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A Guide To Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC

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The Port City has so many free concert series during the summer, it’s almost hard to keep up. So, if you’re visiting or local, you’ll benefit by checking out (and bookmarking) this Guide To Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC.

For more help planning your trip, check out all of our Wilmington posts.

A band performing on stage with the words "A Guide To Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC" digitally written above them.

One of the best parts of Wilmington, NC in summer is the live music.

When we first moved here, there was the Downtown Sundown concert series where bands would set up in downtown Wilmington (hence the name), between the intercoastal waterway and the town’s courthouse and play. A local band would open followed by a national, touring, cover band.

It was amazing.

The block would be shut down, you could purchase alcohol (to drink on the courthouse steps!) and, the first year, our favorite food truck would set up every week. It was the best way to spend our Friday nights.

Due to construction, that had to be paused. But, in its place, a ton of other venues started hosting free outdoor music. So, because it’s starting to become a crowded space after Downtown Sundown being the only spot for years, we put together this Guide To Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC.

Because we have a ton of visitors to the area during this time, we broke our cardinal rule of only including Wilmington content in our posts about Wilmington. In this post, we’re including free live music the surrounding areas (which tourists call Wilmington anyway) so we can cover all the series.

Also, this is just the recurring free Wilmington concerts. A venue that has music nightly didn’t make the list. And we didn’t want to include every single one off music festival either.

And, we only included venues with free music. There are two really large venues in Wilmington now (Live Oak Bank Pavilion and Greenfield Lake Amphitheater). Those aren’t included on this list because you need a concert ticket for those. You also need one for the concert series at Airlie Gardens, so that’s not on this list either.

The Battleship North Carolina on the Cape Fear River with the words "Wilmington, North Carolina Travel Guide From A Local" digitally written on top.

Wilmington is a great place to visit because there are so many fun activities going on all the time. Maybe a little too much. If you need help narrowing it down, check out the Wilmington, North Carolina Travel Guide we put together.

A Guide To Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC

We broke this list down into two separate lists, making it super easy to find what you’re looking for.

The first list is Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC (by venue). So if you know that a specific location has free concerts, but you’re looking for more details, that’s for you. The second list if Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC (by day). So if you’re visiting the area and will be in town for, say, only Saturday, you’ll know where you can go.

And, in case you’re wondering, these are all family-friendly events. So definitely pack the whole family in the car and head down.

Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC (by venue)

Boardwalk Blast

Where: Boardwalk at the Gazebo (Carolina Beach Ave S, Carolina Beach)

Presented by: Pleasure Island

Thursdays from June to Labor Day from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. The exception is the kickoff, which happens the Friday before Memorial Day, and the finale, which happens the Friday before Labor Day.

Bands:

Details: Live music happens on the stage (the same stage where Beach Bingo happens) near the Carolina Beach carnival rides. Fireworks follow at 9 pm every Thursday.

Parking: Parking is $5 an hour and ends at 8 pm.

Insider tip: Watch the fireworks from the beach. It’s so much better than from in front of the stage.

Boogie In The Park

Where: Ocean Front Park (105 Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach)

Presented by: The Town Of Kure Beach

Dates/Times: The 1st and 3rd Sunday, May through October | 5 pm to 7 pm

Bands:

Details: There’s a little bit of seating around the stage, but bringing your own seats is a good idea.

Parking: There’s a bunch of free parking around Kure Beach.

Insider tip: There aren’t any shows on the July 4th or Labor Day weekends.

Fort Fisher Summer Concert Series

Where: Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area (118 Riverfront Rd, Kure Beach, NC)

Presented by: Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Kure Beach

Dates/Times: Second and Fourth Friday from August to October (August 11 and 25, September 8 and 22, October 13 and 27)

Bands: None listed yet

Details: Various food trucks will be at the family-friendly event. You’re encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Parking: Parking is free at the rec area.

Insider tip: We’ve never been here for a concert, so we can’t offer any tips.

Free Concert Friday

Where: The Eagle’s Dare (420 N 3rd St)

Presented by: A bunch of different local business

Dates/Times: Fridays: May 5 to July 28 | 6 pm and 8 pm

Bands:

Details: Food trucks will be available during the concerts.

Parking: There is free street parking. Eagle’s Dare does have a lot, but it’s not accessible when there are concerts there.

Insider tip: This is the first year that Eagle’s Dare is open during the summer, so it’s the first year for Free Concert Friday. However, we have a ton of confidence in this because the shows that have happened in the lot have been fantastic.

Friday Night Live!

