Southport Magazine

Car shows, crafts, and Spring Markets!
story by LISA STITES
Spring is here and Summer is just around the corner. From classic car shows to Summer Markets, May is the beginning of the great weather and even more outdoor opportunities. Here are some of the areas activities happening in May.

Get rolling in the right direction with the Cape Fear Cruisers’ 13th Annual Car and Truck Show
With more than 100 classic and newer vehicles, the annual Car and Truck Show promises to entertain. The Cape Fear Cruisers’ prior shows have had as many as 130 to 150 entries.
This year’s show is scheduled for Saturday, May 5, at Eric’s Grill in Southport (the Walmart parking lot). Live music will be provided by The Back Porch Rockers. The entry fee is $20. Registration starts at 9 a.m. the day of the show, and trophies will be awarded at 2 p.m.
Cape Fear Cruiser’s President Dale Boden said the club has approximately 100 members, and that the members have probably 125 cars. A lot of the members have more than one car, and one member actually has 15. Boden will put his own car in the show, a 1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. He’s had it for five years. He retired in 2012, moved to Southport and bought the Olds.
Collecting that special old classic or jazzing up a newer model is a hobby for some, Boden said. For some members, they remember a car from decades ago they they used to drive, or that they always loved and wanted to own.
Approximately 5,000 people attend the car show annually, which serves as a fundraiser for the group to support local charities. Over the years, the Cruisers club has donated to the Brunswick County Toy Run, Warrior Ride, the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Pink Ribbon Project, Providence Home, EAA CHapter 939 and the Lions Club.
“This May show has been our bread and butter for years,” Boden said. Last year, the non-profit group gave $6,100 just to to the toy run.
The show has grown, Boden said, and the members hear lots of positive feedback from attendees. A Mount Airy resident who attended last year recently called to find out how to enter his car in this year’s fall show, coming up in October.
So what’s at stake? Shiny trophies to go with shiny cars, and of course, some serious bragging rights.
Trophies are sponsored by local businesses, and are awarded to the best of a particular brand (Chevrolet, Ford, etc.), and also for best paint and best street ride. The best Camaro and best Mustang will be recognized, as will the best import and the best truck. The best in show trophy also comes with a cash prize. There will also be door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, and the Southport Police Department will raffle off a bicycle and a child car seat.
For more information, call (910) 477-3785 or visit www.capefearcruisers.com.

Shop by the Waterfront (Southport)… MARKETS!
Make sure to put the Southport Waterfront Market on your list of must-dos this summer. Whether you’re just visiting and need a thank-you gift for your favorite pet sitter, or you’re a local looking for some fresh produce and a new table centerpiece for your next dinner party, you can probably find it at the Farmers Market.
Vendors set up on the lawn of Ft. Johnston Garrison House, so shoppers have a beautiful backdrop of history and the waterfront as they browse the various items offered for sale. Everything must be handmade, and organizers try to keep a balance of the goods offered so there is a variety for customers.
The Market runs on Wednesdays, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. , May 2 through August 28. The Market will not be open July 4th, however.
Karen Rife, Marketing Chairperson for Downtown Southport Inc., said that the Market usually includes 65-70 vendors. Downtown Southport Inc. is a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting events and business in Southport. “We all love Southport so much that we want everyone to love it as much as we do,” Rife said.
Rife said that visitors to the Market love the location, and they love the choices they have, from inexpensive trinkets to high-end items.
“They like that it’s a small, quaint town, that they can get around town, that there are a lot of different vendors,” she said.
Customers definitely come back year after year, she said, and they also shop at the markets at Oak Island and even Sunset Beach.
“They do a little hop skippity from market to market,” she said. And once they finish shopping at the Waterfront Market, Rife said visitors are encouraged to explore more of Southport. “It’s beautiful and they can walk to the local restaurants. We encourage them to not just to enjoy the market but to also enjoy this beautiful, historic town.” she said.

….and Shop by the Sea (Oak Island)
Find the Farmers Market on Oak Island on Mondays during the season, open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the soccer fields behind Town Hall (SE 46th Street/Dolphin Drive). With 40-50 vendors, and even more on holiday weeks, this Market also has something for everyone.
Oak Island Parks and Recreation Director Rebecca Squires said that visitors to the Farmers Market really enjoy the shopping venue.
“The smell of the salt air, the sound of the waves crashing, and seagull cries overhead add that extra ambiance to the market that you can’t get anywhere else,” Squires said. There is plenty of parking available across Dolphin Drive, in the cabanas parking lot.
The Market includes many Oak Island vendors, but also some seasonal and part-time ones as well. “Regular patrons see fresh produce just in season, or new and unique crafts each week,” Squires said.
By offering locals and residents the opportunity to find fresh produce, a unique gift or home decorations, the Oak Island Farmers Market helps support small businesses owned by residents, creating income and improving the overall Oak Island economy, Squires explained.
On Oak Island, return visitors are also part of the Market experience. Squires said that many visitors have said that the Oak Island Farmers Market is one of the first stops they make during their week of vacationing on Oak Island.
“They pick up fresh veggies and fruits for their rental house, and unique crafts and gifts that they cannot find anywhere else,” Squires said.
This year, the Market starts May 21 and will run through Sept. 3.