This weekend in Wilmington, NC

Part of Wilmington life for 23 years, this riverfront market brings together local growers, food producers, and artisans. Shop for locally grown produce, pasture raised meats, farm fresh eggs, local honey, roasted coffee, chocolates, fresh bread, muffins, cakes, jams, salsa, and more. Discover handmade creations from talented local makers and support neighborhood businesses with every purchase. Admission is free, it is kid friendly, and leashed pets are welcome. With thanks to Cumulus Media and Excite Credit Union.

Holy Cross hosts the 2nd annual Back-to-School Wellness Fair, a community-focused gathering that supports students and caregivers as a new school year approaches. The fair takes place at the church and will proceed regardless of weather. Attendees can connect with New Hanover County Health and Human Services for SAFE Kids guidance, information on social services, and community nutrition resources. New Hanover County Fire & Rescue will share fire safety education and provide car seat checks. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office will present Crime Awareness and Prevention programming that addresses anti-bullying and Stranger Danger, along with the Elements youth violence intervention program and information from School Resource Officers. Novant Health’s Community Care Cruiser will offer RemarkableYou screenings at no cost for adults 18 and older, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and prediabetes assessments. Cub Scout Pack 205 will participate, and the Wilmington Lions Club will provide free vision screenings. Together, these partners deliver practical tools and health services to help families prepare for the school year.

Discover why Wilmington earned recognition as America’s first World War II Heritage City, a distinction that reflects its wartime contributions and ongoing preservation of significant sites. Learn how the city surged into a World War “Boomtown” through shipbuilding, chemical production, and other vital industries, and hear how downtown neighborhoods provided a temporary home for soldiers and sailors before they shipped out. The tour also explores homefront stories, including local lore that Wilmington’s prominence helped spark the only German bombardment on the U.S. mainland. Trace the places and moments that shaped the city’s role in the war and its lasting legacy.

In a world filled with constant input and exchange, caring for your energy is essential. This three-part workshop series offers a clear, down-to-earth introduction to energetic care, with practices that help you clear, protect, and nourish your system so you can move through life with more clarity, resilience, and alignment. Guided by experienced practitioners Maura and Mercedes, each session weaves practical tools, body-based exercises, and soulful insight to deepen your relationship with your own energy and the subtle influences that shape well-being. The third and final workshop centers nature as a partner in restoration. Participants explore the elements...earth, water, fire, air, and ether...as allies for rebalancing. Through guided rituals and nature-informed practices, you will learn ways to cleanse, recharge, and harmonize your energy, along with everyday rituals you can continue at home. This offering welcomes both newcomers to energy work and those looking to go deeper. Cost is $60.

Summer Scream adds a haunted twist to a sunny-day market, perfect for anyone who buys pumpkins in the heat and favors black lace over beach brights. This pop-up blends the strange, the spooky, and the spiritual into a single-day shopping experience that pairs warm weather with shadowy vibes. Explore curated oddities like taxidermy, ethically sourced bones, and artifacts from Victorian mourning culture. Discover metaphysical goods including crystals, ritual and altar items, herbs and oils, hand poured candles, and tarot readers. Horror enthusiasts will find dark aesthetic apparel, horror movie collectibles, and eerie works by local artists. Expect all the thrills of spooky season without the winter layers, so the sunshine and the macabre can coexist. Food comes by way of the Kimchi Taco truck, with ice cream and treats from The Daily Scoop. Admission is $5, and children 12 and under get in free.

Discover the darker chapters of Wilmington's past on a tour that recounts notorious, unusual, and startling stories of crime, murder, and mayhem. Explore episodes ranging from espionage in the fraught 1940s to homicides traced to the city's turbulent 1840s, with more revelations along the way.

Enjoy a free evening of dancing, music, and fun at Waterline Brewing Co., presented in partnership with BoricuaMos Productions. The night includes an introductory dance lesson with Chris and Mimi, followed by DJ Borichamo spinning Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and more. A food truck will be on site, and dancing can take place indoors or outdoors depending on the weather. All ages are welcome, and whether you are new to Latin dance or have plenty of experience, the atmosphere is all about great drinks, great music, and great vibes.

Dumpstaphunk performs a special tribute to the music of Sly & The Family Stone at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. The performance is dedicated to the group's songs in a focused set. Ticket access options include a public onsale, a Live Nation presale, and T-mobile + Fastlane.

Chatham County Line brings more than twenty years of craft from their Raleigh beginnings to the stage, blending bluegrass, folk, country, and rock and roll into an adventurous live experience. After breaking out with a self-titled debut in 2003, the band released eight additional studio albums, topped the Billboard Bluegrass chart four times, collaborated with Judy Collins, Sharon Van Etten, and Jonas Fjeld, earned two gold records in Norway with two Spellemannprisen nominations, and shared bills with Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Steve Martin & Martin Short, and The Avett Brothers. Outlets including NPR, Uncut, and Pitchfork have praised their balance of tradition and new ideas, memorable melodies, and a sound with lasting appeal. Their latest chapter arrives with Hiyo, the first release following the departure of their longtime banjo player, recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain with co-producer and engineer Rachael Moore, who has worked with Kacey Musgraves as well as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Now a trio featuring Dave Wilson on lead vocals and guitar, John Teer on fiddle and mandolin, and Greg Readling on bass and pedal steel, they explore fresh textures with synthesizers, drum machines, and a stronger electric presence while preserving the vivid storytelling at the heart of their songs. The result is tight harmonies, seasoned musicianship, and roots music infused with renewed energy.

