Wilmy Weekly: October 1st

Jon Pardi, Liverfest, Oktoberfest Under the Bridge, Island Vibes, Lettuce, and more!

October 01, 2026

October's here, Wilmington — and even without Riverfest, the first weekend of fall is stacked. Country on the riverfront Thursday, a jazz funeral for summer Friday, reggae on the boardwalk and steins under the bridge Saturday, and a funk finale at Greenfield Lake Sunday. Keep reading to plan your next four days.

Want to get your business in front of 10,000 Wilmington locals? Let’s talk.

  • 🍂 Riverfest's Off — Liverfest Steps In

  • 👀 What's Happenin' in Wilmington this weekend

  • 🎸 This Weekend's Live Music and Food Trucks

  • 🌉 Memorial Bridge poll results, Lions Bridge wants your input, and more

  • 🎤 Looking Ahead: The Doobie Brothers, Tuesday

Let’s get to it!

What’s Happenin’ in Wilmington 👀

🍂 Riverfest's Off — Liverfest Steps In

This would normally be Riverfest weekend, but organizers called off the 2026 festival after they couldn't agree with the city on a safe, accessible layout. They're aiming to be back in 2027. In the meantime, Fermental is throwing Liverfest — a free, two-day "community-first" market with local vendors (including some who lost their Riverfest spot), live music, food, and drinks in the Cargo District. Family- and pet-friendly.

Want to get your business in front of 9,000 Wilmington locals? Let's talk.

Thursday, Oct 1

  • Jon Pardi: Gamblin' Man Tour: Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 7pm. Country star Jon Pardi brings his new tour to the riverfront with Alexandra Kay and Sadie Bass. Tickets.

  • 🎣 U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament: Dutchman Creek Park, Southport, Thursday–Saturday. The 48th year of one of the East Coast's biggest fishing tournaments — $25,000 guaranteed to the winner, plus food vendors, live music, and weigh-ins Friday and Saturday afternoons.

  • The Wolves: Thalian Hall, 7:30pm (through Sunday). Sarah DeLappe's acclaimed play about a girls' indoor soccer team, from the PTPT Apprentice Theatre.

  • Art Opening: "Wear For Art Thou": Flytrap Brewing, 5–8pm. Opening reception for a new show by Melissa Hindle-Sherman.

Friday, Oct 2

  • 🎨 Creative Castle Art Walk: Castle Street (3rd to 12th), 5–9pm, free. A brand-new first-Friday art walk — 13 businesses showing local art, with live music, poetry, live painting, and a blacklight exhibit at River's Edge Art Supplies.

  • 🎺 Farewell Summer Jazz Funeral: Kure Beach Ocean Front Park, 7pm, free. The Port City Players lead a New Orleans–style procession to send summer off right, and the T'Geaux Boys food truck will be there serving Cajun eats.

  • Andy Frasco & The U.N.: Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 7pm. One of the wildest party bands on the road — blues, funk, soul, and a lot of crowd participation. Tickets.

  • Jonah Kagen: Bowstring, 7pm. Savannah indie-folk singer with 386 million streams and the alt-radio hit "God Needs The Devil."

  • Waitress: CFCC Wilson Center, 7:30pm. The Broadway musical about a small-town waitress with a gift for pies. Also Saturday at 2pm & 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm.

  • 🦇 Rocky Horror Shadowcast: The Eagle's Dare, 8–11pm, free (donations appreciated). The Pineapple-Shaped Lamps bring the full experience: costume contest, virgin initiations, callbacks, and prop bags for sale. Space is limited, so RSVP on Eventbrite.

  • Wendy Kelly: One Monkey Don't Stop No Show: Yacht Club, doors 7pm/show 8pm, $35 adv/$40 door, 21+. An encore of the cabaret singer's one-woman show.

Saturday, Oct 3

  • 🎪 Carolina Beach MusicFest: Island Vibes: Carolina Beach Boardwalk (gate at the Hampton Inn side), 10am–4:30pm, $35 adv/$40 door, kids 10 & under free. The 40th annual festival goes reggae with Ballyhoo!, Signal Fire, and Cape Fear Rising. Bring chairs and blankets.

  • 🍺 11th Annual Oktoberfest Under the Bridge: Waterline Brewing Co., noon–8pm. Prost!

