Wilmy Weekly: September 24th

New editor, same mission. Part of Landfall Shopping Center is being seized — plus Saturday is absolutely stacked.

September 24, 2026

Hey there, and welcome. I'm Jason, and I'm thrilled to be taking the reins of Wilmy Weekly! Big thanks to Nick and his team for building something this community loves, and for trusting me to carry it forward. I bring over fifteen years of email and newsletter marketing experience. Expect the content to keep getting fresher and better. Some things may change along the way — but the goal stays the same: delivering you the best content possible. Thanks for coming along on this next chapter with me.

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

  • 👀 What's Happenin' in Wilmington this weekend

  • 🎸 5th Annual Rocktoberfest: Reverend Horton Heat w/ Messer Chups + The Phantom Play Boys

  • 🍺 Oktoberfest is everywhere this weekend — full guide inside

  • 🌉 Big Week for Bridges!

  • 😮 Eminent Domain

  • 🚚 Chowtown Food Festival, Food Trucks + Live Music listings

Let’s get to it!

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’👀

🎸 FEATURE: 5th Annual Rocktoberfest at Eagle's Dare — Saturday

The 5th Annual Rocktoberfest just got a whole lot psychobillier. Reverend Horton Heat is headed to Eagle's Dare — and if you've never seen them, this is your night. Blending rockabilly, 1950s country, surf, punk, big band, and swing since 1986, these legends put on a show like nobody else. This is an outdoor show, so come ready to rock under the open sky.

Rounding out the night: Messer Chups (special guest) and The Phantom Play Boys (local support). Saturday, September 26th at The Eagle's Dare.

Friday, September 25

Saturday, September 26

Sunday, September 27

Will you be attending any of these events?

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🍺 Oktoberfest Season — Full Guide

From Dock Street to Leland to the beach, the Cape Fear region is going full Bavaria this fall. Here's every local Oktoberfest event:

Featured Deal of the Week: Sundays & Bowstrings

Sunday at Bowstring Bar & Music Venue: $5 drinks, $12 for 12 bone-in wings, or $12 for a half-pound of boneless wings with fries. Perfect game-day setup.

📍1002 Princess Street

LIVE MUSIC 🎸 

Thursday, September 24

Friday, September 25

Saturday, September 26

Sunday, September 27

FOOD TRUCKS 🚛

Thursday, September 24

  • Eastside @ Biggers Market | 5–8 PM · Organic subs & sandwiches

  • Island Squeeze @ Topsail Beach Craft Market | 9 AM–1 PM · Fresh-squeezed lemonade

  • Port City Plates @ NAPA Auto Parts (Burgaw) | 11 AM–2 PM · Rochester-style trash plates

  • WilmyWoodie @ LBC Bottle Shop | 4–8:30 PM · Wood-fired pizza

Friday, September 25

  • Leo's Pizza @ Scapegoat Taproom | 6–9 PM · Hand-stretched pies

  • Pepe's Taco Truck @ Flytrap Brewing | 6–10 PM · Authentic tacos, tortas, burritos

  • Port City Plates @ Hudson Hardware (Castle Hayne) | 11 AM–2 PM · Rochester-style trash plates

  • Well-Fed Ed @ Riverlights | 4–7 PM · Vibrant whole-food dishes

Saturday, September 26

  • Wasabi Wheels @ Mad Mole Brewing | 1–4 PM · Sushi, poke bowls, teriyaki

  • Eastside @ Mad Mole Brewing | 5–8 PM · Organic subs & sandwiches

  • Sweet Cup ILM @ This Social District (Chowtown) | 1–4 PM · Desserts

Sunday, September 20

WILMINGTON NEWS AND UPDATES

Cape Fear Memorial Bridge — The Community Voted on This. Now NCDOT Decides.

Public hearings wrapped up last week — Monday at CFCC, Tuesday in Leland. The crowd spoke clearly on one thing: no tolls. Now NCDOT is weighing two replacement options for the 1969 bridge, and expects to select one by end of year.

  • Alternative A — A new movable span, similar in concept to what's there now. Lower cost, but traffic delays continue. Supporters point to a smaller footprint and less impact on the historic district's skyline.

  • Alternative B — A fixed high-rise bridge at 135 feet of clearance. No more drawbridge delays — ever. But opponents have questions about the visual impact, the $1B+ price tag, and the specter of future tolls.

What do you think?

Which Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement option do you prefer?

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Written comments are accepted until October 15 at ncdot.gov/projects/cape-fear-bridge-replacement. This is your last real chance to put something on the record before the alternative is chosen.

Wilmington has a new mascot — and it's a Venus flytrap. Meet Stanley, the official mascot of Wilmington Parks & Recreation, selected by residents and named in honor of Stanley Rehder, a longtime advocate for the carnivorous plant. He's described as growing up in the Cape Fear's pine forests and wetlands, curious and eager to explore — basically the perfect ambassador for local parks and conservation.

NCDOT has filed eminent domain cases on dozens of Wilmington properties. The filings clear the way for a 30-foot overpass at Eastwood Road and Military Cutoff, an $81.4 million project with construction beginning in late 2027 and a 2031 completion target. The largest single acquisition targets a portion of Landfall at 1331 Military Cutoff Road, valued at $1.55 million — NCDOT is also pursuing eminent domain along South Front Street for a separate widening project.

The Turtle Bridge is coming back — and this weekend is your chance to help shape it. The 210-foot Lions Bridge over Greenfield Lake — known to generations of Wilmingtonians as the Turtle Bridge (or the Alligator Bridge) — closed in 2023, was damaged by fire in 2024, and was demolished in 2025. The City has secured $950,000 toward a $1.1 million ADA-compliant replacement, with a community input session this Saturday at Greenfield Park (8 AM–1 PM) and an online survey open through October 31. Bridge back open by late 2028.

Governor Stein came to Wilmington to defend the film industry. Gov. Josh Stein and Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley toured Cinespace Studios Tuesday, reaffirming support for the NC Film and Entertainment Grant Program as state funding debates continue. The numbers make the case: nearly 60 productions filmed here in 2024, generating $302 million in direct in-state spending, and more than $1.3 billion in NC over the past decade.

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.

A Big Thank You to Our Local Partners

Protect what matters most. Call (910)863-1067 or visit callroofvantage.com

Need help moving? Call (703) 398-5914 or email [email protected]

WEATHER 🌡️ 

Friday 
☁️ Overcast · 72° 🌡️ 57° · 4% · NNW 14 mph
Saturday
☁️ Overcast · 78° 🌡️ 53° · 2% · NW 8 mph
Sunday 
☁️ Overcast · 81° 🌡️ 55° · 0% · WNW 9 mph

Dry weekend — warming nicely into Sunday.

🌊 🌡️Ocean temp: 78.8°F

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