Live music, shows and festivals.
Free concerts in the park, the big stages from Wilmington to Myrtle Beach, and what's on in the off-season.
Summer concerts in the park
Bring a chair. These town concert series are free. They run in summer; the rest of the year, see what's coming up below.
Bands by the Beach
Middleton Park, 4610 E Dolphin Dr, Oak Island. Fridays, May–August, 6:30–8:30pm. Free.
Calabash Summer Concert Series
Calabash Town Park, 868 Persimmon Rd. Tuesdays, 6–8:30pm. Free.
Sunset Sound Waves
Town Park, 206 Sunset Blvd N. Wednesdays, late May to early September, 6–8pm. Free.
Concert venues & stages
Drive times are rough estimates from Holden Beach. Tap Upcoming shows for each venue's current lineup.
Live Oak Bank Pavilion
10 Cowan St. An outdoor amphitheater with concerts mostly spring to fall.
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
1941 Amphitheater Dr. An outdoor amphitheater by the lake, with most shows spring to fall.
Wilson Center
703 N 3rd St, at Cape Fear Community College. A performing arts center with shows year-round.
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut St. A downtown performing arts center with shows year-round.
Odell Williamson Auditorium
50 College Rd NW, at Brunswick Community College. 1,500 seats and the closest big stage.
Alabama Theatre
Barefoot Landing. The ICONIC variety show runs Feb–Oct, and the Christmas show Nov–Dec.
House of Blues
4640 Hwy 17 S. A concert club open year-round.
The Carolina Opry
8901 N Kings Hwy. Shows year-round.
The Bowery
110 9th Ave N. A bar with live music, nightly per its website.
Tin Roof
On the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. Live music year-round.
Carolina Crab Brewing Co.
A brewery with live music and events on its property.
Big yearly events
We show dates only when the event's own site confirms them.
NC Fourth of July Festival
Southport · a nine-day run that ends on the 4th.
Off-season & rainy-day
The calendars to check: Town of Holden Beach calendar · Brunswick County Parks & Rec · Wilmington & Beaches events · Visit Myrtle Beach events
Southport–Fort Fisher Ferry
About a 35-minute crossing. $1 on foot, $7 for a vehicle under 20 ft. No advance booking, and the schedule changes by season.
Battleship North Carolina
Open 8am–5pm daily, and until 8pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Surf Cinemas
A four-screen local movie theater in Southport.
Planet Fun Center
32 bowling lanes plus laser tag, arcade and billiards.
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is closed
It closed May 26, 2026 for a renovation expected to take about 30 months. A temporary 'Discovery Bay' exhibit is open at Independence Mall in Wilmington.
Details come from each venue's or event's official site, checked September and October 2026. Line-ups and dates change, so confirm on their site before you buy tickets.