Get ready for a night of sharp stand-up with Rich Vos, a long-time comedy favorite known for his quick wit, raw honesty, and a career packed with TV appearances and podcast work. Door time is 6:00 PM, and the show starts at 7:00 PM.

Local bluegrass and Americana group Massive Grass returns to Ted’s for an evening of storytelling and lively tunes. Expect driving, energetic arrangements with a rock and roll edge, paired with lyrics that swing from dark and witty to tender and yearning, all while keeping the heart of bluegrass at the center. Tickets are $20 plus fees.

At Warehouse on Water in Wilmington, step into a speakeasy that explores the haunting world of Edgar Allan Poe. Sip expertly crafted cocktails inspired by four of his stories as the head mixologist, together with Poe historians, guides the evening. The atmosphere recalls an earlier era and brings the tales to life one sip at a time. This experience is known to sell out quickly.

Against The Odds heads back to Wilmington for a late night show at Dirty Dan’s, bringing live music, high energy, and a coastal atmosphere. This outing suits a night out with friends, a downtown bar hop, or anyone seeking a fun evening.

At Cape Fear ArtXchange, a market gathers local artists and creatives under the pavilion behind the shop. Booth space is free for sellers showcasing handmade, vintage, or upcycled items. Vendor spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.

Explore candle making in a relaxed, coastal setting at By the Beach Brewing, where you will blend fragrances, play with color, add botanical touches, and pour your own soy candles with step-by-step guidance from experienced makers. The session welcomes both first-timers and seasoned crafters and offers a friendly, social atmosphere that works well for individuals or groups. Tickets are $39 for two 8 ounce tin candles, plus Eventbrite fees, with optional vessel upgrades available at checkout. All materials and tools are included, from soy wax and wicks to vessels, fragrance oils, and botanicals. Guests may purchase beverages directly from the brewery while they create. Presented by Hand.The.Light, this hands-on workshop focuses on creativity, connection, and a memorable making experience. It is family friendly, with children welcome alongside an accompanying adult. The workshop runs about two hours, refunds are available up to seven days before the event, late entry is permitted up to 20 minutes after the start, and each attendee must have a ticket.

Players gather for a Pokémon League session featuring age-division matchups and plenty of chances to tune up a deck against a wide field. The event uses the Standard format with Swiss rounds, best of one. The entry fee is $8, and entry can be purchased in store. Every participant receives one POP Pack. Prizes are awarded as store credit per match win. For three round events, players earn $5 in store credit for each win. For four round events, the payout is $4 per win. Any player who finishes undefeated, X-0, receives one pack from the most recent Standard set. Only sets that have had a prerelease count as Standard.

Drew Peterson brings his Americana songwriting to the stage with a set shaped by more than two decades of music-making across the Midwest. After leading the Minnesota group Forty Watt Bulb, he launched two roots projects, the twang-infused and lively Dead Pigeons and the bluegrass-tinged Boxstore Bird. Raised on a Minnesota farm and inspired by a five-dollar church-sale guitar his mom found, he built his skills through steady work and constant practice, with a strong emphasis on lyrics and songcraft. His performances blend dry humor and thoughtful writing with a sound that carries both smoothness and grit, drawing on influences such as John Prine, Tom Waits, Cat Stevens, and Van Morrison. Whether in a quiet listening room or a high-energy festival or bar, he aims to connect through stories and heartfelt delivery. Tickets are $10 plus fees.

Backspin Social hosts World Tavern Poker in Wilmington, NC, part of the nation's largest bar poker league, featuring free No-Limit Texas Hold'em. New and experienced players alike can take part in two free tournaments, sharpen their skills, and connect with fellow players in a friendly setting while competing for league points and prizes. There is no buy-in and no gambling. Points earned apply to local, regional, and national standings within the World Tavern Poker system, with opportunities to qualify for championship events and major prizes.

At Jengo's Playhouse, the 15th annual Surfalorus Film Festival presents a two-film program featuring Kingdom of the Evening and Fun Island. Kingdom of the Evening, directed by Clint Davis, revisits Kepa Acero’s 2010 solo quest for uncrowded surf in West Africa and the connection he forged in Morocco with a 15-year-old named Yassine. They traded surf sessions and tajines despite a language gap, and Yassine is now known as Snoopy Style, a professional guide and local fixture in Taghazout. Fifteen years later, Kepa and Snoopy meet again for the first time, a reunion shaped by how both their lives, and Morocco, have changed. Fun Island follows a tight-knit group of surf friends on a dream trip amid the pandemic, when two test positive and end up quarantined on the aptly nicknamed Fun Island while the rest of the adventure carries on. Wilmington filmmaker and former OBX resident Jason Andre delivers a retro-leaning travel chronicle that captures international surf thrills alongside the setbacks that come with unexpected detours.