14 things to do in Wilmington on the weekend as St. Patrick's Day hits early

St. Patrick's Day isn't until March 17, like it always is, but thanks to a generous calendar we get to celebrate in Wilmington nearly a week early with a big annual event.

There's plenty of other stuff going on this weekend as well, particularly on Saturday, which is packed with festivals, live music of various stripes, and stand-up comedians both touring and local.

Read on for a short review of a very funny play at Thalian Hall, and you'll have to go all the way to the end of this list to find out which movie made in the Wilmington area celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

If you're looking for events in Brunswick County, we do a separate list for that. See link below for details.

More: Brunswick events6 Brunswick events to watch this week include Civil War life and 'Learning Leland'

ALL WEEKEND

'Two Jews, Talking'

At Thalian Hall's Stein Studio Theatre: Wilmington theater company Big Dawg Productions has a hit on its hands with "Two Jews, Talking," the two-man, two-act comedy about two Jewish men, well, talking, albeit hilariously.

As the two men in question, Jamey Stone and Lee Lowrimore deliver deft, understated and, again, extremely funny performances under the direction of Holli Saperstein. Last Sunday's matinee was sold out, as is this weekend's, so Big Dawg has added a Saturday matinee to meet the demand. Get your tickets now, as they say.

Written by Emmy-winning TV writer Ed. Weinberger ("Taxi," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"), "Two Jews, Talking" begins in Biblical times as devout Bud (Lowrimore) and skeptical Lou (Stone) are wandering "L-O-S-T" through the desert with Their People. They argue, they discuss, they complain, they reminisce about better times, with Stone cracking wise to Lowrimore's straight man character.

Act two is set in the present day, with the actors playing variations on their first-act characters as Phil and Marty, two strangers sharing a park bench. They talk about everything from health, sex and mortality to religion, restaurants and marriage. And they tell jokes, good ones. The whole play runs just over an hour, but it's so engrossing it leaves you wanting more.

Be ready for a very well-played and emotional gut punch in the second act that had some audience members in tears. "Two" thumbs up. 7:30 p.m. March 9-11, 3 p.m. March 11 and 12. 910-632-2285.

Matt Braunger

At Dead Crow Comedy Room: Very funny comic from Portland, Oregon, has been on Comedy Central and a slew of late-night talk shows and TV shows, including "Agent Carter" and "MADtv." His most recent special, on YouTube, is titled "Doug" and he has another one called "Finally Live in Portland." 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. March 10-11, $20 and $30.

FRIDAY

Eugenia Riot

At Bourgie Nights: Wilmington native Leigh Jones will sing her original songs under the moniker Eugenia Riot, a folk-music project from Portland, Oregon. One of her best songs is "170 Delancey," a bouncing lilter with a pop-Americana vibe whose sweet sound masks lyrics about a love affair that didn't work out. 7 p.m. March 10, $12 in advance, $15 day of show.

More: Leigh JonesA former Wilmington child star, this actress and singer returns to revisit her roots

SATURDAY

Wilmington St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Downtown Wilmington: After being canceled last year due to weather, Wilmington's 22nd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade returns this weekend to get Wilmington warmed up for the holiday on March 17. Highlights will include the 82nd Airborne Division Marching Band from Fort Bragg and The Marching Scorpions Band from North Brunswick High School in Leland. 11 a.m. March 11. Parade review stand is at Front and Market streets.

Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival

At Live Oak Bank Pavilion: This touring festival features all of the stuff in its name, as well as some live music on the main stage of Wilmington's biggest venue. Advance tickets are sold out, but a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase onsite beginning at 2:30 p.m. March 11. Noon-6 p.m. VIPs, 2-6 p.m. public, March 11.

Hot Plastic Poets

At The Place: New Cargo District venue has quickly become a Wilmington music scene hotspot, and this Saturday night triple bill is case in point as to why. Headliners Hot Plastic Poets have been playing locally for a couple of years now and have a whole bevy of infectious indie rock tunes, with fellow Wilmington acts Ridgewood and La Veta Pass putting their own distinctive spins on the indie rock genre. 8 p.m. March 11, $10.

More: Wilmington musicWilmington band Hot Plastic Poets transforms weird feelings into catchy rock songs

Port City Comicon

At Citizen Studios: At this event, pop culture fans can meet people like EJ Snyder, Gary Golding and Trish Bulinsky of the reality show "Naked & Afraid"; pro wrestler Marcus "Buff" Bagwell; and Carlos Jimenez of reality show "60 Days In." Noon, March 11.

Nashville Stars Charity Concert

At Thalian Hall: Grand Ole Opry-style show will raise money for Voyage of Wilmington, an organization that aims to put at-risk youth on a positive path. Mark Mulch and Tim Haldeman co-host the show, which features a half-dozen acts, including The Woods, Reckless Bound and North Carolina natives Danielle Johnson and Erik Hawks. 7:30 p.m. March 11, $25. 910-632-2285.

La Big Bouche Cabaret

At Bourgie Nights: Wilmington troupe of "vaudeville vixens" performs what they term "French vaudeville dance and variety acts," a mix of song, dance, comedy and even some cirque and light burlesque. 7 p.m. March 11, $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

Supper Club Comedy Series

At JohnnyLukes KitchenBar: Popular dinner-and-comedy series returns this weekend with two of Wilmington's best comics, Meghan Cook and Wills Maxwell. Wilmington stand-up MT Bottles will host. Cook is a Port City's Top Comic Finalist, and Maxwell won the contest in 2019. Maxwell is also a co-founder of the Black Power Rangers Comedy Tour, which performed around the South last year. 5:30 p.m. doors, 6:30 p.m. dinner March 11. $75, cash bar. 910-769-1798.

More: Wilmington comedyBorn of Wilmington comedy scene, Black Power Rangers tour spreads laughs around South

Goth Night

At the Opera Room: Wilmington goth duo Dead Cool will perform and premiere the new video for their song "Stranger Kind." They got the cops called on them while they were shooting it, so you don't want to miss. With D.C. electro act Cyanball and San Antonio's Jihad. 8 p.m. March 11, $5.

Goldpine

At Live at Ted's: This Nashville duo is a married couple named Benjamin and Kassie Wilson. Featuring some tight harmonies, they play a blend of folk, country and soul that should go over well at Wilmington's favorite listening room. 8 p.m. March 11, $10.

'Safe Haven' 10th anniversary

Downtown Southport: Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the popular movie based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, which was shot in Southport. Julianne Hough plays a woman fleeing her old life as the abused wife of a police detective. Naturally, in the Southern town where she goes to find refuge, she meets a hunky widower (Josh Duhamel) nursing some wounds of his own. Brooke Barnhill, locations manager for "Safe Haven," will give tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. leaving from the Fort Johnston Visitors Center, which will have memorabilia from the movie on display. At 6:30 p.m., they'll screen the movie on the Fort Johnston lawn. March 11, free.

More: Wilmington filmTest your knowledge with the ultimate quiz of Wilmington's film and TV history

SUNDAY

The Sunday Show

At the Wilmington Distillery: Longtime Wilmington impresario Louis Tee is launching (and hosting) a new weekly venture. The Sunday Show will feature a mix of music and comedy every Sunday this month. This week, it's comedy with Gerrod Sidbury and Wills Maxwell Jr., with jazz tunes from trumpet player Marlon Mosby.3-6 p.m. March 12, tickets are $13.39 in advance.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 14 things to do in Wilmington NC this weekend March 9-12