From free concerts to free comics, 14 things to do in the Wilmington area this weekend
It's the first weekend of May and Wilmington's arts scene is obliging with a whole slew of cool events.
Outdoor concert season won't really get swinging till Memorial Day weekend, but a few have already started, as you'll see below. Plus, there are two (!) festivals in Carolina Beach, and area shops will be celebrating Free Comic Book Day with sales and by giving out a bunch of free stuff. A fairly impressive lineup of touring shows are rolling into town as well.
If you're looking for events and stuff to do in Brunswick County, we do a separate list for that. See link below.
More: Brunswick events Brunswick events this week: Belville Founders Day, Red, White & Blue Shrimparoo and more
ALL WEEKEND
'My Fair Lady'
At CFCC Wilson Center: Broadway tour of the musical theater classic from Lerner & Loewe about a Cockney flower girl transformed into a "proper" lady by Professor 'Enry 'Iggins, er uh, Henry Higgins. With such indelible songs as "I Could Have Danced All Night," "The Rain in Spain" and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly." 1:30 p.m. May 6, 7:30 p.m. May 6 and 2 p.m. May 7. Tickets start at $25. 910-362-7999.
Maria Bamford
At Dead Crow Comedy Room: One-of-a-kind comic returns to Wilmington for the first time since 2019. Bamford's got a style that's quirky, edgy and very endearing, one that can explore both dark places and fart jokes. She's had specials on Netflix and Comedy Central, and her memoir, the sure-to-be engrossing "Sure, I'll Join Your Cult" will be published by Simon & Schuster in September. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. May 5-6, $30 and $40.
More: Maria Bamford Hard-hitting comedy (Bam!)
Island Arts Festival
Carolina Beach: Founded in 2011 as the Carolina Beach Street Arts Festival, this two-day happening has a new name and an expanded focus. The festival starts Friday with an indoor art show, and continues Saturday with an outdoor festival of performing arts, visual arts and more. Gallery Night at St. Paul's UMC Events Venue is 5-9 p.m. Friday, May 5. Festival at Carolina Beach Beach Lake Park is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 6. Free.
FRIDAY
Free Concert Friday
At the Eagle's Dare: It's the kick-off show for this new weekly concert series set to run through July. Headliners Signal Fire, a top Wilmington reggae act, start at 8 p.m. with opener Michael Eakins starting things off. 6-11 p.m. May 5, free as can be.
More: Free Concert Friday Wilmington venue 'Dares' to start free summer concert series in spirit of Downtown Sundown
Citizen Cope
At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Longtime songwriter known for blending blues, folk, soul and rock into tunes with socially conscious lyrics returns to Wilmington for a solo acoustic gig as part of his "All the Songs You Want to Hear" tour. 7 p.m. May 5, tickets start at $36.
SATURDAY
Free Comic Book Day
Do you like comic books? Do you like free comic books? If yes and/or yes, then Saturday was made for you. Local comic book shops including Memory Lane downtown and FanBoy Comic on College Road will be handing out free comics (more than three dozen titles) and having sales on other merchandise.
Downtown, starting at 10 a.m., Memory Lane will taking over much of Princess Street, giving out free comics at both of its locations, setting up shop at Bourgie Night to give out more freebies, hosting meet-ups with local creators and raffling off some high-demand items.
Out at FanBoy, they'll be handing out free comics (more than two dozen titles) from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., with special gift bags for the first 50 customers and sales on graphic novels and other items.
Skate Festival
At Mike Chappel Park: Festival of skateboarding and music to raise money for the Carolina Beach Skate Park. Contest from 2-7 p.m. (registration required), with sets by Kicking Bird, Pleasure Island and James Sardone, and food trucks, a raffle, kids' activities and more. 1-8 p.m. May 6, free, with donations accepted.
World Ballet Series: 'Cinderella'
At Kenan Auditorium: Touring show featuring a cast of more than three dozen dancers from around the world tells the story of the famous fairy tale through the medium of classical ballet. Featuring sumptuous sets and costumes and the famous score by Sergei Prokofiev. 7:30 p.m. May 6, tickets start at $41 (youth) and $55. 910-962-3500.
The Drifters
At Thalian Hall: Just in time for beach music season, it's The Drifters. The longstanding, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, which has been around since the early '50s, is known for such hits as "Under the Boardwalk," "On Broadway," "Up on the Roof" and "Save the Last Dance for Me." According to AllMusic.com, Bill Pinkney, the last original member of The Drifters, died in 2007. In the 1990s, a court ruled that the family of original Drifters manager George Treadwell owned the rights to the Drifters name, and the group coming to Wilmington is the one associated with the Treadwell family. Long story short, you might not know the names of the singers on stage, but you'll know the songs they sing. 7:30 p.m. May 6, 910-632-2285.
Saturday Sunset Series
At the Marina Grill: Rockers Dekker Road headline this popular weekly series at the Marina Grill downtown, just off the Wilmington Riverwalk. Outdoor show, with food and beverages available for purchase. Dekker Road plays songs by rockers like Metallica and the Foo Fighters, but also poppier stuff from the likes of Bruno Mars and Hall & Oates. 6-9 p.m. May 6, free.
SUNDAY
Whimsical Times Film Festival
At Jengo's Playhouse: Student-led film fest is a sure-to-be-sweet collaboration between the Cucalorus Film Festival and DREAMS Center for Arts Education. Shorts films — comedies, dramas and animated flicks — were picked by students in the Movie Madness: Making a Film Festival class at DREAMS facilitated by Cucalorus. 5 p.m. May 7, tickets are $5.
Kure Beach Boogie in the Park
At Kure Beach Oceanfront Park and Pavilion: Local favorites (by way of Little River, S.C.) Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot open this popular outdoor music series, which runs each Sunday into October. Lowder and company play a beach-friendly blend of rock, R&B, pop and classics. 5-7 p.m. May 7, free.
Greenfield Lake Yacht Club grand opening
At Greenfield Lake Yacht Club: Grand opening for new bar and venue from the team behind downtown's manna, Bourgie Nights and Earnest Money & Sons. A stacked musical lineup features some of Wilmington's best musicians and songwriters including Jared Michael Cline (2 p.m.), Sean Thomas Gerard (3 p.m.), Asia Daye (4 p.m.), Fred Flynn (5 p.m.), The Jewell Brothers (6 p.m.) and Jesse Stockton (7 p.m.). 2 p.m. May 7, free.
Food Truck Rodeo
At Ogden Park: Postponed from last weekend, it's the annual gathering of area food trucks and will feature live tunes and tons of good eats. Get there and get fed. Noon-5 p.m. May 7, free.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do in Wilmington NC this weekend, May 4-7
