This weekend in Wilmington, NC

Celebrate a beloved Wilmington tradition that has been thriving for 23 years. This riverfront farmers market features locally grown produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs, local honey, roasted coffee, chocolates, fresh bread, muffins, cakes, jams, salsa and more. Explore one-of-a-kind, handcrafted creations from local artisans, so each visit offers something new to discover. Admission is free, and leashed pets are welcome. Thanks to Cumulus Media and Excite Credit Union for their support.

At Ogden Park, the fifth annual New Hanover County first responders kickball tournament unites teams from law enforcement, fire, EMS, 911, and EM for a day of camaraderie and friendly competition. The beneficiary is the Cape Fear EMS Foundation, a 501c3 that supports local first responders in New Hanover County.

The Lindsay M Benton Foundation presents its tenth annual volleyball tournament at Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill & Volleyball Facility, marking a decade of honoring Lindsay and supporting causes connected to her legacy. Expect a full day centered on the courts, with coed teams of four and up to two substitutes, and a team entry of $100. A full service restaurant and bar will be open for lunch. Raffles will feature a variety of prizes, including a 50/50. Participation is not limited to players, as attendees can watch the matches, enjoy food and drinks, purchase raffle tickets, and contribute to the fundraising effort. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win, and winners will be contacted. A Venmo option will be shared for those who cannot attend in person. Proceeds support Going Beyond the Pink, HonorBridge (Donate Life), the Lindsay M Benton Cheer, Art and Scholarship Fund, and Farm Fest, which supports the special needs community and Field Day at WCA.

Enjoy a day by the Cape Fear River at a waterfront market in Riverlights featuring 30 local makers. Browse goods, listen to live music, and explore a park filled with local vendors. Riverlights offers many established bars and restaurants, and coffee and food trucks will be on site. It is a welcoming outing for the whole family, including four legged friends.

At Halyburton Park, the sixth annual walk for molestation survivors creates a supportive space centered on healing, unity, and change. People come together to end silence, honor resilience, and show the strength that grows when communities stand together. The focus is on empowerment, connection, and a shared commitment to progress.

Take part in a friendly One Piece Card Game tournament using the Standard format with Swiss rounds. Entry is $8 and is available for purchase in store, and a Bandai account is required to participate. Every player receives one OP Tournament Pack. Store credit is awarded for each match win, set at $5 per win when there are three rounds and $4 per win when there are four rounds. Any player who finishes undefeated earns one pack from the most recent Standard set. First place also takes home one OP Winner Pack. For Standard play, only sets that have had a prerelease are eligible.

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.

Discover the darker chapters of Wilmington, North Carolina, on a guided tour that delves into notorious, unusual, and startling true crime stories. Highlights include espionage from the tense 1940s and murder cases reaching back to the city’s turbulent 1840s, with additional tales of mayhem and more along the way.

Choose your pace with a Magic: The Gathering Commander tournament that offers either friendly, social pods or a competitive winner-takes-all option. Play takes place in four-player single-elimination pods. The entry fee is $7. Casual pods provide a $5 store credit coin for participation, and the last player remaining receives two pulls from the promo card library. Registration is in-store, and a Wizards Eventlink account is needed.

Led by veteran multi-genre musician James Sardone, The Sardines are a Wilmington, North Carolina band that blends indie and psyche rock with melodic pop sensibilities. Their 2023 EP, Colors, is available to hear on the Fort Lowell Records website.

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 piano-driven storytelling and acoustic charm featuring Jim Ellis and Doug McFarland. From the North Carolina coast, Jim is a piano-playing singer songwriter who blends folk, rock, pop, and country with an easygoing coastal feel. Influenced by storytellers such as Jackson Browne and James Taylor, he favors lyrics that feel like a conversation and melodies that linger. Onstage his piano brings a New Orleans bounce with second line swing, drawing comparisons to Bruce Hornsby, with a hint of blues. Over more than four decades he has written, performed, and recorded, including early work with his band Waterline on the album Long Goners, which featured Sonny Landreth alongside The Goners, the group best known as John Hiatt’s backing band. Landreth’s distinctive slide guitar, heard with artists like Jimmy Buffett and Dolly Parton, helped shape that roots-driven, open-road feel. His solo releases include the four-song EP Lucky Enough, centered on love, simple joys, and gratitude, followed by the piano-forward Can’t Keep Quiet Today colored by second line rhythms and New Orleans tones, and most recently Forgotten How to Fly, a grittier collection about shaken confidence, hard lessons, and starting again. Doug McFarland performs as a singer and guitarist and is also known for kazoo playing. He is recognized for acoustic performances, heartfelt and occasionally witty songwriting, and a playful streak that even shows up in his Photoshop creations. Live, he mixes a varied set with just the right touch of witty banter. Tickets are $15 plus fees.

Compete in a Pokémon League event where players are matched within age divisions and can put their decks to the test against the field. The event uses the Standard format with Swiss rounds, best of one. Entry is $8 and may be purchased in store. Every participant receives one POP Pack. Store credit is awarded for each match win, set at $5 per win when there are three rounds and $4 per win when there are four rounds. Any undefeated player earns one pack from the most recent Standard set. Only sets that have had a prerelease are considered Standard for this event.

Backspin Social hosts free World Tavern Poker No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournaments. Players of any experience level can expect a friendly setting to hone their skills, meet fellow players, and compete for points and prizes. No buy-in is required and play does not involve gambling. Points earned count toward World Tavern Poker standings at the local, regional, and national levels, with chances to qualify for championship events and win major prizes.