Book sale, bubble fest, farmers’ market, and more. 
Happy Friday, Wilmington. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Wilmington Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Wilmington riders ditch cars for electric bikes, diners sample pierogies, cabbage rolls at a Polish market, and archaeologists believe they uncovered an 18th-century privateer — catch up here.
State-level stories: Two NC hidden bars made a national cocktail list, a Sandhills beekeeper discovered plum colored honey, and a Carolina Chocolate Drops documentary streams soon — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Federal judge orders fresh review of gray wolf safeguards, OPEC+ output increase pushes oil under seventy dollars, and a mislabeled pasta recall — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Connect resources to scale Black businesses
- Explore art quietly in dementia-friendly museum tours
- Join inclusive story time at Pine Valley
- Interactive storytime designed for sensory needs
- Compare home equity loans for free
🫶 We got your back
Greening: No green thumb needed to transform your space with lush greenery. Wilmington’s plant havens let you grab dreamy foliage without breaking a sweat.
Yield:growing tips cover when to plant under North Carolina’s rules and where to find the season’s freshest farmers market goodies. Your garden will keep dishing out treats year-round.
Tidy: Ever line up matching containers only to have chaos strike three weeks later? sustainable organization tips and real-life proof hacks work with your messy, beautiful life.
Florist: In need of a last-minute gift, a romantic gesture, or just some color in your life, Eddie’s Floral Gallery arranges petal-powered masterpieces that speak volumes without saying a word.
Family: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🎶 Summer Concert Series: Jack Jack 180 @ Airlie Gardens | Friday (8/8) at 6:00pm – Summer nights at the gardens mean Jack Jack 180’s high-energy mash of party, pop, and rock covers. Park at the Northeast Branch library, snag the free shuttle, or pretend you’re into fitness and pedal over. Uber, Lyft, or just strut over via the trail.
🎆 Fireworks by the Sea & Boardwalk Blast @ Carolina Beach Boardwalk | Friday (8/8) at 6:30pm – Nothing beats ocean breezes and live Motown-to-rock jams at the Gazebo Stage before fireworks spark over the surf. Grab a Centennial-inspired cocktail, snack on a scallop slider, and toast our hundred-year boardwalk bash. It’s a Thursday ritual worth repeating.
This weekend
📚 Book Sale @ Northeast Regional Library | Saturday (8/9) at 10:00am – Stock up your nightstand without breaking the bank. Hardbacks are just a buck, paperbacks ring in at fifty cents, and your inner bookworm is about to have a field day. No audiobooks or DVDs—just pure, page-turning treasure.
🌅 Sunset Cruise with Live Music @ Wilmington Water Tours | Saturday (8/9) at 7:00pm – Hop aboard a breezy Cape Fear sunset cruise with live tunes and a drink in hand—because your summer evenings deserve a little flair. Whether it’s date night or friend squad night, this floating music venue delivers the vibes.
💀 Bring Out Yer Dead @ Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard | Saturday (8/9) at 7:00pm – If you’ve been pining for a dash of tie-dye with your local pint, Bowstring’s tapping Bring Out Yer Dead for a Grateful Dead tribute night. Expect spot-on jams, seasoned vibes, and enough nostalgia to make your inner hippie holler, “one more time.”
🛁 Bubble Fest @ The Bend | Sunday (8/10) at 12:00pm – Grab your bubble wand and head to The Bend for an afternoon that’s part Willy Wonka, part brewery crawl. Expect enough sudsy fun to make you question your age, plus local brews, Grumpy’s soft serve, live jams, custom hats, and artisan treats.
🎤 Jared Michael Cline @ The Pilot House | Sunday (8/10) at 1:00pm – Sunday scaries don’t stand a chance when Jared Michael Cline hits the stage. Swing by the riverfront, grab a drink, and soak up the sounds of this local favorite. Easy vibes, good tunes, and zero regrets.
🌿 Cypress Hill & Atmosphere: Dank Daze of Summer Tour @ Live Oak Bank Pavilion | Sunday (8/10) at 6:30pm – Summer’s finest audio assault is heading outdoors under the stars with Cypress Hill and Atmosphere delivering old-school beats, sharp rhymes, and serious nostalgia. Bring your own shade and a backup raincoat, because it’s happening rain or shine and those fold-up seats won’t magically appear.
Next week
🍅 Farmers’ Market @ Wrightsville Beach | Monday (8/11) at 8:00am – Start your week fresh—literally. Stock up on just-picked produce, coastal seafood, and handmade crafts while mingling with locals in one of the chillest beach-town settings around. Rain or shine, the market’s buzzing ‘til 1 pm.
🐶 Read to a Dog @ Pine Valley | Tuesday (8/12) at 3 pm – Tail wags meet tall tales! Kids ages 5–11 can boost their reading chops by sharing stories with a certified, four-legged listener. It’s cozy, confidence-building, and honestly just really cute. Don’t forget to book your pup-date in advance.
🎸 Stu Cru Jamaru: Open Jam Sesh @ The Bend | Tuesday (8/12) at 7:00pm – Whether you’re a seasoned riff wrangler or still coaxing sound out of your uke, The Bend’s open jam is your permission slip to dust off the ax and join the chaos. Eclectic grooves, random duets, and guaranteed earworms await.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/8 Jack Jack 180 @ Airlie Gardens – 6 pm
- 8/8 Randy McQuay @ Cloud 9 – 7 pm
- 8/8 Chris Isaak @ Wilson Center – 7:30 pm
- 8/8 Rumours @ UNCW Kenan Auditorium – 8 pm
- 8/8 Adam Fenton Jazz Trio @ Live at Ted’s – 8 pm
- 8/9 Bring Out Yer Dead @ Bowstring – 7 pm
- 8/9 Juno @ Cloud 9 – 7 pm
- 8/10 North Carolina Bubble Fest @ The Bend – 12 pm
- 8/10 Cypress Hill & Atmosphere @ Live Oak Bank Pavilion – 6:30 pm
🏠️ Price is right – Wilmington edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Jeremiah Barnett (Keller Williams Innovate-Wilmington)
Porches wrap around this one-story stunner, where quirky windows and tray ceilings meet freshly updated tile, LED lighting, and a kitchen that pulls out all the stops—granite counters, double ovens, and under-cabinet glow included. The master suite is a retreat with its own sitting room, soaker tub, and French doors that open to a sun-drenched deck and a backyard dotted with palms.
Upstairs, a loft with a wet bar and double doors spills out to an upper deck overlooking the ICWW and Masonboro Island. The garage is a showstopper in itself, with room for five cars, a boat, or the ultimate game night, and the fenced yard, outdoor shower, and new decks make it easy to enjoy the coastal breeze.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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