For the Birds

Winter birders, take note: Halyburton Park will be offering a Lake Mattamuskeet and Outer Banks birding trip this weekend, featuring waterfowl and shorebirds of Eastern North Carolina. The group will make visits to Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife refuge, Alligator River, Pea Island, Bodie Island, Oregon Inlet and Pocosin Lakes. Register by January 5; ages 16 and older. Admission: $120. Jan. 11-13. Halyburton Park, 4099 S. 17th Street, Wilmington. For info: (910) 341-0075 or [email protected].

Could It Be Magic?

The Wilson Center stage will be the setting for Masters of Illusion —Live! an evening of some of the world’s foremost magicians, experts in the arts of illusion and deception. Among those featured: Tommy Wind, who combines illusion with rock and roll music; Farrell Dillon, a popular comedy musician who has toured in 30 countries; and Greg Gleason, the star of “The Wizard’s Secrets” in Las Vegas, where he has performed more than 9,000 shows. All three have appeared on the hit TV series Masters of Illusion. Tickets: $25-$69. Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m. Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St., Wilmington. For info: (910) 362-7999 or cfcc.edu.

Flower Power

Camellia exhibitors from throughout the Southeast will display nearly 1,000 award-winning blooms at the Tidewater Camellia Club’s 69th annual Winter Show & Sale. There will be a camellia contest with judges from the American Camellia Society, educational displays on cultivating camellias, as well as an expanded sale of award-winning blooms. Admission: Free for spectators. Feb. 23, 10 a.m. New Hanover County Arboretum, 6202 Oleander Drive, Wilmington. For registration and other information: tidewatercamelliaclub.org.

The Fall of Fort Fisher

Fort Fisher was the jewel in the crown — the last Confederate seaport to be seized by the Union in the Civil War. In remembrance of the events, the Friends of Fort Fisher will host a one-day history event marking the 154th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher. There will be Union and Confederate re-enactors, as well as tours, activities and cannon firing. Photographer Henry Taylor, who specializes in 19th century wet-plate photography, will be on-hand to take pictures. Admission: Free. Jan. 12, 10 a.m. Fort Fisher State Historic Site, 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd., Kure Beach. For info: (910) 251-7340.

Jenny Scheinman’s Kannapolis:
A Moving Portrait

Acclaimed violinist, singer and composer Jenny Scheinman takes us back in time with a multimedia show that combines the images of Depression-era filmmaker H. Lee Waters interspersed with bluegrass, country and folk songs. Originally from northern California, Scheinman has worked with countless musicians as a performer and arranger, among them Ani de Franco, Nora Jones, Lucinda Williams, Bono and Lou Reed. Kannapolis is a vivid journey into America’s industrial past. Tickets: $20-$50. Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. Kenan Auditorium, UNCW, 515 Wagoner Drive, Wilmington. For information: (910) 962-3500 or uncw.edu/arts.

All That Jazz

What better antidote to a cold night than hot Brazilian jazz? The 39th annual North Carolina Jazz Festival will feature a special evening of Brazilian performers Maucha Adnet — who sang with legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim — and her husband, Duduka da Fonseca, a member of the renowned Samba band Trio da Paz. Also on the docket: Wilmington piano sensation Grenaldo Frazier. Friday and Saturday will feature 4 1/2-hour concerts with a rotation of jazz all-stars, playing a total of seven sets. Tickets: $15-$225. Jan. 31- Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m. Hotel Ballast, 301 N. Water St., Wilmington. For info: ncjazzfestival.org.

Shagadelic

Hope Abounds is a nonprofit that supports individuals battling cancer. This year’s eighth annual East Coast Shag Classic is a benefit tribute to Carolina beach music and all things shag. There will be shag and line-dance lessons, open dancing, and different themes and bands nightly, including Band of Oz, Jim Quick and Coastline Band, The Entertainers, and Gary Louder and Smokin’ Hot. Hotel packages available. Feb. 7-10. Holiday Inn Resort, 1706 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach. For info: (910) 256-2231 or hopeabounds.org.

Antiques in Winter

The thrill of the hunt made easy — the 49th annual Wilmington Antique Show & Sale will feature 35 dealers offering fine early American and English furniture, rugs, primitives and vintage items as well as silver, fine china and paintings. There will also be a silent auction, and restoration resource providers will be on-hand to repair your treasures. Presented by the North Carolina Junior Sorosis and North Carolina Sorosis. Tickets: $10. Jan. 18-19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Jan. 20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St., Wilmington. For info: (910) 791-6128 or wilmingtonantiqueshow.com.