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: Beach volunteers and kids learn to surf and kayak, colonial shipwrecks emerge on the Brunswick waterfront, and a sustainability focused hotel debuts at Mayfaire — catch up here.

State-level stories: County residents can sign up for hurricane alerts, thousands are joining virtual academy, and former vice president Harris heads to Durham for memoir talk — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Previously hacked data repository relaunches, ramen packs recalled over missing soy warning, and crypto markets tumble on inflation fears — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Swap puzzles and piece together fun
• Release butterflies and discover their life cycles
• Attend Tuesday Chamber public policy meeting
• Kids meet turtles and watch them eat
• This home warranty is 50% off until 8/24

Expert chiropractic care, right to your location

Experience Wilmington’s first mobile chiropractic service!

Dr. Kirby brings professional treatment straight to your home, office, or gym. Whether you’re dealing with back pain, recovering from a sports injury, you’ll get personalized care at an affordable rate.

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Call or text (910) 777-9886, or book online today.

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🫶 We got your back

Legal: Sifting through lawyer profiles shouldn’t feel like another headache. Our roundup of Wilmington’s best injury attorneys gets past legal jargon so you can focus on healing.

Maintenance: Your home wrestles hurricanes one day and snowstorms the next… ignoring that weird creak only makes repairs pricier. This homeowner’s guide makes handling weather-driven damage a breeze.

Kitchen: Skip the $800 monster machines that could probably blend your iPhone and the $30 lumps that choke on ice. Our 2025 blender guide cuts the gimmicks, so you get a blender that actually works without leaving you $200 poorer.

Vintage: Whether you’re after a perfectly broken-in leather jacket, a band tee older than you, or something that makes strangers say “wait, is that…?”, The Vintage Cellar is a treasure trove of retro finds, funky one-offs, and the kind of closet gold that’ll have you feeling like you time-traveled (in style).

Home: Many homeowners have no idea they’re sitting on thousands in equity they can use to redo their bathroom, kitchen, or whatever their hearts desire. This free equity loan comparison tool can help you find the best fit and get started on the right foot.

📆 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.

Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →

Today

🚬 Cigarettes w/ Fudge & Lawn Enforcement @ Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern | Friday (8/22) at 7:00pm – Swing by Reggie’s 42nd for a shockingly charming three-band showcase: wistfully named Cigarettes @ Sunset, sweetly melancholic Fudge, and punkish Lawn Enforcement. Expect local lore, catchy riffs, and the perfect excuse to skip Netflix and do something you’ll actually talk about.

🍲 Soup to Nuts @ Live At Ted’s | Friday (8/22) at 8:00pm – South Carolina’s folk/Americana duo Admiral Radio rolls into Ted’s for WHQR’s Soup to Nuts Live! serving tight harmonies, raw sincerity, and tales born at tables instead of stages. It’s swapping soup recipes with old friends, complete with a few tears and belly laughs.

This weekend

🎭 Oklahoma @ Thalian Hall | Saturday (8/23) at 2:00pm – Oh, what a beautiful afternoon to catch this classic American musical in all its toe-tapping, heartstring-tugging glory. Romance, rivalry, and rousing chorus numbers? Yes, please. Whether you know every word or you’re a first-timer, this one’s bound to leave you humming all the way home.

🌅 Sunset Cruise with Live Music @ Wilmington Water Tours | Saturday (8/23) at 7:00pm – All aboard for golden skies, river breezes, and live tunes aboard a cozy catamaran. Sip a specialty cocktail, sway to the music, and soak up the views on this dreamy Cape Fear evening ride. It’s Wilmington’s floating music venue—and it fills up fast, so book your spot early!

🎶 Lowland Blues Album Release Show @ The Rusty Nail | Saturday (8/23) at 7:00pm – Nothing cures midweek malaise like watching our own Lowland Blues roll out their new album in full at The Rusty Nail, complete with cheeky covers and mystery guests. Grab fresh merch and vinyl, rally the usual crew, and pretend you discovered them first.

🎸 School of Rock End of Season Shows @ Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard | Sunday (8/24) at 12:00pm – Nothing says end-of-summer like a gaggle of teen guitar heroes flexing their fretboards until your coffee trembles. School of Rock’s fledgling legends are storming the stage with blistering solos, thunderous drum fills, and more attitude than your barista on Monday morning.

🎻 Back Yard Bluegrass Sundays @ Tap Yard Wilmington | Sunday (8/24) at 3:00pm – Banjo pickin’, beer sippin’, and backyard chillin’—what more could you want on a Sunday afternoon? Hosted by the always-awesome Jones Smith, this bluegrass bash brings top-notch local talent and a laid-back vibe. Grab a pint, snag a seat, and let the string tunes do the rest.

💃 Forward Motion Dance @ Cameron Art Museum | Sunday (8/24) at 3:00pm – Need a break from reruns and scrolling? Thalian Hall is hosting Forward Motion Dance’s sneak peek of modern-contemporary works, from guitar-and-violin pas de deux to teen-powered Kate Bush remixes, plus a jazz-club Birdland number, and choreographers on hand for Q&A.

Next week

🧩 Puzzle Swap @ Northeast Regional Library | Monday (8/25) at 3:00pm – Ever tackled the same thousand-piece landscape puzzle so many times you know every piece by heart? Swing by the Northeast Library to trade it in for fresh challenges, or join fellow puzzle buffs putting pieces together. It’s like book club for jigsaws, minus the small talk.

🦋 Butterfly Release @ Airlie Gardens | Tuesday (8/26) at 10:00am – Ready to swap Netflix marathons for actual flight? Drop in at the butterfly house to send our latest batch of winged locals into the wild, then nerd out with an Educator on cocoon gossip and life cycle secrets. Fresh air guaranteed.

🐢 Turtle Talk & Feeding @ Airlie Gardens | Tuesday (8/26) at 2:00pm – When your weekend plans involve more than Netflix and wine, slip into a cozy classroom for a meet-up with our local turtle crew. An Environmental Educator will walk you through native reptile quirks, and you’ll even catch them mid-snack. Slow pace, big smiles.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/22 Stand Up for OOPS @ Terraces on Sir Tyler – 7 pm
• 8/22 Cigarettes and more @ Reggie’s 42nd Street – 7 pm
• 8/23 Andy Frasco & The U.N. @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater – 7 pm
• 8/23 Lowland Blues @ The Rusty Nail – 7 pm
• 8/23 Shannon Baker and more @ Ted’s – 8 pm
• 8/24 School of Rock @ Bowstring Brewyard – 12 pm
• 8/24 The Struts @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater – 6 pm
• 8/25 Brit Floyd @ Wilson Center – 7 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: Unknown Agent

Double statement doors set the tone for this five-bedroom, four-bath retreat in Landfall’s gated embrace. The kitchen’s upgrades and a sunlit breakfast nook make mornings feel extra special, especially with those golf course views stealing the show. The master suite comes with its own sitting area, perfect for lazy afternoons watching the greens.

A circular drive, side-entry two-car garage, and luxe touches throughout mean there’s no shortage of curb appeal or comfort. Pets are welcome, lawn care is covered, and the only thing missing is a tee time.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →