Friday, July 23: Pre-Cruise Blues Party at The Soapbox (255 N. Front St.) from 5:00pm until 7:00pm with music by Michele & the Midnight Blues Band. For details, call 910-251-8500. The Cape Fear Blues Cruise will depart at 7:30pm (boarding begins at 7:00pm) aboard the Henrietta III riverboat (docked at the Hilton) for a bluesy cruise down the Cape Fear River. Passengers will enjoy 3 bands, 3 decks and 3 bars, appetizers and a blues-filled sunset. Bands include �Russ Wilson & His Mighty, Mighty Men,� �The Dynamic Therm-O-Tones� and �El Jaye Johnson.� Tickets are on sale for $35 per person at the Cape Fear Riverboat office (101 S. Water Street). Call 910-343-1611 for ticket info and reservations. The Blues Cruise is usually a sell-out, so get your tickets early. The free Post-Cruise Party will be held at the Port City�s blues venue, The Rusty Nail (1310 S. 5th St.) with music by local favorites �The Vistas� and �Rick Tobey.� For late-night blues, check out Marrz Theater (15 S. Front St.) where Alabama blues favorites �The Southern Comfort Blues Band� will perform a Janis Joplin/Big Brother Tribute (cover charge).

Saturday, July 24: Performer �Lightnin� Wells� will conduct a free Blues Workshop at Finkelstein Music (6 S. Front St., Wilmington) beginning at 11:00am. Call 910-762-5662 for more info. Then, pack your lawn chairs and blankets, and boogie over to Battleship Park (beside the Battleship North Carolina on Eagle Island) for the Cape Fear Blues Festival Concert featuring Bill Perry Blues Band, Sandra Hall, Gary Primich, Lightnin� Wells, Tommy B. & The Stingers, and The Cape Fear Blues Jam All-Stars. Food vendors, beverages, public facilities, water taxi and free parking are available on-site. A free water taxi shuttles from the dock at Water & Market streets. Gates open at 12-noon, rain or shine, and events take place under the Big Top at Battleship Park. Tickets are $12 advance/$16 gate at Harris-Teeter stores (beginning July 14) and Finkelstein Music or by calling 910-350-8822. The Post-Festival Concert on Saturday begins at 9:00pm at the Rusty Nail includes an East Coast-West Coast Harmonica Blowdown with Lil� Ronnie & The Grand Dukes, R.J. Mischo, and John Nemeth beginning at 9:00pm at the Rusty Nail ($4 cover charge). Beginning at 10:00pm at Marrz Theater (15 S. Front St.), join local rockin� blues favorites the Polar Bear Blues Band who will share the stage with bassist/vocalist Harvey Arnold of The Outlaws. Cover charge applies; call 910-772-9045 for ticket info.

Sunday, July 25: The free All-Day Blues Jam begins at 12:00 Noon at Battleship Park featuring the finest local & regional blues talent in southeast N.C. A Gibson Guitar giveaway takes place at 6:00pm. To reserve a jam slot in advance call 910-395-4835.

For more information on the Cape Fear Blues Festival, please call the Blues Line at 910-350-8822 or visit website www.capefearblues.com. Festival headquarters hotel is the Hampton Inn Medical Park: 910-796-8881.

For free Visitors Guide with accommodation and attraction listings for Historic Wilmington & NC�s Cape Fear Coast, please call 341-4030 (local) or 1-866-266-9690 (toll-free). Or stop by the Visitor Information Center located at 24 N. Third Street, Wilmington, or visit www.cape-fear.nc.us.
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Media:
Cape Fear Coast CVB
Connie Nelson
Communications Manager
(910) 341-4030 ext. 20, or
(800) 222-4757
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The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a the Cape Fear Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau (CFCCVB) is the official destination marketing organization of New Hanover County that stimulates economic development through the promotion of travel and tourism.