Where: The Pier at Port City Marina (10 Harnett Street; Wilmington)

Presented by: Marina Grill and the Pier at Port City Marina 

Dates/Times: Fridays: June 2 to September 1 | 6:30 pm to 10 pm

Bands:

Details: Wristbands are $1 and are required if you want to purchase drinks. The $1 is a donation to the weekly, rotating charity. Anyone 21+ can purchase drinks for consumption on the pier. Also, there’s a small section in the back of the pier that’s reserved for anyone who wants to bring their own lawn chairs.

Parking: There isn’t any parking at the venue. There is street parking nearby and a public lot that’s within walking distance.

Insider tip: You’re able to access Marina Grill and its indoor bar during the concert. The drinks in there are cheaper and you’re able to bring them onto the pier. No outdoor food and drink is allowed, but Marina Grill is on site, so it’s allowed.

Holden Beach Summer Concert Series

Where: The Holden Beach Pavilion under the Holden Beach Bridge (131 Jordan Blvd, Holden Beach)

Presented by: The Town of Holden Beach

Dates/Times: Sundays from May 28 to September 3 | 6:30 pm to 8 pm

Bands:

Details: Lawn chairs are encouraged as there’s no other seating.

Parking: Parking is free in Holden Beach after 5 pm, so you shouldn’t have to pay for parking to attend the concerts.

Insider tip: We’ve never been to Holden Beach for this series, so don’t hold us to that parking tip.

Saturday Sunset Series

Where: Marina Grill (18 Harnett St)

Presented by: Marina Grill

Dates/Times: Saturday in May (it may go longer, but it’s not listed) | 6 pm to 9 pm

Bands:

Details: The Saturday Sunset Series is a low key version of Friday Night Live where bands play right outside Marina Grill rather than on the water. 

Parking: There isn’t any parking at the venue. There is street parking nearby and a public lot that’s within walking distance.

Insider tip: The event officially kicks off the following week, but Port City Shakedown is our favorite band that plays locally (it was our wedding band, although, there were a few line up changes since then), so I had to give them a little shout out.

Sounds of Summer Concert Series

Where: The Park at Wrightsville Beach Park (321 Causeway Dr, Wrightsville Beach)

Presented by: WECT

Dates/Times: Thursdays: June 15 to August 3 | 6:30 pm to 8 pm

Bands:

Details: Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed at the park, although alcohol isn’t. Rotating food trucks will be at each concert. 

Parking: Parking is $5 an hour at Wrightsville Beach now, however, the first two hours at Wrightsville Beach Park are free as long as you register your tag/plate number into the system.

Insider tip: Definitely bring chairs. There’s nowhere to sit otherwise.

Southport Summer Concert Series

Where: Franklin Square Park (130 E West St)

Presented by: Downtown Southport, Inc. and the City of Southport

Dates/Times: Thursday: August 31 to November 16

Bands: Not posted yet.

Details: The summer concert series held annually in Southport is being moved to the fall. It was held in the summer through last year; 2023 season is the first time that this is being held in the fall.

Parking: There’s a lot of free street parking in the area.

Insider tip: This is right on the water, so even though it’s still warm-ish in fall, it gets cold when the sun goes down, so bring a jacket.

Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC (by day)

Thursday:

Boardwalk Blast at Boardwalk at the Gazebo (Carolina Beach Ave S, Carolina Beach) from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. A fireworks display follows.

Sounds of Summer Concert Series at The Park at Wrightsville Beach Park  (321 Causeway Dr, Wrightsville Beach) from 6:30 pm to 8 pm

Southport Summer Concert Series at Franklin Square Park (130 E West St, Southport)

Friday: 

Fort Fisher Summer Concert Series at Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area (118 Riverfront Rd, Kure Beach, NC) on the second and fourth Friday in August, September, and October. 

Free Concert Friday at The Eagle’s Dare (420 N 3rd St) with a band at 6 pm and another at 8 pm.

Friday Night Live! at The Pier at Port City Marina (10 Harnett Street; Wilmington) from 6:30 pm to 10 pm

Saturday:

Saturday Sunset Series at Marina Grill (18 Harnett Street; Wilmington) from 6 pm to 9 pm

Sunday:

Boogie in the Park at Ocean Front Park (105 Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach) from 5 pm to 7 pm

Holden Beach Summer Concert Series at The Holden Beach Pavilion under the bridge (131 Jordan Blvd, Holden Beach) from 6:30 pm to 8 pm

The George restaurant in Wilmington, NC.

More Things To Do In Wilmington, NC:

If you’re visiting Wilmington and you’re looking for more things to do, there are a ton of local events happening all the time. Be sure to check out list of Festivals in Wilmington, NC. Hopefully there’s one happening when you’re in town.

​Also, our 24 Hours In Wilmington post will help if you’re only in town for a quick trip.

Which of these Free Summer Concerts In Wilmington, NC are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.

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