9 things to do in Wilmington during a massive, event-packed first fall weekend

Now that the week's massive rains are finally outta here, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful first weekend of fall in Wilmington.

There's a veritable ton of events to take in as well, from big-name concerts (in music AND comedy) to more intimate shows, a play at UNCW and more.

Friday: Trey Anastasio Band

The world's biggest jam band, Phish, is back on tour this year. In between Phish dates, Trey Anastasio, the group's longtime singer and guitarist, is bringing his considerable talents to downtown Wilmington for a solo show at Live Oak Bank Pavilion. The Trey Anastasio Band, which explores a jazzier, more world-music vibe than Phish's more rocked-out tendencies. released a live album, "Burn It Down," in 2020.

Details: 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan St., Wilmington. $35-$75. Proof of vax or negative COVID test required.

Saturday: Trevor Noah

The South African comic of many accent best-known for hosting "The Daily Show" returns to Wilmington for the first time since performing at the Nutt Street Comedy Room — the predecessor to the Dead Crow Comedy Room — more than a decade ago.

Trevor Noah's tour is billed as "Back To Abnormal," so the comic known for his often-political material will surely have some funny thoughts on the pandemic as well.

Details: 8 p.m. Sept. 25 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan St., Wilmington. $35-$125.

Friday: Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers

Longtime singer, songwriter and piano player Bruce Hornsby is probably best known for his moody hit singles "Mandolin Rain" and "The Way It Is." As his fans know, however, there's plenty more where that came.

Hornsby has collaborated with everyone from The Grateful Dead and Spike Lee to indie darling Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and jazz icon Branford Marsalis. A lifetime of musical exploration — he's still releasing albums, most recently 2020's "Non-Secure Connection" — will be on display during his return to Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, a venue he's played a couple of times before.

The opening act is guitarist Gibb Droll, who's been playing Wilmington since back in the days of fabled club The Mad Monk.

More:25 years ago The Mad Monk, one of Wilmington's most iconic venues, closed for good

Details: 6 p.m. gates, 7 p.m. show, Sept. 24 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive, Wilmington. $35 in advance, $42 day of show, proof of vax or negative COVID test required.

Saturday: American Craft Walk Wilmington

After not happening last year due to COVID-19, this annul event returns, bringing the work of more than 100 artists and artisans to the streets of downtown Wilmington. Art for sale, and on display, will include ceramics, paintings, jewelry, clothing, candles, sculpture, photography and more.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 25 in downtown Wilmington, Front Street between Orange and Red Cross streets.

All weekend: 'A Taste of Honey' at UNCW

The University of North Carolina Wilmington's Department of Theatre presents its first play of the fall semester, 1958's "A Taste of Honey" by British playwright Shelagh Delaney.

Theater professor Ed Wagenseller directs an all-student cast in the gritty, true-to-life story of class, gender and race in 1950s England. Delaney's story centers on the working-class fortunes of Helen (Meghan McDonald) and her daughter, Jo (British exchange student Nanouri Winchester), an aspiring artist.

Details: 8 p.m. Sept. 23-25 and 30-Oct. 2, 2 p.m. Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 at the Mainstage Theatre in the Cultural Arts Building, UNCW campus. $15; $12 for seniors, UNCW employees and alumni; $6 for students. 910-962-3500 or uncwarts.universitytickets.com.

Friday & Saturday: Isabel Hagen

A classically trained viola-player-turned-stand-up-comedian — she went to Juilliard, something she mentions frequently in her act — Isabel Hagen is an up-and-coming comic who was in 2019's New Faces of Comedy class at Montreal's esteemed Just For Laughs Festival and who made her network TV debut last year on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon."

In that appearance, Hagen recalled being told by a friend that she has "resting sad face." Hagen assure her, "Oh no, it's active."

Details: 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sept. 24-25 at Dead Crow Comedy Room, 511 N. Third St., Wilmington. $15-$25. 910-399-1750 or DeadCrowComedy.com.

Saturday: Circle the Wagens

This second-annual car show featuring all kinds of classic Volkswagens — from Beetles to vans and beyond — will go down Saturday afternoon at Waterline Brewing. Proceeds benefit DREAMS of Wilmington, and highlights include music from Wilmington roots band Tumbleweed from 2-4 p.m., food from WheelZ pizza and, of course, brews from Waterline.

Details: Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 25 at Waterline Brewing, Wilmington. Free.

Friday: Travis Shallow at Ted's

There's not been a harder working Wilmington musician over the course of the pandemic than Travis Shallow. Regular live sets as part of his "Shallow Chateau" series have led to real-life gigs at Knoxville radio station WDVX's Blue Plate Special show, which he played on Sept. 11.

Friday night's listening-room concert at Live at Ted's will be a homecoming of sorts for Shallow, who'll be playing an evening full of his stirring, deeply felt folk and country tunes.

Details: 8 p.m. Sept. 24 at Live at Ted's, 2 Castle St., Wilmington. $7 at the door.

Thursday & Friday: Chris Duarte at The Rusty Nail

Blues rock guitarist Chris Duarte returns to the Port City for a show at Wilmington juke joint The Rusty Nail. Duarte has been touring heavily since the 1990s when he drew notice at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

Details: 8 p.m. Sept. 23-24 at the Rusty Nail, 1310 S. Fifth Ave., Wilmington. $20 at the door.

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