For the final weekend in July, here are 14 things to do in the Wilmington area
We've made it to the final weekend in July, and summer events in Wilmington are in full swing.
Plenty of variety with this weekend, with plays, musicals, an opera, lots of concerts and tons of art openings. Check the full list below.
For even more entertainment options, including concerts on weeknights, many of them for free, check out our big ol' list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area.
Happenings: Full list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area for 2024
ALL WEEKEND
'Tosca'
July 26 and 28 UNCW Mainstage Theatre: Wilmington opera company's summer production is "Tosca," Puccini's classic of sex and violence. Shannon Kessler Dooley plays the title role of the fiery Tosca, with Jonathan Kaufman as Tosca's lover and Joshua Conyers as a corrupt police chief with an unhealthy Tosca obsession. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. 7 p.m. July 26, 3 p.m. July 28, Mainstage Theatre in the Cultural Arts Building. Tickets are $30 and $70, $23 and $53 for youth. 910-962-3500.
'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical'
July 24-28 at Thalian Hall: Opera House Theatre Co. continues its summer season of musicals with "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," about the life and songs of hitmaker Carole King. Features tunes from her Goffin-King days ("One Fine Day," "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"), classics from her album "Tapestry" ("You've Got a Friend," "Natural Woman") and more. Charlotte's Lindsey Schroeder comes to town to play the title role, with a cast of Wilmington standouts in other parts. 7:30 p.m. July 24-27, 2 p.m. July 27-28. 910-632-2285.
Theater review: You're 'Beautiful': Audience eats up Opera House's rendition of 'The Carole King Musical'
'The Real Inspector Hound'
July 25-28 at Thalian Hall (studio theater): Big Dawg Productions revives Tom Stoppard's brilliant howler, which it last staged in 2016. Lee Lowrimore directs. A parody of theatrical murder mysteries, and of the critics who review them, "The Real Inspector Hound" overflows with wit and laughs. 7:30 p.m. July 25-27, 2 p.m. July 28. 910-632-2285.
Maddie Wiener
July 26-27 at Dead Crow Comedy Room: Wiener is a top-notch comic who was in the prestigious 2021 class of New Faces of Comedy at Montreal's Just for Laughs festival. She's toured as an opener for Dave Attell and Nikki Glaser, and has some great material about awkward sexual encounters, relationship weirdness and more. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. July 26-27, tickets are $20 and $30.
FRIDAY
Fourth Friday Gallery Night
July 26 in downtown Wilmington: It's time for the monthly crawl of downtown and downtown-adjacent art galleries and spaces. Highlights include original art by John Sharkey and Kirah Van Sickle at MoMentum Companies, 103 S. Front St., presented by Art in Bloom Gallery. The compelling paintings, many of which carry an abstract vibe, will hang through Sept. 16. At Acme Art, 711 N. Fifth Ave., a show of work by Stephanie Holt, Katherine Wolf Webb, Jay DeChesere and Dick Roberts will benefit the Coastal Land Trust. It opens Thursday night with a second reception for Fourth Friday. And, at the ArtWorks in Wilmington's South Front District, it's a Christmas in July show featuring photos with Surfer Santa, festive tunes and work by multiple artists in various studios. 6-9 p.m. July 26, for a full list of participating venues, go to ArtsWilmington.org.
Iration
July 26 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion: Popular reggae act headlines a four-band showcase that includes Pepper, DENM and Artikal Sound System at Wilmington's biggest venue. 6 p.m. July 26, tickets start at $42.
Will Overman
July 26 at Bourgie Nights: Virginia songwriter Overman plays a mix of country and rock. His anthem "Dotted Line" is an ode to the musical road warrior. Opening act is The Turkey Buzzards, whose song "Swing Bridge" is an ode to the bygone Surf City bridge of yore. 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
Friday Night Live
July 26 at The Eagles' Dare: The Emo Kids tribute band plays this weekly series at Third and Red Cross streets. 4 p.m. gates, 6 p.m. opener, 8 p.m. headliner. Free.
Friday Night Live
July 26 at at The Pier at Port City Marina: Country band Texas Hill plays this downtown Wilmington concert series held right on the Cape Fear River. 7 p.m. July 26, tickets are $10.
SATURDAY
Slightly Stoopid
July 27 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion: San Diego reggae rockers headline a four-band bill that includes like-minded acts Dirty Heads, Common Kings and The Elovaters. 6 p.m. July 27, tickets start at $59.
Mountain Thrower
July 27 at The Sandspur (Carolina Beach): Wilmington Southern rock act Mountain Thrower drinks heavily from the cup of Lynyrd Skynyrd, with a few shots of ZZ Top (and psychedelia) on the side. Heady stuff. 8 p.m. July 27, free.
Blab School
July 27 at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern: Blab School, which has members in Carolina Beach and the Triangle, has put out great new music this year on the Port City's Fort Lowell Records label. The band released a self-titled album June 6 that features such rippers as the "Scrolls." With Wilmington punk rockers Emergency Nothing, Raleigh rockers Long Relief and Charlotte indie punk act Alright. 8 p.m. July 27, tickets at the door.
Dogpark
July 27 at Bourgie Nights: Virginia indie rockers have built a following with upbeat songs about alienation such as "Breaking in Brooklyn." With Wilmington blues rock act The Queen's Giant. 9 p.m. doors, 10 p.m. show, tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
SUNDAY
Holden Beach Concert Series
July 28 at the pavilion under the Holden Beach bridge: Beach music act The Embers featuring Craig Woolard, known for such songs as "I Love Beach Music," will headline this popular Brunswick County concert series. 6:30-8 p.m. July 28, free. Call 910-842-6488 for details.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do in Wilmington, NC, for July 26-28, 2024
