Event Calendar May-June 2020

Looking to fill your social calendar? We've got the rundown on what to do this Spring season.

Poplar Grove Herb & Garden Fair
May 2 – 3 (this is a rescheduled date)

Enjoy the area's largest and longest running garden event featuring classes, activities and exhibits on gardening, nature and related topics. The grounds of Poplar Grove will be filled with a wonderful selection of locally grown plants of all types – herbs, perennials, annuals, hanging baskets, shrubs, native plants, vegetable starts and houseplants, plus garden art and accessories, herbal and all-natural products, artisan crafts and local foods – including several Food Trucks. Sat: 9am-5pm | Sun: 10am-4pm, Poplar Grove Plantation, 910-686-9518, poplargrove.org


Cape Fear Comedy Festival
May 13 – 17

Laugh your way through shows featuring nationally touring comedians at various venues in beautiful Downtown Wilmington. The Cape Fear Comedy Festival is a four-day, independently-run live comedy festival. Waterline Brewing Co. and Bombers Beverage Co. will be some of the venues with the home base at the famous Dead Crow Comedy Club. Please see web for full schedule of events and venue information. 910-399-1492,
facebook/caperfearcomedyfestival


Stoked to Go Out Pier-To-Pier Swim
May 16

This annual pier-to-pier swim goes between Johnnie Mercers Pier and Crystal Pier - a distance of just under two miles - with a beach start and finish. Race direction is determined on race day, and announced at check-in. Race swim caps and timing chips are provided. Awards will be given for overall male and female and overall masters (40+) male and female along with Top Three in several age categories. Spectators can view the race anywhere along the beach between the piers. 9am, Crystal Pier to Johnnie Mercers Pier, stokedtogoout.com


25th Annual Orange Street Artsfest
May 23 – 24

Wilmington's largest downtown arts festival returns with works of more than 80 artists from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Participants will exhibit oil and watercolor paintings, pottery, jewelry, wood, glass, and paper creations. The Orange Street Arts Fest is both relaxing and exhilarating with live entertainment, old-fashioned fair food, and a wine and beer tent. With its laid-back attitude and historic Downtown Wilmington setting, the Orange Street ArtsFest has been described as "A Jewel of a Show" so don't miss out! Sat: 10am-5pm | Sun:10am-5pm, Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center,
910-341-7860, wilmingtoncommunityarts.org


Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament
May 27 – 30

The Annual Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament welcomes all fishermen, participants, and spectators for a weekend of fishing fun as well as an opportunity to promote conservation, protection, and preservation of valuable marine resources – through a catch and release tournament. This annual event is sure to embrace your wild side. Fishing: 8:30am-3pm | Weigh Ins: 4-8pm | Awards Sunday: 7pm, Intracostal Angler (Oleander), 910-262-5566, capefearbluemarlintournament


NC Symphony: The Music of Star Wars & More
May 28

Join the NC Symphony with a night celebrating the music of John Williams, the most Oscar-nominated composer of all time, featuring epic scores like themes from Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, and more—plus, a few surprises from the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond! 7:30pm, The Wilson Center,
910-362-7999, cfcc.edu/capefearstage


Etana Spread Love Tour
May 29

Spend an evening under the stars with one of rare Grammy-nominated Female Reggae artists. Singer-songwriter Etana has created Billboard history as the first female to top reggae charts with back-to-back Number One albums. Her elegantly modest Rasta-chic vocal style is as distinctive as her sound: an audacious fusion of folk, soul, jazz, and reggae supporting a powerful vocal range suggestive of South Africa’s Miriam Makeba. Etana will be joined by Faith Coleman, Kersten Capra and Vana Liya for an unforgettable multi-media artistic event 5pm, Greenfield Lake Amphitheater,
910-343-3614, greenfieldlakeamphitheater.com

35th Annual Carolina Beach Music Festival
June 6

Here is your chance to dance barefoot on the sand or just sway to the Beach Music Beat while standing in the surf. Held the first Saturday in June, the Beach Music Festival hosted by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce is billed as "the biggest and only beach music festival actually held on the beach on the North Carolina coast" and one of the longest running beach music festivals in the United States. Come out and enjoy a full day of live entertainment with the hottest beach music bands in the south!  You can access this festival via the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. 2020 TBA Usually 11am until 4:30pm |Gates open: 10am, Cape Fear Blvd & Carolina Beach Ave. S, Carolina Beach, 910-458-8434, pleasureislandnc.org


Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
June 6 (this is a rescheduled date)

Get ready for a great day of beer sippin', beer and bourbon tastin', music listenin' and barbeque eatin' half-way between Historic Downtown Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. Your admission gets you a sampling glass to enjoy a sampling of 60 beers and 40 bourbons. Some of the best barbeque vendors are also on-site to satisfy all your BBQ Cravings.  There will be seminars in the tasting theater, Barbeque exhibits, and live music, a Local Beer Garden and special Cornhole Tournament. Please see website for details- must have Valid ID to do beer and bourbon tasting. VIP Whole Hog Session: 12-6pm | General Admission: 2-6pm, Legion Stadium Complex, 800-830-3976, Wilmington.beerandbourbon.com


