.

Plus, there's an extraordinary production of "The Color Purple" at Thalian Hall and plenty more events you should know about. Let's get started. (If you're looking for Brunswick County events, we do a separate story for that.)

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ALL WEEKEND

'The Color Purple'

At Thalian Hall: With moments of both high hilarity and searing emotion, Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.'s production of musical "The Color Purple," which runs at Thalian Hall through Sunday, is an epic tale well-told.

A strong-voiced cast under the direction of Kevin Lee-Y Green creates memorable characters, and Green, who also choreographs, finds multiple moments to fill the stage with movement, from juke-joint throw-downs to flowing, athletic routines that both add to and carry along the story.

That story, based on the novel by Alice Walker, follows a Southern Black family through several decades, centering on the struggles, and triumphs, of its women.

Denise Jackson is a revelation as Celie, singing with power and finding deep wells of emotion as she takes her character on a journey from meek, abused housewife to a woman with the strength to be her authentic self. Rayana D. Briggs is sweetness and light personified as Celie's beloved sister, Nettie, and George Maize brings a sense of unpredictable danger and, later, remorse, to Mister, Celie's villainous husband.

As Mister's affable, weak-willed son, Harpo, and Harpo's no-nonsense wife, Sofia, Brandon Bradley and Adriana Hough are crowd favorites, and they earn moments of uproarious laughter while giving depth to characters that could be mere comic relief. Adrienne DeBouse shines as Shug Avery, the flighty juke joint singer with a lusty heart of gold.

Terrill Williams' period costumes look fantastic, and lighting desinger Hannah Funderburke fills the stage with colors to complement the no-frills set pieces. Music director Charles Coakley leads the band through a range of styles with aplomb, and a huge cast delives chills when they get to sing in full throat.

It's a beautiful show, and an important one, that had the Sunday matinee audience I sat with rising to their feet on multiple occasions. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26-28, 2 p.m. Oct. 29. 910-632-2285.

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'Dracula'

Mainstage Theatre in the Cultural Arts Building, UNCW campus: The University of North Carolina Wilmington's Department of Theater presents playwright Steven Dietz's stage adaptation of the 1897 Bram Stoker novel about the famous vampire. The production, directed by UNCW prof Christopher Marino, will feature student actors, and to create the show's magical effects and illusions, the department is bringing in guest artist Matt Holtzclaw. Holtzclaw has worked with Penn and Teller, designed special effects for Broadway and Off-Broadway, and is the resident magician at the McKittrick Hotel in New York City, which is the lounge attached to the long-running immersive production "Sleep no More." 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26-28, Nov. 2-4 and 9-11, 2 p.m. Oct. 29, Nov. 5 and 12. Tickets are $14, with some discounts. 910-962-3500.

'Chapel of Horrors'

In the Soda Pop District: It's your last chance to catch what is easily the best haunted house I've ever experienced, with production values to rival a top stage production. An immersive haunted house experience, "Chapel of Horrors" comes with a back story about an evil cult taking over an old chapel and was created by an A-team of Wilmington film industry professionals -- make-up and special effects artists, sound and lighting designers, and more -- with downtime due to the writers' and actors' strikes. Located in the cavernous former Coca-Cola bottling facility on Princess Street. Oct. 27-30. Extended hours for the final weekend. For times and tickets go to PortCityFearFactory.com.

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Goosebumps in the Grove

At Poplar Grove Plantation: On U.S. 17 at the New Hanover/Pender county line, this family Halloween festival features a carnival with plenty of fun kids' activities, along with "haunted manor" tours for ages 4 and up. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 28 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 29. $5 admission, plus an extra $5 to view haunted manor house, which runs 11-4 Saturday and 11-3 Sunday.

Wally Baram

At Dead Crow Comedy Room: This weekend's headliner at Wilmington's top comedy club has performed on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and been a New Face of Comedy at Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival. Baram has some really funny material about being in that weird between world of adulthood and adolescence (aka, your 20s), when having to write out a check feels like "the horror." Ticket sales from Friday night's show will go to support the American Cancer Society. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 27-28, tickets are $18 and $28.

Reggie's Halloween show

At Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern: One of Wilmington's most-anticipated annual concert events is the Halloween show at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern, during which area bands dress up as and/or perform songs by better-known acts. Friday features the songs of groups including Ween, the Sex Pistols and Iggy and the Stooges, with the tunes of Nirvana, Pennywise, Rancid and others taking the stage Saturday. 7 p.m. Oct. 27-28, $10 per night or $15 for both.

Carousel Center Beer & Wine Festival

At Live Oak Bank Pavilion: 18th annual festival benefits the Carousel Center, which supports abused children in the Wilmington area. With beer and wine tastings from dozens of breweries and wineries, along with live music. Voracious Rare Beer & Wine Fest is 6-9 p.m. Oct. 27, with the main event noon-5 p.m. Oct. 28.  Tickets available at LighthouseBeerAndWine.com.

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Victorian Visions of Death

At the Latimer House: As part of its interactive exhibit series, the Latimer House, which dates to the 1800s, presents this up-close look at the mourning customs of the Victorian period. Features a look at the somber mourning attire of the day, some period artifacts and spooky story or two. On the hour, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 26-28 and Oct. 31, with nighttime offerings 7-9 p.m. Oct. 26-28.

THURSDAY

'Portrait of Aretha'

At CFCC Wilson Center: Touring show featuring gospel singer CeCe Teneal performing the songs of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Teneal will perform hits from throughout Franklin's career, from "Chain of Fools" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" to "Freeway of Love." 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, tickets start at $28. 910-362-7999.

