Art, history, comedy, DRUMline and more: 11 things to do in Wilmington for MLK Jr. weekend

John Staton, Wilmington StarNews

January 13, 2022 at 9:29 AM·7 min read

Plenty of really good arts/entertainment events happening in Wilmington during what, for many, is a long holiday weekend. Just keep in mind that COVID-19 cases driven by the omicron variant are high locally, so wear a mask if you're indoors.

Saturday: Shenandoah

Country band Shenandoah plays Odell Williamson Auditorium Jan. 15.

You can catch this longtime country music act on their way to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, which is their next date after this weekend's show at Odell Williamson Auditorium on the campus of Brunswick Community College. Co-founded in 1984 by lead singer Marty Raybon in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Shenandoah found success in the late '80s and early '90s with three No. 1 hits on the country charts (including country-rocker "The Church on Cumberland Road") and a Grammy Award shared with Alison Krauss for the duet "Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart." Raybon left the group for more than a decade but returned in 2014. In 2020, the band released its most recent album, "Every Road," featuring duets with such country stars as Zac Brown, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley and many more.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at Odell Williamson Auditorium, 150 College Road NE, Bolivia. $40. Opening act is Kirk Jay. 910-755-7416 or bccowa.com

Thursday: 'Donald Furst: Ways'

"Flee" is one of the paintings in the exhibit "Donald Furst: Ways" at UNCW's CAB Gallery.

Longtime Wilmington artist and arts educator Donald Furst has been part of the University of North Carolina's Department of Art & Art History since 1985, and he's had many, many exhibits of his work locally in that time. His latest show, "Ways" — much of it done while recovering from a broken back suffered after a fall — features large pastel paintings inspired by outdoor Wilmington locations including Carolina Beach State Park and Halyburton Park. Walking the trails during his recovery led to his idea for "Ways," which feature paintings that are at once well-rendered, contemplative and beautiful.

Details: Opening reception is 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 13 at the CAB Gallery in the UNCW Cultural Arts Building. Exhibit hangs through Feb. 18. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. UNCW.edu/art

Saturday: DRUMline Live

DRUMline performs at UNCW's Kenan Auditorium Jan. 15.

As part of events celebrating the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, this group that recreates the marching band tradition started by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) comes to the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Kenan Auditorium. DRUMline performs both original songs and revamped pop hits and features brass instruments; stylized, choreographed movements; and, of course, lots of drums. They performed with pop star Beyonce at the Coachella festival and appeared in her 2019 film "Homecoming." Part of the UNCW Presents series.

Details: 3 p.m. Jan. 15 at Kenan Auditorium, UNCW campus. $30-$100. 910-962-3500 or UNCW.edu/arts.

Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at this annual parade honoring the civil rights leader. Bands, community groups and others will march in the annual parade, which was not held last year due to the pandemic.

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Parade in downtown Wilmington in 2020.

Details: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 17, downtown Wilmington. Free. Parade starts at North Third and Hanover streets and proceeds South down Third to Princess Street. MLKjrcelebration-senc10.com.

Saturday: The Indigo Sessions

The Wilmington rapper and wordsmith who goes by Louis. has been mixing hip-hop and jazz since his days with the old-school Wilmington band Organix. This weekend, he'll be back at Waterling Brewing downtown to lead this year's second installment of a series called The Indigo Sessions. (His handle on Twitter is @louis_therapper and he tweets under the name "indigo child.") Rapping in front of a jazz combo called The Indigo Quartet — Jon Hill, Jay Killman, Carlos Garcia and Ramon G — Louis. will bring his always-impressive flow to the stage with some instrumental backing. In November of last year, Louis. released his latest solo album, a beautiful and insightful opus titled "Memories in Retrograde."

Details: 7-10 Jan. 15 at Waterline Brewing, 721 Surry St., Wilmington.

