16 things to do in Wilmington the last weekend before school starts

To paraphrase an old "Peanuts" comic strip: "School starts in less than a week, panic in the streets!" That's right, this is the last weekend before school starts for most children in our area, so — especially those of us with kids — let's make the most of it. Lots of live music and theater to check

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To paraphrase an old "Peanuts" comic strip: "School starts in less than a week, panic in the streets!"

That's right, this is the last weekend before school starts for most children in our area, so — especially those of us with kids — let's make the most of it. Lots of live music and theater to check out, as well as some comedy and film screenings.

For more ideas of things to do this weekend and in the coming weeks, check our lists of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area and August concerts in the Wilmington area, or our list of 16 miniature golf courses in the three-county area.

ALL WEEKEND

'West Side Story'

Aug. 19-23 at Thalian Hall: Opera House Theatre Co.'s final show of its

summer season is the classic musical inspired by "Romeo and Juliet" about gang rumbles and young love, and featuring such songs as "America" and "I Feel Pretty." Shane Fernando directs. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19-22, 2 p.m. Aug. 22-23. 910-632-2285.

Maddy Kelly

Aug. 21-22 at Dead Crow Comedy Room: Canadian-born New York City comic has tons of viral clips, was a 2023 New Face of Comedy at Montreal's prestigious Just For Laughs Festival and made her late-night TV debut on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon." 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, tickets are $24 and $36.

'The Explorers Club'

Aug. 20-23 at Thalian Hall (studio theater): Big Dawg Productions presents a comedy by Nell Benjamin about a British men's club in Victorian England that's thrown into an uproar when its president pro tempore proposes a woman for membership. Big Dawg last staged the play in 2019, when my review called it "a lively, laugh-filled evening."7:30 p.m. Aug. 20-22, 3 p.m. Aug. 23. 910-632-2285.

'Same Time Next Year'

George Schwenzer and Lisa McCoy star in

Aug. 14-23 at Brunswick Little Theatre: Southport-based theater company presents Bernard Slade's classic, two-person play about a man and woman who conduct a once-a-year affair at a California inn between 1951 and 1975. Elizabeth Michaels directs. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21-22, 3 p.m. Aug. 23. Tickets at BrunswickLittleTheatre.com.

Sunset Live Music Series

Aug. 21-22 at The Boatyard: Outdoor concert series located behind Marina Grill just off the Wilmington Riverwalk. Oc3ans plays rock and soul 6-9 p.m. Friday and Fire plays classic rock covers 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Bring a chair. Free.

FRIDAY

Airlie Gardens concert series

Aug. 21 at Airlie Gardens: Rock covers band No Regretz headlines this popular music series held in a beautiful, historic setting. Parking is off-site at the Northeast Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, with free shuttle service to the concerts starting at 5 p.m. Chairs, blankets and picnics are allowed, and guests can purchase food and beverages. 6-8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $10, $3 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and under. 910-798-7700.

Don't Tell Comedy

Aug. 21 in the Cargo District (location TBA): Popular comedy series featuring local, regional and national touring comics. The bill and venue are revealed the morning of each show. 7:30 p.m. Friday, tickets are $27.

Wilderado

Aug. 21 at Bowstring Burgers & Brewyard: Indie-folk band hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma. With opening act Sam Burchfield. 7 p.m. Friday, $30.

Christie Lenée

Aug. 21 at Live at Ted's: Acclaimed finger-style guitarist and songwriter plays this beloved Wilmington listening room. With opening act Katie Marie. 8 p.m. Friday, $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Joe's Bucket Bash

Scoot Teasley performs during the second night of CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, June 5, 2026.

Aug. 21 at The Bend: Nashville country artist Scoot Teasley headlines this annual concert benefiting the Hope Abounds Cancer Network. With opening act Port City Rockers. 7 p.m. Friday, tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show.

'The Thin Blue Line'

Aug. 21 at Jengo's Playhouse: Public radio WHQR's Cinematique film series presents the 1988 Errol Morris documentary that led to the exoneration of Randall Dale Adams, who spent 12 years in prison for the 1976 murder of a Dallas police officer. The screenings will include an introduction and discussion led by Mariana Johnson, a documentary history professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, $10. Social hour from 6-7:15 p.m.

Ocean Isle Beach Summer Concerts

Aug. 21 at Town Center Park: Uptown Easy, a Wilmington-based rock and pop cover band with a full horn section, plays this outdoor summer concert series in Brunswick County that's also known as thePeggy Hughes Summer Concert Series. Food vendors on site. Chairs allowed, no smoking, vaping or pets. 4 p.m. chair set up, 6:30 p.m. show, Friday. Free.

SATURDAY

Cape Fear Museum grand opening

New Hanover County Public Library and soon-to-open Cape Fear Museum at 230 Grace St. in downtown Wilmington, N.C., on April 2, 2026.

Aug. 22 at the Cape Fear Museum: Brand-new location of the Cape Fear Museum at Third at Grace streets, which now shares space with the New Hanover County Public Library's main branch downtown, celebrates its grand opening. Featuring new exhibits, galleries and planetarium "stargazing"; food and cocktails by Pine Valley Market; live music with harpist Julie Rehder and the Lark Quartet; youth performances by the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Brooklyn Arts Music Academy and Fiddlers by the Sea; an interactive photo booth; flowers by Cape Fear Garden Club; and more. The museum officially opened to the public Aug. 18. 6-9 p.m. Saturday, tickets are $125. Summer cocktail attire

The Stews

Aug. 22 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Groovy indie rock and pop band hails from Alabama. With an opening set from the excellent Wilmington pop and rock band Fudge. 7:20 p.m. Saturday, $40.

Jordan Davis

Aug. 22 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion: Nashville country singer has released a trio albums since 2018, most recently 2025's "Learn the Hard Way." 7 p.m. Saturday, tickets start at $27.50 for lawn seats.