18 spooktacular things to do in the Wilmington area for Halloween weekend
Halloween is Monday night, but there's no need to wait.
Starting on Thursday of this week, there'll be multiple ways to celebrate All Hallow's Eve, from a haunted magic show and creeptastic concerts to a ballet based on a ghost-story staple and a stage play depicting brutal, graphic violence (it's the reason for the season).
Suffice to say there'll be a spooky something-or-other for everybody.
If you're looking for things to do in Brunswick County, we've got a seperate list for that. For a look-see at what's coming down the pike after this weekend, check our our roundup of fall festivals in the Wilmington area.
More: arts and events 28 fall festivals in the Wilmington area for 2022
More: Area eventsNC Festival by the Sea highlights these 5 events happening in Brunswick this week
THURSDAY
Haunted Illusions with David Caserta
At Thalian Hall: This spooky magic show, part of Thalian Hall's Main Attractions series, should help get you in the mood for the season. From levitation to disappearing tricks, Caserta's act, which has been featured on "America's Got Talent," also includes comedy and is suitable for ages 5 and up.
7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Tickets at 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.
FRIDAY
Chicago Dance Crash
At UNCW's Kenan Auditorium: Touring troupe brings its mix of hip-hop and modern dance to town for its first ever performance in Wilmington. It's all set to music and a killer light show.
7:30 p.m. Oct. 28. 910-962-3500 or UNCWarts.universitytickets.com.
More: Performing artsWilmington arts calendar gets a move on with world-class dance performances this fall
Mars in Spring
At Waterline Brewing: Guitarist and all-around Wilmington music legend Michael Swart achieved local fame back in the day for playing with groups like indie rockers The Jackson Hives. Swart would go to achieve international notoriety, however, as a builder and designer of guitar amplifiers based on the old-school tube amps of yore. Such well-known musicians as Jeff Tweedy, Matthew Sweet, Trey Anastasio, Keith Urban, Ray LaMontagne and Vince Gill have all sung the praises of the Swart-designed AST, or Atomic Space Tone, amplifier. Now, Swart is back in the Wilmington music game with Mars in Spring, a band he shares with Kent Hobson, Geoff Grant and John W. Golden. They'll play a set on Friday night at Waterline on Surry Street downtown.
The Hodgetwins
At Thalian Hall: If you're a conservative and fed up with all of those liberal stand-up comics, this twin brother comedy act is the show for you. Keith and Kevin Hodges, who are also known as The Conservative Twins, come to Thalian Hall as part of the Main Attractions series, with jokes about everything from what they call "social media censorship" to cancel culture. Speaking of cancel culture, the twins' had a show in Georgia canceled recently because of what a venue manager said was anti-LGBTQ jokes, but Kevin Hodge told TV station WTVM that “my older daughter is gay" and "I have no issues with the LGBTQ."
7:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Tickets at 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.
Marlowe
New album from the Wilmington-born rap duo drops today. Led by producer/beatmaker L'Orange (a Wilmington native) and rapper/lyricist Solemn Brigham (a Wilmington resident), Marlowe is cranking out world-class tunes worthy of their international following. You can buy and listen to "Marlowe 3" on the group's Bandcamp page.
More: Wilmington musicBigger in Europe than their hometown, Wilmington hip-hop duo Marlowe gets epic on album 3
Gay Meat
Karl Kuehn, the songwriter behind the pop-punk band Museum Mouth, drops new EP "Bed of Every" from his solo act, Gay Meat. He's been getting props in the music press (Stereogum, Billboard) for the new songs, which are tuneful, intimate and explosive numbers that turn sadness into a kind of artistic triumph. Listen or order on Gay Meat's Bandcamp page.
More: Wilmington musicCheck out new releases from 3 of Wilmington's best, and best-known, musical acts
Voracious & Rare Beer Festival
At Live Oak Bank Pavilion: Lighthouse Beer & Wine's annual pre-party of sorts to its bigger Carousel Center Beer & Wine Festival. It's a smaller, more select event, and tickets will for sure sell out. With music from Wilmington band The Midatlantic and beers that will appeal to the true hops-head.
6-9 p.m. Oct. 28. Details and tickets at LighthouseBeerAndWine.com.
SATURDAY
Gipsy Kings
At CFCC Wilson Center: This long-delayed show, which I think was originally scheduled before the pandemic, finally gets the French band in front of its Wilmington fans. The group, known for blending flamenco with salsa, rock, pop and more, has been around for more than 30 years, growing their audience big-time after their Spanish-language 1990 cover of The Eagles' "Hotel California" appeared in the Coen brothers' 1998 film "The Big Lebowski."
7:30 p.m. Oct. 29, tickets start at $44. 910-362-7999 or WilsonCenterTickets.com.
