It’s going to be a long Fourth of July weekend for many of us, and it’s no surprise that in the Wilmington area that means lots of fireworks, family fun and patriotic events.
There’s also a good bit of live music this weekend, both indoors and out, as well as some live comedy, so let’s get into it.
For more ideas of things to do in the coming weeks and months, check our list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area. And don’t forget to check out our roundup of area fireworks displays for Independence Day. See link below.
ALL WEEKEND
N.C. 4th of July Festival
July 1-4 in Southport and Oak Island: Southport’s biggest annual festival features patriotic events, fireworks, sporting events, live music, various ceremonies and Oak Island “Beach Day.” Click here for a full list of events.
Thalian Hall cinema
July 1-3 at Thalian Hall: A trio of films will screen at Wilmington’s most historic theater this weekend, including horror mega-hit “Backrooms” (July 1-3), about people who glitch out of our reality into a mysterious, maze-like series of rooms and hallways filled with malign entities. Plus, space disaster movie “Apollo 13” shows July 1, and the mother of all summer blockbusters, “Jaws,” screens July 1-3. For full schedule and showtimes, go to ThalianHall.org.
Gianmarco Soresi
July 1-3 at Dead Crow Comedy Room: Popular stand-up comic brings his Drama King Tour to the Port City. 7 p.m. July 1-3 and 9:30 p.m. July 2-3. $36 and $48, some shows have already sold out.
Ocean City Jazz Festival
July 2-5 in North Topsail Beach: Annual jazz festival just north Surf City in Pender county features various gatherings, headlining artists (including North Carolina’s John Brown Little Big Band) and a Sunday “jazz mass.” Details and full schedule at OceanCityJazzFest.com.
Wilmington Sharks fireworks
July 2-3 at Buck Hardee Field: Fireworks will be shot off after the completion of baseball games played by the Wilmington Sharks. Games start at 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Tickets at WilmingtonSharks.com.
Sunset Live Music Series
July 3-4 at The Boatyard: Outdoor concert series is located downtown, behind Marina Grill just off the Wilmington Riverwalk. Friday night features the Wilmington musician Delia Stanley and friends, with Saturday’s show headlined by Uptown Easy, along with local vendors in the Wave Market. 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Bring a chair. Free.
FRIDAY
Airlie Gardens concert
July 3 at Airlie Gardens: The Cruise Brothers will play beach, country and rock for this popular music series held in a beautiful, historic setting. Chairs, blankets and picnics are allowed, and guests can purchase food and beverages. 6-8 p.m. Friday. Parking is off-site at the Northeast Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, with free shuttle service to the concerts starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10, $3 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and under. 910-798-7700.
Carolina Beach Boardwalk Blast
July 3 on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk: Special Friday edition of this weekly concert-and-fireworks series for Independence Day. Live soul and R&B from Carl Newton’s Review. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday. Fireworks on the beach strand start at 9 p.m.
Free Concert Friday
July 3 at The Eagles’ Dare: Make Yourself will play an Incubus tribute for this downtown concert series, with opening rock act Are You In? 5 p.m. gates, 6:30 p.m. opener, 8 p.m. headliner. Free.
Surf City fireworks
July 3 in Soundside Park: Prior to the display, a celebration starting at 6 p.m. will feature beach music from Jim Quick and Coastline, food trucks and more. Fireworks go off at 9 p.m. Details at SurfCityNC.gov.
Winyah
July 3 at Bowstring Burgers & Brewyard: South Carolina indie band will bring their groovy, hooky rock sound to town for an outside show at this Soda Pop District hotspot. 7 p.m. Friday, tickets are $25.
SATURDAY
July 4 open house
July 4 at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center: Join an old-timey celebration at this historic downtown Wilmington venue with free coffee and doughnuts, and sodas for just a nickel. Plus, at 1 p.m. there will be a “1940s sing-a-long” with local thespian Kathy Enlow, and at 2 p.m., swing dancing with the Cape Fear Swing Dance Society. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, free.
Wilmington fireworks
July 4 in downtown Wilmington: The city of Wilmington will host a dual fireworks celebration, with one set of fireworks will be displayed near Riverfront Park/Live Oak Bank Pavilion, and the other set launched from a barge near the Battleship North Carolina. A pre-fireworks celebration starts at 5:30 p.m. at Riverfront Park. Mackenzi Morris, Joshua Alan Rupp and the Theatre for All chorus will perform at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra’s premiere of a new work by Wilmington composer Chelsea Loew written in honor of America’s 250th anniversary at 7:30 p.m. The symphony will also play patriotic favorites. Both fireworks displays start at 9 p.m. Saturday.
SUNDAY
The Tams
July 5 at Bridgeview Park: Beach music legends known for such hits as “What Kind of Fool” and “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” will play in Holden Beach for this weekly concert series. Bring a blanket or a chair. 6:30-8 p.m. Sunday. Free.
The Ex-Faces
July 5 at Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern: Former members of horror-metal band Mushroomhead bring their out-of-control antics to this midtown Wilmington rock club. With opening acts Saints of Solomon, Deep Within, Blackwater Drowning and Death of Uriah. 7 p.m. Sunday, tickets start at $37.
Ocean Isle Beach fireworks
July 5 at the Ocean Isle Beach Pier: If you somehow miss seeing fireworks on the Fourth of July, or even if you don’t, check out the display at this Brunswick County beach. 9:15 p.m. Sunday, free.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.starnewsonline.com ’
