Butterfly release, mermaid making workshop, ravelled fiber arts group, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, 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 week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Convenience chains are coming to US 421 North, CFCC launches a New York Film Academy transfer option, and the school supply drive returns — catch up here.
State-level stories: Hidden shores with mustangs and ferry access, a state audit urging DMV independence after rising wait times, and Amazon workers chasing robotic speed goals — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Safety alerts for hundreds of thousands of Kia and Ford vehicles as an early Atlantic storm takes shape, and Mediterranean diet tips ease inflammation — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Release butterflies with an educator’s help
- Join Tuesday’s city council meeting
- Explore New Hanover’s criminal justice system
- Chat about Second Chance hiring over coffee
- Endurance’s auto protection plan is $300 off
🫶 We got your back
Pets: Treat your pup to more than stale biscuits and bargain-bin toys. These local pet stores in Wilmington have gourmet treats, stylish collars, and grooming goodies to keep tails wagging.
Adventure: Nobody plans a vacation around a 38-foot chest of drawers, but after three hours photographing coffee mugs nailed to trees in the North Carolina mountains, you might rethink your idea of fun. These bizarre roadside stops will have you mapping out your next trip.
Solo: Traveling alone after 50 doesn’t have to feel scary. These safety hacks will have you packing your bag with confidence.
Playhouse: Whether you’re craving toe-tapping show tunes, spine-tingling drama, or the offbeat charm of experimental one-acts, Thalian Association Community Theatre brings center-stage magic (and just enough backstage buzz) to town.
Wealth: $4,000. That’s how much an ounce of gold is expected to cost in 2026. And since gold thrives in unstable markets, its rally appears far from over. Check out gold IRAs, which let you own physical gold while taking advantage of IRA tax breaks.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
🦋 Butterfly Release @ Airlie Gardens | Tuesday (8/5) at 10:00am – Experience the magic of a butterfly takeoff right from the palm of your hand (well, almost). Join an Environmental Educator in the native Butterfly House for a fluttery little lesson on lifecycles and local species. It’s a half-hour of pure winged wonder—rain or shine.
✍ One-Stop Enrollment Night | Wednesday (8/6) at 4:00pm – If you’ve been putting off college paperwork, swing by CFCC’s Union Station for a one-stop enrollment night. Knock out applications, FAFSA, residency forms, and meet your future advisor all at once. All without frantically hunting down dusty high school transcripts.
🎩 No Sleeves Magic: Pirates Have Problems | Thursday (8/7) at 10:30am – If you’ve sat through one too many movie nights, try a swashbuckling twist. Two down-on-their-luck pirates turned to magic tricks instead of mutiny, serving up family-friendly sleight of hand, cheeky banter, and audience hijinks, with enough puns to make you groan.
🚶♂️ Outlander Walking Tour @ Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens | Friday (8/8) at 9:00am – Strap on your comfiest shoes for a 90-minute walking tour through downtown Wilmington as if Claire and Jamie led the way from the Burgwin-Wright House. You’ll dig up Colonial gossip, dodge imaginary Redcoats, and burn a few calories, no Scottish war cry required.
🧜♀️ Mermaid Making @ Pleasure Island Library | Friday (8/8) at 3:00pm – If you need to pry your 6-to-11-year-old away from screens, Pleasure Island Library’s mermaid-making workshop is calling. Kids craft their own colorful sea sirens with glue, glitter, and imagination, and you’ll snag a quiet hour, just don’t forget to register their spot in advance.
This weekend
⛵ Outlander in the Cape Fear River Cruise @ Wilmington Water Tours | Saturday (8/9) at 10:00am – History nerds and time-traveling romantics, this one’s for you. Cruise down the Cape Fear with Hunter Ingram as he dishes on Wilmington’s real-life ties to the world of Outlander. Sip something cold from the bar, soak up the scenery, and geek out in style—just don’t wait too long, this boat will sell out.
🧶 Ravelled Fiber Arts Group @ Pine Valley Library | Saturday (8/9) at 1:00pm – Nothing mends frayed nerves like a Saturday morning at the Pine Valley library, armed with yarn and bad jokes. Whether you wield crochet hooks, knitting needles, or macramé cords, the local pros will help untangle your projects and ego alike, all experience levels welcome.
💀 Bring Out Yer Dead @ Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard | Saturday (8/9) at 7:00pm – If you’ve been pining for a dash of tie-dye with your local pint, Bowstring’s tapping Bring Out Yer Dead for a Grateful Dead tribute night. Expect spot-on jams, seasoned vibes, and enough nostalgia to make your inner hippie holler, “one more time.”
🎤 Juno Live @ Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar | Saturday (8/9) at 7:00pm – Whether you’re over the same dive bar routine or you just need more stars in your night, Cloud 9’s rooftop delivers cocktails, skyline views, and Juno’s live set. It’s exactly the excuse you need to polish off that work week in style.
🚢 Local Film History River Cruise @ Wilmington Water Tours | Sunday (8/10) at 12:00pm – This cinematic river cruise glides along the Cape Fear River, serving up Wilmington’s film lore from Dawson’s Creek to Iron Man 3 with insider scoop from writer Hunter Ingram. It’s like cruising through Hollywood history, minus the traffic, plus a cold drink in hand.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/5 Jared Michael Cline @ Smoke on the Water – 6 pm
- 8/6 Music Bingo Wednesdays @ Locals Tavern – 6:30 pm
- 8/6 Karaoke Night @ Barzarre – 7 pm
- 8/6 Jared Michael Cline @ SeaWitch Cafe – 7 pm
- 8/7 No Sleeves Magic @ UNCW Kenan Auditorium- 10:30 am
- 8/7 Sounds of Summer Concerts @ Wrightsville Beach Park – 6:30 pm
- 8/7 Open Mic Night @ The Bend – 7 pm
- 8/7 Cirque Social @ Barzarre – 7 pm
- 8/7 Sunset Cruise @ Wilmington Water Tours – 7 pm
🏠️ This house is wild
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Beatty Pittman Real Estate Team LLC (Intracoastal Realty Corp)
A major glow-up in South Oleander, this single-level stunner now sprawls with over 1,000 extra square feet, including not one but two dreamy primary suites. Think hardwood floors in all the right places, plush carpeting where you want to sink in, and bathrooms dripping in designer tile and marble. The kitchen steals the show with custom cabinets, stainless appliances, and an island made for midnight snacks or impromptu dinner parties.
Custom lighting and carefully chosen finishes keep things feeling fresh and sophisticated, while the flexible layout makes room for guests, hobbies, or the occasional in-law takeover. Cape Fear Country Club is just minutes away, but you may never want to leave.
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