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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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n For more ideas of things to do in the coming weeks and months, check our list of\u00a0outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area<\/a>. And don’t forget to check out our roundup of\u00a0area fireworks displays<\/a>\u00a0for Independence Day. See link below.<\/p>\n Boom! <\/strong>Every July fireworks display in Wilmington you need to know for 2026<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n ALL WEEKEND<\/strong><\/p>\n July 1-4<\/strong> in Southport and Oak Island<\/a>: 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Let’s celebrate: <\/strong>From parade to fireworks, your guide to the N.C. 4th of July Festival<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n July 1-3<\/strong> at Thalian Hall<\/a>: 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<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n July 1-3 <\/strong>at Dead Crow Comedy Room<\/a>: 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.<\/em><\/p>\n July 2-5<\/strong> in North Topsail Beach<\/a>: 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<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n July 2-3<\/strong> at Buck Hardee Field<\/a>: 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<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n July 3-4 <\/strong>at The Boatyard<\/a>: 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.<\/em><\/p>\n FRIDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n July 3<\/strong> at Airlie Gardens<\/a>: The Cruise Brothers will play beach, country and rock for this popular music series held in a beautiful, historic setting. Chairs, blankets and\u00a0picnics are allowed, and guests can purchase food and beverages.\u00a06-8 p.m. Friday<\/a>. 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.\u00a0910-798-7700.<\/em><\/p>\n July 3<\/strong> 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.<\/em><\/p>\n July 3 <\/strong>at The Eagles’ Dare<\/a>: 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.<\/em><\/p>\n July 3 <\/strong>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\u00a0SurfCityNC.gov<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n July 3<\/strong> at Bowstring Burgers & Brewyard<\/a>: 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.<\/em><\/p>\n SATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n July 4 <\/strong>at the Hannah Block Historic USO\/Community Arts Center<\/a>: 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.<\/em><\/p>\n July 4 <\/strong>in downtown Wilmington: The city of Wilmington will\u00a0host a dual fireworks celebratio<\/a>n, 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\u2019s 250th anniversary at 7:30 p.m. The symphony will also play patriotic favorites. Both fireworks displays start at 9 p.m. Saturday.<\/em><\/p>\n SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n July 5<\/strong> 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<\/a>. Free.<\/em><\/p>\nN.C. 4th of July Festival<\/h2>\n
Thalian Hall cinema<\/h2>\n
Gianmarco\u00a0Soresi<\/h2>\n
Ocean City Jazz Festival<\/h2>\n
Wilmington Sharks fireworks<\/h2>\n
Sunset Live Music Series<\/h2>\n
Airlie Gardens concert<\/h2>\n
Carolina Beach Boardwalk Blast<\/h2>\n
Free Concert Friday<\/h2>\n
Surf City fireworks<\/h2>\n
Winyah<\/h2>\n
July 4 open house<\/h2>\n
Wilmington fireworks<\/h2>\n
The Tams<\/h2>\n
The Ex-Faces<\/h2>\n