This weekend in Leland, NC

Experience the Riverfront Farmers Market, a Wilmington tradition spanning 23 years. Browse a vibrant mix of fresh produce from local farms, pasture raised meats, farm eggs, local honey, freshly roasted coffee, chocolates, artisan breads, muffins, cakes, jams, salsa, and more. Talented local artisans share distinctive handmade goods, so there is always something new to discover. Admission is free, and leashed pets are welcome. Thanks go to Cumulus Media and Excite Credit Union.

Holy Cross hosts its 2nd annual Back-to-School Wellness Fair, a rain or shine community event designed to support local families as a new school year approaches. Visitors can connect with New Hanover County Health and Human Services for SAFE Kids resources, social services, and community nutrition guidance. New Hanover County Fire and Rescue will share fire safety information and conduct car seat checks, while the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office will present Crime Awareness and Prevention programs that include anti-bullying and Stranger Danger, along with the Elements youth violence intervention program and insights from School Resource Officers. Novant Health’s Community Care Cruiser will offer RemarkableYou screenings with no-cost blood pressure, cholesterol, and pre-diabetes checks for people ages 18 and over. Cub Scout Pack 205 will be on site, and the Wilmington Lions Club will provide free vision screenings.

Explore Wilmington’s World War II story on a tour that explains how the city earned recognition as the nation’s first World War II Heritage City. Learn how shipbuilding, chemical manufacturing, and other wartime efforts turned it into a boomtown. Hear about downtown quarters that hosted soldiers and sailors before they shipped out, along with the long-circulated rumor of a German bombardment that reached the U.S. mainland. The tour spotlights preserved sites and homefront stories that illuminate Wilmington’s role in the war.

SkyWatch Bird Rescue offers limited public visitation during the summer, with access to the front pasture where visitors may pet and feed a friendly herd of donkeys. Admission is $10 per person or one item from the wishlist. Activities are weather dependent, and visitation will not take place during rain.

Caring for your energetic body becomes more attainable in this three-part workshop series devoted to energetic hygiene. Participants learn ways to clear, protect, and nourish their energy so everyday life feels more aligned and resilient. Guided by seasoned practitioners Maura and Mercedes, each session blends practical techniques, embodied practices, and soulful guidance to deepen your relationship with your own energy and the subtle forces that shape well-being. The third and final workshop centers on working with the elements to restore and rebalance. Through guided rituals and practices, you will connect with earth, water, fire, air, and ether as supportive allies, drawing on the wisdom of nature to cleanse, recharge, and harmonize your system. The experience invites a renewed sense of connection with the living world and the understanding that you are supported by it. Cost: $60.

Spooky souls get a summer treat with a one-day haunted pop-up market that mixes sunshine with the uncanny. Designed for anyone who picks pumpkins while the weather is still hot and favors beach days with black lace and moonlit rituals, this marketplace brings together the strange, the spooky, and the spiritual for warm-weather browsing. Discover taxidermy, ethically sourced bones, and Victorian funeral ephemera, alongside crystals, ritual and altar items, herbs and oils, hand poured candles, and tarot readers. Explore dark aesthetic apparel, horror movie collectibles, and eerie work by local artists. The atmosphere offers all the chills of spooky season with a summer breeze. Food options include Kimchi Taco, with ice cream and sweet treats from The Daily Scoop. Admission is $5, and kids 12 and under are free. Vendor applications are available.

Explore Wilmington, North Carolina through a true crime tour that shines a light on notorious and unusual chapters of the city’s past. The tour highlights espionage during the fraught 1940s and homicide cases reaching back to the turbulent 1840s, along with additional tales of murder and mayhem. It offers a vivid look at infamous events that have shaped Wilmington’s history.

Enjoy a free night of Latin dance and music at Waterline Brewing Co., presented in partnership with BoricuaMos Productions. A food truck will be on site, a complimentary beginner lesson with Chris and Mimi helps kick things off, and DJ Borichamo keeps the energy high with salsa, bachata, merengue, and more. Dancing may take place indoors or outdoors depending on the weather. All ages are welcome, and the evening suits both experienced dancers and first timers. Drinks, lively rhythms, and a warm atmosphere set the tone for a fun community gathering.

Settle in for a relaxing 90-minute sunset cruise on the Cape Fear River aboard the motor catamaran "Wilmington". The trip features live music and a full bar with refreshments and snacks for all ages. Boarding begins about 15 minutes before departure, and you can check the tour calendar for the featured musicians for each sailing.

Dumpstaphunk brings a set devoted to the songs of Sly & The Family Stone to Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. The performance centers on the group’s catalog, presented as a focused tribute by Dumpstaphunk. Ticket access includes a general public onsale along with options through a Live Nation presale and a T-Mobile + Fastlane offer.