17th Street Shredfest 2020
June 6 – 7

The ninth annual 17th Street Surf Shop Shredfest Surf Contest will be held on Carolina Beach just in time to kick off the summer. This competition includes both Short and Longboard in an open race, junior's race, and men's, women's and master's races. There will be cash purses for both LongBoard ShortBoard winners in addition to trophies and other prizes. Surfing Starts 8am at North Carolina Beach Pier, 910-799-7811, esa-snc.com

Storm the Beach: Cape Fear Clash Lacrosse Tournament
June 6 – 7

Get ready for the Clash! This exciting lacrosse competition, in its eighth year, consists of U-11, U-13, U-15, and High School Divisions. All teams play a minimum of five games with a 10 v 10 Full Field, so there is plenty of opportunity for spectators to watch up and coming lacrosse stars. Check website for full schedule, Veterans Park,
910-467-5059, capefearlacrosse.com


The Cape Fear Blues Festival
June 12 – 14

The 25th Annual Cape Fear Blues Festival is a weekend where blues fans can satisfy their cravings for soulful fantastic tunes. Enjoy music from headliner Chris Duarte and other bands and musicians like Justin Fox and David Morse, The Jeff Fetterman Band and Randy McQuay. They will be playing at Wilmington's premier blues music venues: the Rusty Nail Saloon, Finkelstein's Music and various other venues in Historic Downtown. This three-day all-blues celebration features live concerts, a blues workshop, an all-day blues jam, and more! Check website for schedule, Rusty Nail, 910-251-1888, capefearblues.org


Carolina Beach Double Sprint Triathlon
June 13

Known for being the very first "Formula 1" or super-sprint style triathlon in the U.S., the Carolina Beach Double Sprint Triathlon is a USAT Sanctioned event with a two and a half hour cut off time for completion. Participants will start out with a 375 meter ocean swim followed by a 1.5 mile run. Competitors will then complete a 20k bike ride on a closed course, then it's back to running for another 1.5 mile stretch to get back into the ocean once again to complete the last portion of the race by swimming another 375 meters to the finish line. 8am-5pm, Carolina Beach,
910-620-6405, runsignup.com


Wide Open Tech Spanish Mackerel Open
June 13 – 14

Pull out your planers, torpedo weights, and clarkspoons and maybe have a few pogies and live bait rigs on hand. What you pull behind your boat doesn't matter; just make sure not to miss out on the action with this year's Wide Open Tech Spanish Mackerel Open. Registration, Captains Meeting and Party on Friday. This fishing tournament will be in Captain's Choice format, giving participants a choice to fish Saturday or Sunday. On Sunday, the Awards will also be held at the Wild Wing Cafe Sunday afternoon after 2pm, which will include wings as well as fresh fried Spanish Mackerel. Check website for full schedule and location info, 910-409-8379, fishermanspost.com


An American in Paris: A New Musical
June 20 (this is a rescheduled date)

Enjoy the iconic music composed by George Gershwin that famously inspired the film of the same name. An American in Paris: A New Musical tells the story of a post-war American veteran featuring soaring melodies matched by gravity-defying dance steps all celebrating the power of love. Broadway’s thrilling new stage adaptation of the original Academy Award®-winning film won four Tony Awards®. This exquisite production features Gershwin favorites like “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “’S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me,” and “Stairway to Paradise.” Matinee: 3pm, Evening: 8pm, The Wilson Center, 910-362-7999, cfcc.edu/capefearstage


Trace Adkins
June 26

Enjoy an evening with Nashville icon Trace Adkins. For over two decades the award-winning Adkins has made his mark on the country music industry. With over 11 million albums sold including time-honored hit singles, and momentous, memorable live performances, this country crooner has also appeared in over 19 movies and 15 televsion shows. Come see why an evening with Trace Adkins is hard to forget. 7:30pm, The Wilson Center, 910-362-7999, cfcc.edu/capefearstage


Mud Day
June 26 – 27

Join the Children's Museum celebration of Mud Day with the messiest fun imaginable. Kids will create a connection to the joys of playing in nature with this event by squishing, stomping, and sliding in the mud, making mud pies in the mud kitchen, exploring "Magic Mud" and other new gooey concoctions. Be sure to wear a bathing suit or old clothes and bring a towel and a change of clothes. 9am-12pm, Children’s Museum of Wilmington, 910-254-3534, playwilmington.org


Wilmington VegFest
June 28

Wilmington’s VegFest celebration will have over 50 vendors, speakers, music, family fun zone, cooking demos, and loads of sampling! This is a non-profit event organized by Triangle VegFest’s executive director Helene Greenberg. 12-5pm, Coastline Convention Center, facebook.com/ncvegfests


Cats
June 29 – July 1 (this is a rescheduled date)

Enjoy one of the longest running most beloved Broadway musicals that tells the story of one magical night of an extraordinary tribe of cats called the Jellicles. Winning over seven Tony Awards®, this musical has been translated into 15 languages and performed around the world with the most well-known song "Memory" recorded by over 150 popular artists. 8pm, The Wilson Center, 910-362-7999,
cfcc.edu/capefearstage