Annual Traditions in Southport
As you pull out your fresh new calendar and make your plans for the year, be sure to note these annual traditions! These are local favorites you won’t want to miss!
Spring Annual Tradition: Spring Festival
A longstanding tradition of 28 years, the annual Spring Festival welcomes the change of season with a weekend of activity. Festival sponsors include The City of Southport, The Southport-Oak Island Kiwanis Club, and Downtown Southport, Inc. Residents and visitors enjoy activities for the whole family. Franklin Square Park fills with over 160 craft vendors, and there will be flowers and plants for sale. You’ll find activities for children, a trackless train, food vendors, and musical entertainment (schedule to be announced soon). Make sure to add this fun event to your calendar for Friday, March 29th from 10 am – 5 pm, and Saturday, March 30th from 10 am – 4 pm.
Summer Annual Tradition: North Carolina 4th of July Festival
Southport has celebrated the patriotic spirit of America for over 200 years in grand style. This festival is now a cherished annual event. Each year brings 40,000 – 50,000 people together in celebration of our nation’s birthday. In 1972, Southport’s Independence Day celebration was established as the official NC 4th of July Festival.
Each year, there are plenty of events to look forward to such as an Arts and Crafts Market and Beach Day on Oak Island full of family-friendly activities. One of the most anticipated events is the Freedom Flotilla. Locals decorate their boats in patriotic colors and décor and participate in a nautical parade. There is a Naturalization Ceremony to welcome some of our nation’s newest citizens, a Dinner and Ceremony to recognize Veterans, and an Annual Fire Fighters Freedom Competition. The largest piece of the festival is the 4th of July Parade. The streets of Downtown Southport fill with local businesses and community groups parading in celebration of our nation, and visitors and locals alike flock to the street and view this exciting event. And of course, to wrap up this annual tradition, there are fireworks shows in both Oak Island and Southport!
Winter Annual Tradition: Winterfest
A week of holiday festivities, Southport locals highly anticipate Winterfest. Occurring the first week of December, activities and holiday cheer fill the city. Beginning with the Mayor’s Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony, the week also brings a Shop-With-a-Cop concert, Candy Cane Garden Party, Holiday Tour of Homes, and an Annual Cookie Contest. Historical Holidays special in the NC Maritime Museum, and tours of the Old Brunswick County Jail Museum showcase the rich history of Southport. Children will enjoy a variety of activities including Supper with Santa’s Elves, a Christmas Movie showing at Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn, Santa’s Workshop, and The Light Up the Night Parade where children can ride on fire trucks, and then visit with Santa. Finally, the week of festivities ends with a Holiday Flotilla where viewers enjoy the beauty of Christmas lights bouncing off the water as boaters pass by.
Southport is full of fun events, but these are three annual traditions of the most anticipated. We encourage you to check them out this year! Reach out to our team at The Home Place of Southport to learn more about life in Southport, . Give us a call at 833-939-3814 to learn more about what this charming seaside town offers. The Home Place of Southport may be the right fit for you!