This weekend in Leland, NC

A fixture in Wilmington for 23 years, the Riverfront Farmers Market brings together area growers, food makers, and artisans for a lively open-air shopping experience. Browse produce grown nearby, meats from pasture to plate, fresh eggs, honey from local beekeepers, freshly roasted coffee, chocolates, breads, muffins, cakes, jams, salsas, and more. Alongside the farm goods, discover one-of-a-kind handmade creations from local artisans, with new finds to uncover on each visit. There is no admission charge, and leashed pets are welcome. With thanks to Cumulus Media and Excite Credit Union for their support.

The September Food Pantry provides food distribution at Woodburn Presbyterian Church. Food will be available for pickup during the event hours.

Ogden Park hosts the fifth annual kickball tournament celebrating New Hanover County first responders, with teams from law enforcement, fire, EMS, 911, and emergency management taking the field for friendly competition and community spirit. This year benefits the Cape Fear EMS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports local responders throughout the county.

The Lindsay M Benton Foundation marks its 10th annual volleyball tournament at Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill & Volleyball Facility, celebrating a decade of honoring Lindsay and supporting organizations connected to her legacy. The event features co-ed teams of four with up to two substitutes and a $100 team entry, plus a full-service restaurant and bar for lunch and refreshments. Raffles include a variety of prizes and a 50/50 drawing, and winners do not need to be present to win. The day welcomes both players and spectators, highlighting fellowship, food, and fun. A Venmo option is planned for those who cannot attend in person. Beneficiaries include Going Beyond the Pink, HonorBridge (Donate Life), the Lindsay M Benton Cheer, Art and Scholarship Fund, and Farm Fest supporting the Special Needs community and Field Day at WCA.

Explore Riverlights while browsing goods from 30 local makers. The community features a variety of established bars and restaurants, and additional coffee and food trucks will be on site. Enjoy live music while checking out a park full of local vendors. Nestled along the Cape Fear River, Riverlights offers a scenic setting for a full day out with the family, including your four legged furry companions.

This sixth annual walk supports survivors of molestation and centers healing, unity, and empowerment. Participants come together at Halyburton Park to walk in solidarity, speak out, and call for change.

Take part in a casual One Piece Trading Card Game tournament that uses the Standard format with Swiss rounds. Admission is $8, and entry is paid in store. Each participant receives an OP Tournament Pack. Store credit is awarded for each match win, with $5 per win when there are three rounds or $4 per win when there are four. Any player who finishes X-0 earns a pack from the most recent Standard set, and first place also receives an OP Winner Pack. A set only qualifies as Standard if it has had a prerelease. A Bandai account is required to participate.

Reverend Horton Heat takes the stage at The Eagle’s Dare as part of the 5th Annual Rocktoberfest. This outdoor show features a sound that mixes rockabilly, 1950s country, surf, punk, big band, and swing, a blend they have developed since 1986. The lineup includes special guest Messer Chups and local support from The Phantom PlayBoys. All ages are welcome.

Explore Wilmington's shadowy past on a tour featuring notorious, strange, and shocking stories of murder, mayhem, and true crime. Hear about espionage in the tense 1940s, murders dating to the city's tumultuous 1840s, and additional chapters that reveal more of its criminal history.

Commanders take the stage in a tournament that lets you choose your pace, with the option of relaxed social pods or high stakes, winner takes all matches. The entry fee is $7. Play runs in four player, single elimination pods. Casual pods provide a $5 store credit coin for participating, and the last player standing also earns two pulls from the promo card library. Registration is handled in-store, and players should have a Wizards EventLink account. If a different format is preferred, there are also weekly events in Modern, Standard, and Draft.

Avenue B hosts a live bill featuring The Sardines with Croatoa. The Sardines, from Wilmington, North Carolina, bring an indie and psych rock sound led by veteran multi-genre musician James Sardone. Their music blends carefully crafted indie rock with melodic pop touches, and their 2023 EP, Colors, is available through Fort Lowell Records.

Opening night for the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra takes place at the Wilson Center - Cape Fear Community College with a program that explores how Dvořák’s New World legacy influenced American music. Peter Askim conducts, and violinist Stephan Jackiw is featured in Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto. The concert includes Carlos Simon’s Festive Fanfare and Overture and concludes with Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, From the New World. Suitable for all ages.

An evening of sharp songwriting and lively musicianship features pianist, singer, and songwriter Jim Ellis alongside singer and guitarist Doug McFarland. Tickets are $15 plus fees. Hailing from North Carolina’s coast, Jim blends folk, rock, pop, and country into melodies that feel easygoing and memorable, drawing on storytellers like Jackson Browne and James Taylor. Onstage, his piano playing carries a bright New Orleans lift with a hint of blues. Over a career spanning decades, his band Waterline released Long Goners with appearances by Sonny Landreth and The Goners, known for backing John Hiatt, and Landreth’s slide guitar, heard with artists such as Jimmy Buffett and Dolly Parton, helped shape the album’s rootsy feel. As a solo artist, Jim’s EPs include Lucky Enough, a warm set about love and everyday gratitude, Can’t Keep Quiet Today, a piano-forward collection colored by second line rhythms, and Forgotten How to Fly, a grittier chapter about resilience and starting over. Doug brings acoustic finesse, sincere and sometimes witty original songs, and just the right touch of humor between tunes. Known as a singer, guitarist, and a memorable kazoo player, he delivers varied sets that balance heartfelt material with lighthearted moments.

Take part in a Pokémon League where players are matched within their age divisions and can put their decks to the test across a broad field of opponents. Entry is $8 and can be purchased in store. The event runs in the Standard format using Swiss rounds with best of one matches. Every participant receives one POP Pack. Prizes are awarded as store credit for each match win. If there are three rounds, each win is worth $5, and if there are four rounds, each win is worth $4. Any player who finishes X-0 earns one pack from the most recent Standard set. Only sets that have had a prerelease are considered Standard.

Backspin Social in Wilmington, NC hosts World Tavern Poker, part of the nation’s largest bar poker league, with free no limit Texas Hold’em tournaments. There is no cost to enter and no gambling. The atmosphere welcomes both first-timers and experienced players, offering a chance to build skills, connect with fellow players, and enjoy friendly competition. Participants earn league points that count toward local, regional, and national standings, creating pathways to championship events and major prizes.

Recurring billiards tournaments take place on Sundays and Wednesdays, featuring 8-ball on Sundays and 9-ball on Wednesdays. The buy-in is $10, and half of the prize pot is matched to boost the winnings.