Southport Magazine

The North Carolina 4th of July Festival is nothing if not huge. With so much to do, you’ll have to plan ahead to make sure you hit all your favorites, and sample a few new events as well. Here is a look at the Festival Schedule as it stands at press time. We hope you find this useful and wish you a very Happy Independence Day!

Friday, June 30

Southport

9 am – 2 pm American Red Cross Blood Drive (by appointment only), Southport Baptist Church, 200 N. Howe St.

6 pm Welcoming Ceremony, Garrison House Lawn, 203 East Bay St.

6:15 pm Reading of the Declaration of Independence and signing opportunity, Garrison Lawn

6:30 pm Coastal Harmonizers, Garrison Lawn

Saturday, July 1

Oak Island 

Beach Day

8 am Horseshoe Tournament, Middleton Park

10 am Registration for all beach athletic events, on the beach in front of the Cabana, SE 46th Street

11 am – 2 pm Youth activities including inflatables, rides, games and food, Middleton Park

11 am Corn Hole, Bocce Ball and Beach Volleyball Tournaments, on the beach in front of the Cabana, SE 46th Street

1 pm Sand Sculpture Contest, on the beach in front of the Cabana, SE 46th Street

5:45 Welcoming Ceremony, Middleton Park Pavilion

6-9 pm Beach Day Concert featuring the Carl Newton Review, Middleton Park Pavilion

6 pm Live Music on the Oak Island Pier by The Doorsmen

6-6:45 pm Shag Contest Registration, Middleton Park

7 pm Shag Contest, during intermission of the concert 

9 pm (or dusk) Oak Island Anniversary Fireworks, Oak Island Pier, 705 Ocean Drive. Visible for miles on the beach either side of the pier

Southport

4 pm 38th Annual Firefighters Competition and Apparatus Expo, 115 E Nash St.

Sunday, July 2

Southport

10 am Community Entertainment, Generations Church, Waterfront Park

10 am – 11 pm Trolley available from Southport Elementary School, 701 W. 9th St. to Keziah Park

12-2 pm Children’s Entertainment, Garrison Lawn

1-4 pm Community Entertainment, various bands perform at Southport Coffee Co, The Haven, The Tiki Tavern, Southport Tap & Cellar, and American Fish Company

1-6 pm Arts and Crafts, Franklin Square Park, 130 E. West St.

1-6 pm Voter Registration, Franklin Square Park 

1-7 pm Food Concessions, Franklin Square Park 

1-10 pm Food Truck Row, Waterfront Park

2-4 pm Clicks of Confidence and Trick Horses, Taylor Field Park, 409 E. Nash St.

2:30-4 Lockwood Folly Band, Waterfront Park

4 pm Red, White and Blue Freedom Flotilla, Waterfront Park

5 pm 440th Army Band, Garrison Lawn

5:45 Reading of the Declaration of Independence and signing opportunity, Garrison Lawn

6 pm Salute To Veterans, Southport Community Building, 223 E. Bay St.

7-10 pm Waterfront Stage Entertainment, Highway Miles

Monday, July 3

Southport

8 am Children’s Games, Waterfront Park 

10 am – 5 pm Arts and Crafts, Franklin Square Park

10 am – 5 pm Voter Registration, Franklin Square Park

10 am – 7 pm Food Concessions, Franklin Square Park

10 am – 11 pm Trolley available from Southport Elementary School, 701 W. 9th St. to Keziah Park

12-1:15 pm Chris Mozy performs, Waterfront Park

12-2 pm Children’s Entertainment, Garrison Lawn

1-4 pm Community Entertainment, various band perform at Southport Coffee Co, The Haven, The Tiki Tavern, Southport Tap & Cellar, and American Fish Company

1-10 pm Food Truck Row, Waterfront Park

1:30-3:30 Salty Dawgs perform, Waterfront Park

3 pm Flag Retirement Ceremony, Waterfront Park

4 pm Brunswick Big Band, Garrison Lawn

4:30 Naturalization Ceremony, Garrison Lawn

5:30 Reading of the Declaration of Independence and signing opportunity, Garrison Lawn

7-10 pm Street Dance featuring ReSoul, Waterfront Park

Tuesday, July 4

Oak Island

3-5 pm Live Pro wrestling, Middleton Park

5 pm Uncle Sam Skydive Show, Cabana Beachfront, 46th Street

Southport

7-10 am Pancake Breakfast, Trinity United Methodist Church, 209 E. Nash St.

10 am – 11 pm Trolley available from Southport Elementary School, 701 W. 9th Street to Keziah Park

10 am – 5 pm Arts and Crafts, Franklin Square Park, 130 E. West St.

10 am – 5 pm Voter Registration, Franklin Square Park

10 am – 5 pm Food Concessions, Franklin Square Park 

10 am -10 pm Food Truck Row, Waterfront Park

10:30 am Flag Raising Ceremony, Intersection of Moore and Howe Streets

11 am 4th of July Festival Parade, Moore and Howe Streets

12-2 pm Community Entertainment, Jamie Dooley, Waterfront Stage

1 pm Reading of the Declaration of Independence and signing opportunity, Garrison Lawn

1-3 pm Military and First Responder Vehicle Exhibits, Waterfront Park

1-4 pm Community Entertainment, various bands playing at Southport Coffee Co, The Haven and The Tiki Tavern

2 pm Celebration of the Pledge of Allegiance, Garrison Lawn

2:30 – 4 pm Parlay performs, Waterfront Park

6-9 pm The Castaways perform, Waterfront Park

9 pm Lions Club Boat Raffle Drawing, Waterfront Stage

9 pm Fireworks, Southport Waterfront

9:30 pm Castaways return to the stage