Friday & Saturday: Rachel Feinstein

Do yourself a massive favor and check out this disturbingly funny comic, who can talk about everything from her relationship with her mom ("when I go home, I'm OK for maybe six minutes, and then I just feel weirdly furious") and being an awkward child to making bizarre yet hilarious jokes after sex. A must-see for sure. Feinstein has a stellar resume that includes specials on Comedy Centrals and appearances on such shows as "Inside Amy Schumer," "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" and Netflix series "The Standups."

Details: 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Jan. 14-15 at Dead Crow Comedy Room, 516 N. Third St., Wilmington. $20-$30. 910-399-1750 or DeadCrowComedy.com.

Saturday: Fort Fisher commemoration

For the 157th anniversary of the the fall of the Confederate stronghold of Fort Fisher during the Civil War, the Fort Fisher State Historic Site will present a living history program called "Wintering at the Fort." Re-enactors in period uniforms will interpret such aspects of 19th-century military life as training on the site's 12-pound bronze Napoleon cannon, which will be fired at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Civil War re-enactors fire a cannon during the 153rd Fort Fisher Commemoration in 2018 in Kure Beach.

Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 15, 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd South, Kure Beach. Free. Special guided tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. are $10, and free for kids 12 and under. 910-251-7346.

All weekend: 'Scream'

Ghostface brings his stabby ways to Wilmington with the fifth film in the horror series, which was shot in the Port City in late 2020. Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Neve Campbell (as the hard-to-kill Sidney Prescott) all return from the original "Scream."

More: Everything you need to know about Wilmington's starring role in new 'Scream' movie

Familiar Wilmington locations used in the movie include Williston Middle School, rock club Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern, the Wilmington Convention Center and the Wilmington Riverwalk.

Details: See "Scream" in Wilmington starting Thursday evening at AMC Classic 16 off Market Street, Regal Mayfaire & IMAX in Mayfaire or at The Pointe 14 off South 17th Street. In Brunswick County, "Scream" is screening at Coastal Cinemas 10 in Shallotte and at Surf Cinema in Southport.

Sunday: N.C. Symphony

Our state symphony returns to Wilmington this weekend for a concert at Cape Fear Community College's Wilson Center. Top billed is Beethoven's 1803 "Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C major, Op. 56." Commonly known as the "Triple Concerto," it was the composer's only work to feature solos for three different instruments; the players are Jacqueline Saed Wolborsky (violin), Bonnie Thron (cello) and Solomon Eichner (piano). Christoph König conducts the symphony, which will also perform French composer Hector Berlioz's epic and romantic "Symphonie Fantastique," which dates to 1830.

The N.C. Symphony plays the CFCC Wilson Center Jan. 16.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at CFCC Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St., Wilmington. Tickets start at $20. Audience members must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test completed within the past 72 hours. 910-362-7999 or WilsonCenterTickets.com.

Saturday: Lamefest XIII

The ironically named, hard-charging Lamefest returns to Wilmington rock club Reggie's this weekend. Five bands will play, including Raleigh doom metal act Beard of Antlers, Wilmington rockers Bandolero and festival namesake Andy Lame of Fayetteville, who performs off-kilter country-folk tunes with heavenly titles such as "My Uppance Will Come."

Details: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern, 1415 S. 42nd St., Wilmington. Cover at the door.

Sunday: 'Blue Velvet'

As part of the NC Filmmakers Series of movies made in Wilmington and around the state, one of the most famous and well-regarded films to come out of the Port City screens at the Pointe 14 cinemas. Director David Lynch got a Best Director nomination for the mysterious, violent 1986 film, which showcases a Wilmington that's much gritter and grimier than the one we know today.

More: 11 legendary movie characters that made Wilmington a film destination

Following the screening, series curator and film industry vet Joseph D'Alessandro, along with makeup artist Jeff Goodwin, who created "Blue Velvet's" famous severed ear, will answer audience questions.

Details: 4 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Pointe 14, 2223 Blockbuster Road, Wilmington. Free.

Contact John Staton at 910-343-2343 or John.Staton@StarNewsOnline.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Check out these 11 things you can do in Wilmington for MLK weekend

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Sunday: 'Blue Velvet'

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