'Night of the Living Dead'
At Thalian Hall: It's the zombie movie to (b)eat all zombie movies, not to mention the perfect Halloween weekend feature, when this 1968 George Romero classic comes to the Hall for two screenings. Made for next to no money, "Night of the Living Dead" became a cult classic before joining the canon of greatest horror films ever made, thanks to some stellar acting (Duane Jones is note-perfect as a man trying to organize a group that's trying to fend off the zombies) and sadly timeless themes: Try as we might to unite for our own good, there's something about going into survival mode that almost always divides us (cough, Covid, cough).
4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 29. Tickets at 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.
Billy Heathen's Halloween Show
At Waterline Brewing: If you're looking for some good rock 'n' roll and some equally good antics, catch this show headlined by Wilmington rocker Billy Heathen, who's got some of the best songs around, dramatic, propulsive affairs that throb with life and emotion. Featuring an appearance by Real Life Party, Wilmington actor/director/comic Patrick Basquill's musical, performance-art fueled take on some, uh, some new technology, let's say. Must see, will believe.
8 p.m. Oct. 29, free.
Carousel Center Beer & Wine Festival
Oct. 29: This massive festival from Lighthouse Beer and Wine features libations from dozens of breweries and wineries. The live music is always a highlight, with bands including Wilmington blues rockers Blue Footed Boobies. Proceeds benefit the Carousel Center, which supports abused children in the Wilmington area.
Noon-5 p.m. Oct. 29. Details and tickets at LighthouseBeerAndWine.com.
SUNDAY
'The Phantom of the Opera'
At CFCC Wilson Center: Just in time for Halloween, Wilmington's City Ballet presents this full-length dance work based on the novel by Gaston Leroux about a mysterious, masked figure lurking in the shadows of a Parisian opera house. Features a mix of ballet, modern dance and other styles.
4 p.m. Oct. 30, tickets are $25. 910-362-7999 or WilsonCenterTickets.com.
Octubafest
At UNCW's Beckwith Recital Hall: An offshoot of the Tuba Christmas tradition, which features an all-low-brass band playing holiday classics, Octubafest has a choir of tubas and euphoniums playing a mix of seasonal music perfect for the onset of autumn. Led by UNCW music professor Daniel Johnson.
4 p.m. Oct. 30, $10. 910-962-3500 or UNCWarts.UniversityTickets.com.
ALL WEEKEND
'Misery'
At Thalian Hall's studio theater: StarNews reviewer Bob Workmon says run, don't walk (broken ankles or not), to Big Dawg Productions' staging of this Stephen King classic. The acting is top-notch, as Steve Vernon plays a writer taken captive by his "No. 1 fan," a psychopathic stalker named Annie, portrayed by Holli Saperstein in a hard-hitting performance.
7:30 p.m. Oct. 28-29, 3 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30. 910-632-2285.
More: Wilmington theater reviewsBig Dawg's masterful stage version of 'Misery' scares up riveting performances
Reggie's Halloween show(s)
At Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern: If an event can be a local treasure, then the annual Halloween show at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern would be it. Each year, Wilmington bands "dress up" by playing as, and playing the music of, various famous acts. It's been so popular in the past that this year the event has expanded to two nights.
Friday, The You're Gonna Die and Go To Hells take on the music of The Ramones, while Hyperloops will portray the psyche-funk-rock band Primus. Saturday, Mega Colossus transforms into Star People to play the music of David Bowie, while surf-rock act The Swellians play The Mummies, Rocket 77 takes on the rock tunes of Social Distortion and Summer Set and Thunderlip! team up to portray the lo-fi indie rockers Neutral Milk Hotel.
Oct. 28-29, $10 per night.
Mark Brady
At Dead Crow Comedy Room: Mark Brady is literally the funniest person in North Carolina. Or at least he was in 2016, when he won the "Funniest Person in North Carolina" contest at Raleigh comedy club Charlie Goodnight's. Brady has since taken his act to such venues as "The Late Late Show with James Corden," and his 2021 album "Incognito" hit No. 2 on the iTunes comedy charts.
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28-29, tickets are $18 and $28. 910-399-1750.
Big Something
At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Burlington jam band returns to Wilmington for a two-night stand. The band's latest album is 2021's pandemic-inspired "Escape from the Living Room."
5:30 p.m. Oct. 28-29, tickets are $59.
Oktoberfest at CB Boardwalk
At the Carolina Beach Boardwalk: If you missed out on the half-dozen-or-so other Oktoberfests in the Wilmington area, this one's your last chance to celebrate all things German. The fest features German food, beer and wine, vendors and more.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 29-30. Details on their Facebook event page. Tickets are $10, and $5 for kids.
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 for the Halloween weekend, Oct. 27-30.