  • 🎪 Liverfest: Fermental, noon–10pm, free. Local market all day, with Callisto Sessions (2pm), One Hit Blunder (4pm), and Cool Jerk (7pm).

  • Old School R&B vs. Hip Hop Party: Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, doors 5pm/show 6pm. Fabo (D4L) and Sunshine Anderson live, with DJs B Lord and Skillz.

  • "Island Famous" Pancake Breakfast: Katie B. Hines Community Center, Carolina Beach, 7:30–11am, $10, kids 10 & under free. All-you-can-eat pancakes for a good cause.

  • Wilmington Cars & Coffee: The Pointe at Barclay, 9–11am, free. Monthly car meet — come early for a good spot.

  • Cape Fear Buddy Walk: Legion Stadium, 9am–noon. Coastal BUDS' biggest fundraiser of the year — a fun excuse to get outdoors, raise awareness, and celebrate Down syndrome.

  • Sam Morrow w/ Les Fontanelles: Yacht Club, 8pm. Texas southern rock, with a Wilmington opener.

Sunday, Oct 4

Will you be attending any of these events?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Featured Deal of the Week

Sunday at DrumTrout Brewing: $5 Mimosas & $2 off 32-oz Crowlers To Go

📍3710 S. College Road, Suite 143

LIVE MUSIC 🎸 

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

FOOD TRUCKS
This Week’s Featured Food Trucks 🚛 

WILMYWOODIE
October 1 | LBC Bottle Shop | 4pm–8:30pm
October 2 | LBC Bottle Shop | 4pm–9:30pm

GUSTU PERANO
October 1 | DrumTrout Brewing Company | 5pm–8pm

PORT CITY QUE
October 1 | NAPA Auto Parts, Burgaw | 11am–2pm
October 2 | Hudson Hardware | 11am–2pm

PEPE'S TACO TRUCK
October 2 | Flytrap Brewing | 6pm–10pm

T'GEAUX BOYS
October 2 | Farewell Summer Jazz Funeral, Kure Beach Ocean Front Park | 7pm

Truck schedules can change — check their socials before you head out.

WILMINGTON NEWS AND UPDATES

🌉 FEATURE: The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge — What You Need to Know

Last week we asked which Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement you prefer, and it was close. Alternative B, a fixed high-rise bridge at 135 feet, edged ahead with 10 of 19 votes (52.6%). That leaves 9 votes (47.4%) for Alternative A, a new movable span that lifts 65–135 feet and stops traffic while boats pass. The trade-off is simple: B keeps cars moving all the time, and A keeps the drawbridge look that's part of the downtown skyline. NCDOT expects to pick one by the end of the year. Got a take? Hit reply and tell us.

American Pickers is coming to North Carolina — got a hidden stash? The History Channel show will film across the Carolinas and Virginia in November and wants private collections with a good backstory (no stores or museums). Send your name, number, location, a description, and photos to [email protected] or call 646-493-2184.

Happy "Berth Day," Battleship North Carolina: The USS North Carolina marks 65 years at her Wilmington berth this Saturday with a brass concert on the fantail (see Saturday's events above). Only 400 tickets are available.

Why Riverfest was canceled: Organizers say the city's proposed parking-lot site had "one way in and one way out" and ADA concerns. Vendors and sponsors are being refunded, and the festival plans to return in 2027.

LOOKING AHEAD

Burgaw Autumn Fest — Sat, Oct 17 at Pender County Courthouse Square Live music from Shannon Baker & Sometime Soon and Dear Maribella & the Pigkickers, plus a 5K and family activities. Free.

Walker World Spooky Fest — Fri, Oct 24 at Walker World, Castle Hayne Food trucks, live music, yoga, drum circle.

WEATHER 🌡️ 

Friday
70🌡️91 | 🌥️5% | 💨S 10 mph
Saturday
71🌡️89 | ☁️23% | 💨SE 11 mph
Sunday
70🌡️80 | 🌧️53% | 💨E 9 mph
Monday
67🌡️72 | 🌧️56% | 💨NNE 10 mph

🌊🌡️ Ocean temperature = 79°F

What did you think of today's Wilmy Weekly?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Want to get in touch with us? Send us an email! [email protected]