Chatham County Line brings a genre-blending sound shaped over more than two decades since launching in Raleigh, North Carolina. Their live show mixes bluegrass, folk, country, and rock and roll, a combination that first earned a devoted local following and then reached international audiences with their 2003 self-titled debut. In the years that followed, they released eight additional studio albums that drew strong reviews, topped the Billboard Bluegrass Chart four times, collaborated with Judy Collins, Sharon Van Etten, and Jonas Fjeld, earned two gold records in Norway along with two Spellemannprisen nominations, and appeared on bills with Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Steve Martin and Martin Short, and The Avett Brothers. Critics have praised their memorable melodies, striking harmonies, and a style that links bluegrass tradition to new ideas. Their latest chapter centers on Hiyo, the first release since the departure of their longtime banjo player. Recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain with co-producer and engineer Rachael Moore, the trio of Dave Wilson, John Teer, and Greg Readling leans into change with fresh sonic colors that include synthesizers, drum machines, and expanded electric guitar and percussion. The songwriting remains at the core, telling vivid stories of love and heartbreak, joy and sorrow, and righteousness and revenge, all delivered with a fresh sense of discovery and vitality.

Come see Rich Vos for a night of stand-up comedy. Door time is at 6:00 PM, with the show starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available for General Admission and V.I.P.

Local bluegrass and Americana favorites Massive Grass return to Ted’s for an evening of stories and songs. Their sound blends energetic, rock and roll–leaning rhythms with the heart of bluegrass, while the lyrics move from witty and dark to tender and yearning. Tickets are $20 plus fees.

In Wilmington at Warehouse on Water, an immersive speakeasy invites guests into a vintage setting inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Expect a curated lineup of cocktails, each drawing from one of four of his famed tales. The evening is guided by the speakeasy’s lead mixologist alongside Poe historians, blending storytelling with craft mixology for a moody, period experience. This event is known to sell out quickly.

Against The Odds returns to Dirty Dan’s with a late-night set packed with live music, high energy, and coastal vibes. Whether you are out with friends or hopping between downtown bars, this show keeps the party going by the beach.

At Cape Fear ArtXchange, a weekly art market welcomes local artists and creatives to present handmade, vintage, and upcycled goods. Booth space for sellers is free, and spots are assigned on a first come basis. The market sets up under the pavilion behind the shop.

Settle in at By the Beach Brewing for a hands-on candle making session that blends creativity with an easygoing coastal vibe. With guidance from experienced instructors, you will mix fragrances, add color, layer botanicals, and pour your own soy candles step by step. A standard ticket is 39 dollars and includes two eight ounce tin candles, plus Eventbrite fees, and optional vessel upgrades are available at checkout. All materials are provided, so both first-timers and seasoned makers can focus on crafting something personal. The workshop lasts about two hours and suits individuals, pairs, and groups. Families are welcome, and children may participate with an accompanying adult. Beverages can be purchased directly from the brewery, creating a relaxed space to sip and create. Refunds are available up to seven days in advance, late entry is permitted for up to twenty minutes after the start, and each person must have their own ticket. The experience is hosted by Hand.The.Light, which facilitates hands-on workshops that foster creativity and connection.

Pokémon League play invites competitors to face opponents in their age group in a Standard format event that uses Swiss rounds with best-of-one matches. Entry is $8 and is purchased in store. Each participant receives a POP Pack, and store credit is awarded for every match win, with three round events paying $5 per win and four round events paying $4 per win. Players who finish undefeated earn one pack from the most recent Standard set. For Standard legality, sets must have had a prerelease.

Independent Americana artist and songwriter Drew Peterson brings more than twenty years of Midwest touring to the stage. After first leading the Minnesota band Forty Watt Bulb, he went on to launch two roots-driven projects, the twangy Dead Pigeons and the bluegrass-leaning Boxstore Bird. Raised on a rural Minnesota farm and armed with a five dollar church-sale guitar, he built his craft through steady work and constant practice, with a deep focus on lyric writing. His songs blend wry humor with reflective storytelling, laying a smooth sheen over a bit of grit, and his inspirations range from John Prine and Tom Waits to Cat Stevens and Van Morrison. Equally at home in a quiet listening room or a lively festival crowd, he pours himself into each performance and uses tales between tunes to make a connection. Tickets are $10 plus fees.

Settle in at Backspin Social in Wilmington, NC for a free-to-play World Tavern Poker night featuring No Limit Texas Hold’em. The event welcomes both seasoned players and newcomers, offering a friendly setting to build skills, meet fellow poker fans, and compete for league points and prizes. There is no buy-in and no gambling. As part of the largest bar poker league in the country, players earn points that contribute to local, regional, and national rankings, with paths to championship events and major prizes.

At Jengo's Playhouse, the 15th annual Surfalorus Film Festival features two surf stories that celebrate connection, resilience, and the thrill of the hunt for waves. Kingdom of the Evening follows Kepa Acero’s 2010 solo search for uncrowded breaks in Western Africa and a chance meeting in Morocco with 15-year-old Yassine. Despite a language barrier, shared sessions in the water built a lasting friendship. Yassine, now known as Snoopy Style, has become a respected surf guide in Taghazout, and the film revisits his first reunion with Kepa after fifteen years as both their lives, and Morocco, have evolved. Directed by Clint Davis. Fun Island turns to an international trip during the Covid period, where a tight-knit crew’s dream adventure is upended when two friends test positive and remain in quarantine on a spot nicknamed Fun Island. Wilmington filmmaker and former Outer Banks resident Jason Andre crafts a retro-tinged travel diary that captures both the exhilaration and the setbacks of chasing waves abroad.

This event features billiards tournaments on Sundays and Wednesdays, with 8-ball on Sundays and 9-ball on Wednesdays. The prize pool is boosted with a 50 percent match, and the buy in is $10. Signups take place before tournament play begins.