Southport Magazine

The Solstice By The Sea Festival is back this year, and expanded to three days of events. The fun begins Friday, June 17 with a band and shag demonstration at Oak Island’s Middleton Park, continues in Middleton Park on Saturday with more music and dance as well as arts and craft vendors, storytelling, food trucks, kids’ entertainment and a corn hole tournament, and ends on Sunday at Southport’s Amuzu Theatre with a film festival. This weekend of local Brunswick arts and activities is brought to you by the Brunswick Arts Council, the Oak Island Friends of Parks Foundation, & the Amuzu Theatre.

The Tim Clark Band will take to the Middleton Band Shell stage Friday evening from 5:30 – 7:30 pm playing favorites from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. At intermission, the Society of Brunswick Shaggers will performer a demonstration and talk a little about the history of Shag Dancing.

On Saturday the festivities kick off at 10 am and run through 7 pm with music and more on the stage all day.  See our schedule at the end of this article.

Community organizations will have booths set up in Middleton Park from 10 am – 5 pm offering information, activities and raffles and they will be joined by a wide variety of arts and crafts vendors featuring pottery, sculpture, jewelry, clothing, painting, furniture and all kinds of fun works for gifts, home and garden. Angie’s Produce will be on hand as well to save you a trip to the grocery store.

There will be lots of fun activities for children to enjoy as well. The Pirates Playground and the Splashpad will be operating and there will be live Pirates (Black Sails Adventure Company), a Reptile Trailer (Fresh Start Rescue), and motion & movements with Turning the Wheel.   

A variety of food trucks will be on hand including Tacos Costa Grande, Tasty Tee’s, Snack Shak NC, Sea Dogs and Fusion Blue Zone Cuisine. Makai Brewing and the Noni Bacca winery will be offering adult beverages for sale. Food and beverage will be available from 10 am – 8 pm. 

Compete for prizes in the Oak Island Friend of Parks Foundation Cornhole Tournament with play beginning at 11 am and ending at 5 pm. Compete in Doubles, Mixed Doubles, or Youth (13 and under) categories with all proceeds going to improving Oak Island’s parks. Suggested donation is $10 per individual or $20 per team. Register in advance at the Oak Island Recreation Center, 3003 E. Oak Island Drive, or by emailing OKI180@aol.com. Same day registration will be available at the Parks Foundation tent on the day of the event beginning at 10 am if there are any slots remaining. The Parks Foundation will also be holding raffles for cash and prizes including two E-Bikes.

On Sunday it’s off to Souhtport’s historic Amuzu Theatre, 111 N. Howe Street, for the first ever Solstice By The Sea Film Festival. This event showcases short films made in and around Brunswick County featuring new works by local filmmakers and topics within our communities, including Gullah Geechee. The $20 ticket includes popcorn, candy, bottle of water and a souvenir bracelet. Tickets must be purchased in advance at https://brunswick-arts-council.ticketleap.com/1st-solstice-film-festival/. Doors open at 2:30 pm, bring your receipt and show it at the door for entrance. 

As part of the Film Fest, the Arts Council will present a short video featuring all 42 entries in a recent Substance Abuse Prevention poster contest. Six posters will be selected and turned into billboards to help combat substance abuse in our community, said Mary Beth Livers, executive director of the Brunswick Arts Council. 

Saturday Band Schedule 

10 am Casey Townsend 

10:50 am Two Bucks Duo

11:40 am R & R Acoustic

12:25 pm J & B Bluzz

1:10 pm Carolina Sound & Ian Davis

2 pm Blues DeVille

3:15 pm Parlay

4:30 pm DHIM

5:45 pm Tina Smith

6:30 pm The Hatch Brothers