11 hot summer things to do in Wilmington this weekend, from 'Company' to Whomparama
We've only got about one more month of summer before it all comes to a highly unofficial end with Labor Day weekend, so let's make the most of it.
Wilmington's first weekend in August is an appropriately hot one for events, with a classical music festival, comedy shows big and small, the screening of a hit Wilmington indie movie, the opening of the latest musical from The Thalian Association and something called Whomparama.
More: Wilmington musician lands a song on former President Obama's summer Spotify playlist
As always, peruse our list of outdoor summer concerts in the area (see link below) for even more ideas, and if you're looking for things to do in Brunswick County, we do a weekly roundup for that as well.
Plus, I just did a tour of about a dozen mini-golf courses in the three-county area, so check that out if you're feel like hitting the little links anytime in the near future.
More: The hole story: 11 fun mini-golf courses to play in the Wilmington area
More: Full list of outdoor summer concerts in Wilmington, plus Brunswick and Pender counties
ALL WEEKEND
Vivace Music Festival
It's the second year for this 10-day Wilmington festival of classical music, which brings in some of the top players from around the world to play at more than a half-dozen local venues from Aug. 4-14. The big concerts will be at CFCC's Wilson Center, and this weekend's highlights include a Saturday evening performance by pianist Richard Goode, considered to be one of the world's top interpreters of Beethoven. For a full schedule, go to VivaceMusicFoundation.org.
More: Vivace Music Festival brings in classical virtuosos for 10 days of concerts in Wilmington
'Company'
At Kenan Auditorium: Wilmington's Thalian Association Community Theatre presents the 1970 musical masterpiece from Stephen Sondheim about a New York City bachelor who examines the lives of his married friends to determine whether he'd rather get hitched or stay single. Wilmington theater stalwart Jason Aycock plays the leading role of Bobby, with a cast of familiar and new faces to local audiences performing such classic musical theater numbers as “You Could Drive a Person Crazy" and “The Ladies Who Lunch."
7:30 p.m. Aug. 5-6 and 12-13, 2 p.m. Aug. 7 and 14 at UNCW's Kenan Auditorium. 910-962-3500.
David Gborie
At Dead Crow Comedy Room: Touring comic David Gbobie brings his act to Wilmington for two nights of shows at Wilmington's comedy hotspot. Gborie, who has appeared on Comedy Central and voiced characters on animated shows "Royal Crackers" (Adult Swim) and "Exploding Kittens" (Netflix), talks about everything from why most people are bad at sex (statistical probability) to why the children's show "The Magic School Bus" confused him as a kid ("It was a show about science … with 'Magic' in the title").
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Aug. 5-6, $18 and $28. 910-399-1750
FRIDAY
Friday Night Live!
At The Pier at Port City Marina: Downtown Wilmington concert series that features touring tribute bands hosts Fix You, a Coldplay covers act from Charlotte. The band has toured the world playing such Coldplay hits as "Viva La Vida" and "Yellow."
7 p.m. Aug. 5, free. Concession available.
Feebs
At Airlie Gardens: It's one of the last concerts of the summer at beautiful Airlie Gardens, and this weekend's headliner is a longtine Wilmington cover act well-versed in a range of classic rock, blues, funk and much more. 6-8 p.m. Aug. 5, parking is off-site at the New Hanover County Public Library's Northeast Branch, which is where you catch the free shuttle. Concessions not available, but chairs, blankets and picnics are allowed. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $10, $3 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and under. 910-798-7700
'Drought'
At Jengo's Playhouse: Indie Wilmington feature "Drought" gets its local in-person debut after making the mostly virtual festival rounds during COVID and later streaming on Amazon Prime and other services. It's a charmer from Wilmington filmmakers Hannah Black and Megan Petersenabout a young man on the autism spectrum who goes on a storm-chasing adventure with his sister and a couple of friends in a stolen ice cream truck.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, $10.
More: Wilmington-shot film 'Drought' now available on Amazon Prime
Iron Front Comedy Show
At The Lookout at Iron Front: It says something about the strength of Wilmington's comedy scene that, almost every week, you can find Port City comic Ellie Coleman hosting or performing a gig at one area venue or another, giving her down-to-earth perspective as a Southern gay woman on everything from NASCAR and Michael Jordan to family and relationships. This weekend, Coleman is hosting her monthly gig at downtown event room The Lookout at Iron Front with a trio of fine and funny Wilmington comics: Brad Allred, Lex Hunt and Aaron Ransom.
6:30 p.m. doors Aug. 5, $15.
SATURDAY
Nate Bargatze
At Live Oak Bank Pavilion: After bringing a measure of fame to Wilmington's late, great Cape Fear Serpentarium by making the since-closed downtown attraction — which featured venomous snakes and cage-escaping crocodiles — a centerpiece of his popular Netflix stand-up specials, Tennessee comedian Nate Bargatze makes his triumphant return to play the Port City's biggest venue. Things have changed quite a bit for Bargatze since his days of performing at modestly sized venues downtown as a touring comic. He's now one of the best-known comics around, thanks to his animadeadpan and very relatable observations about the deep weirdness of life in America (his bit on Chuck E. Cheese is a laugh-out-loud classic) and his own social awkwardness.
7 p.m. Aug. 6, $35-$75, plus taxes and fees.
More: Comic Nate Bargatze riffs on Cape Fear Serpentarium
Kids 'State of the Art' at CAM
At the Cameron Art Museum: If you've not yet seen the "State of the Art/Art of the State" exhibit at Wilmington's Cameron Art Museum, put it on your list. It's an overwhelming, wide-ranging array of work from all over North Carolina that makes quite the impression. Part of the show's populist appeal is that any state resident could submit work and have it viewed by a professional curator, if they were at least 18 and willing to stand in line for the privilege.
Now, the CAM is letting children in on the "State of the Art" fun with an upcoming exhibit. "Drop off day" for your kids' work (they don't have to be present, but they can) is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 6 at the museum and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at DREAMS on Fanning Street. Just one work per artist, and the museum asks that you submit works that are as "gallery-ready" (framed, etc.) as possible. You'll also need to fill out a form for each submission, which is available online.
More: North Carolina artists conquer the Cameron Art Museum: 776 pieces flood the space
WHOMPARAMA
At the Carolina Beach Boardwalk: Whomparama, perhaps better known as the Intergalactic Bodysurf Championship or "the weirdest surf contest ever," takes to the waves of Carolina Beach early Saturday morning near Hamlet Street to raise funds for the Carolina Beach skate park. Afterwards, a triple bill of excellent Wilmington acts will play on the Boardwalk stage: Seeking Madras (dark, groovy psyche and garage), Kicking Bird (hooky pop rock) and Pleasure Island ('90s indie rock meets swirly '60s garage).
Body surfing registration starts at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 6, bands and after party start at 5:30 p.m.
More: Carolina Beach band Pleasure Island makes waves with throwback sound, cool vibes
More: Rock band Kicking Bird emerges from pandemic as one of Wilmington's most potent live acts
SUNDAY
Five for Fighting and The Verve Pipe
At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Soft rock balladeer Vladimir John Ondrasik III, better known by his stage name, Five for Fighting, brings his collection of hits to town, including the song "Superman (It's Not Easy)," which gained popularity on Wilmington-shot teen drama "Dawson's Creek." This summer marks his first tour in several years after a lengthy hiatus from performing. You might remember opening act The Verve Pipe from their '90s radio hit "The Freshmen."
7 p.m. Aug. 7, $20-$37.
Contact John Staton at 910-343-2343 or John.Staton@StarNewsOnline.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do in Wilmington NC Aug. 4-7, from comedy to concerts