Cape Fear Museum After Dark

At the Cape Fear Museum: Adults-only evening of Halloween-themed fun features spooky cocktails, a costume contest, creepy artifacts from the museum's collection, and more. 6-9 p.m. Oct. 26, tickets are $15, $12 for members, $18 day of event.

FRIDAY

Halloween hip-hop show

At Bourgie Nights: Wilmington rapper Sheme of Gold headlines this bill at Bourgie Nights downtown along with DJ RizzyBeats, Goldsboro rapper Halen Sykes and Fayetteville hip-hop collective The Social Contract. Costumes encouraged. On Dec. 1, Fort Lowell Records will release the third album in its "This Water for Life" series, which pairs Wilmington hip-hop artists with indie rockers; Sheme will share "This Water Is Life, Vol. III" with Cydaddy. 9 p.m. Oct. 27, tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

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4th Friday Gallery Night

Downtown Wilmington: Monthly art crawl of downtown and downtown-adjacent galleries. This month's highlights include a closing reception for "Proof: Printmaking in Eastern North Carolina" at CFCC's Wilma Daniels Gallery. Over at Acme Art on North Fifth Avenue, multiple artists contribue to the "Animal Instincts" show, with original art by Todd Carignan, Karen Paden Crouch, Angela Rowe, Michael Van Hout and Mark Weber. 6-9 p.m. Oct. 27. For a complete list of participating galleries, go to ArtsWilmington.org.

Halloween Silent Disco

At Hi-Wire Brewing: Dancing like no one's watching is the scariest thing in the world for some people, one that this costumed event puts a twist on. Three DJs will play music for the crowd, except the crowd is wearing headphones while dancing (and singing?) and can switch between any of the three DJs. Should be interesting, but after a few beers it won't matter anyway. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, tickets are $10 and $15.

Carlos Rising

At Greenfield Lake Yacht Club: Wilmington singer who found some success earlier this year on reality show competition "The Voice" heads down to this Sunset Park venue for open-air tunes on its rustic stage. Rising has a golden voice and plays a range of covers and folk-rock-style originals. 7-9 p.m. Oct. 27, free.

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'One Pint at at a Time'

At Jengo's Playhouse: Friday night film series screens this documentary from Aaron Hose about Black brewers trying to gain a foothold in the craft beer industry. According to the movie's trailer, beer was first brewed on the African continent, yet Black-owned businesses make up less than 1% of craft breweries in the U.S. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, tickets are $10.

'125 Years: Bridging Tradition and Progress'

At Thalian Hall (studio theater): Short film celebrates the founding of the Wilmington Fire Department 125 years ago, back in 1897. Among other topics, the 30-minute film looks at how technology used in fighting fires has changed over the years. 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 27. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance.

SATURDAY

Wilmington ZombieFest

At the Eagle's Dare: Longtime instrumental rock band Los Straitjackets, known for wearing lucha libre masks and for cranking out both originals and such inspired covers as a surftastic "Linus and Lucy," headline the first Wilmington Zombiefest since 2019. Opening acts are Wilmington rockabilly band The Phantom Playboys and classic country act The Dew Drops. 5 p.m. Oct. 28, $15 in advance, $20 day of show.

Dead Cool

At the Opera Room: Resident Wilmington goth/darkwave duo Dead Cool will headline a sure-to-be-packed show for Halloween. Openers are Tender Lash, DJ Dead Boy and, all the way from Italy, Fall Shock. 8 p.m. Oct. 28, cover at the door.

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Ballet Folklórico de Los Angeles

At CFCC Wilson Center: Touring dance troupe brings its show "Ofrenda: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration" to town. As you know if you've seen the movie "Coco," an ofrenda is an altar in the home dedicated to family members who have passed, and the show features dance and music from different regions of Mexico used to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28, tickets start at $34. 910-362-7999.

Fright Fest

At Hi-Wire Brewing: Downtown hotspot Varnish teams up with Hi-Wire to present this day-long event billed as "Wilmington's biggest Halloween block party." With two stages featuring DJs and music by Wilmington bands including Ridgewood and Strangers in Public, along with a costume contest, "scare stations" and more. 2 p.m. Oct. 28, tickets are $10, $50 VIP.

Octubafest

At Beckwith Recital Hall: Get low, in a really old-school way, with this annual concert from UNCW's music department. Tuba and euphonium players will team up for a fall-tastic concerts of marches, polkas and even a few pop tunes played in the glorious registers of the low brass instruments. 4 p.m. Oct. 28, tickets are $9.

Big Annie’s Bluegrass Festival

At Humphrey Farms: Third annual Burgaw bluegrass festival features vendors and of course live music, with tunes from CJ Garton and the N.C. State bluegrass club. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 28, $15.

SUNDAY

Wilmington Symphonic Winds

At Kenan Auditorioum: Family friendly classical music concert for the Halloween season, costumes encouraged. Includes Malcolm Arnold's witchy "Tam O'Shanter," Oscar Navarro's epic "Gods of Olympus," a couple of popular pieces by Danny Elfman (his film scores include "Beetlejuice" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas") and work by other composers. 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29, free, with donations accepted.

Jake Klar

At the Fuzzy Needle: Indie folk singer brings his brand of finger-picked spookiness to Wilmington's coolest listening room. With an opening performance piece by The Unbearable Lightness. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show, $5.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do in Wilmington NC for Halloween weekend 2023