N.C. Fourth of July Festival

The history of Southport's Fourth of July Festival celebration was first recorded in a newspaper in 1795. Through the years and the dedicated efforts of many civic groups and citizens, the Festival has evolved to encompass a wide variety of American celebration traditions. Each year festival highlights include a Naturalization Ceremony, Reading of the Declaration of Independence, Veterans Recognition Ceremony, Flag Retirement Ceremony, and Flag Raising Ceremony. Each year, city residents and business owners adorn their yards and shop windows with patriotic decorations, and for a time, the sounds of the Festival fill the air. This year marks the 229th year of the Festival. The patriotic spirit of America is alive and well in the City of Southport and Town of Oak Island. A full calendar of events on the Festival website.

2024 Calendar of Events

Friday, June 28th

• 9am-2pm American Red Cross Blood Drive. Fire Department Substation, 111 E. Nash Street, Southport. (By appointment only).
• 10am-2pm Historic Chapel of the Cross Self-Guided Tours. Southport, St. Phillips Church.
• 10am-4pm Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum Opened
• 10am-5pm NC Maritime Museum Opened at Southport
• 3 p.m. 9/11 Remembered Traveling Memorial enters Southport at the intersection of 87 and 211. Event of the City of Southport Fire Department.
• 6:00 pm Flyover at Southport Waterfront.
• 6:00 pm Welcoming Ceremony, Southport. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
• 6:15 pm Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
• 6:30 pm 440th Army Band. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Sponsored by Blaze Heating, Cooling, Electrical & Plumbing.

Saturday, June 29th

• 8am-10am Freedom Run 5k-1 mile. Southport Waterfront. Sponsored by Novant Health
• 10am-2pm Historic Chapel of the Cross Self-Guided Tours. Southport, St. Phillips Church.
• 10am-4pm Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum Opened
• 10am-5pm NC Maritime Museum Opened at Southport
• 10am-5pm Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Event of The Associated Artists of Southport.
• 10am-6pm 9/11 Remembered Traveling Memorial. Nash Street. Event of the Southport Fire Department.
• 2pm & 6pm AMUZU Theatre & Over the River Theatre Company presents: “The Complete History of America” - Free to all. AMUZU Theatre, Southport. Event of the Brunswick Arts Council.
• 3pm 39th Annual Fire Fighters Freedom Competition & Apparatus Expo. Nash Street. Event of the Southport Fire Department.
• 3 pm Patriotic Concert - The Sea Notes Choral Society, Let Freedom Ring. Brunswick Community College, Odell Williamson Auditorium. Event of the Sea Notes Choral Society.

Sunday, June 30th

• 10am-12pm - Kite Fest and Artisan Vendors. Middleton Park. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 10:00 am - 3:00pm Food Vendors - Middleton Park. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband
• 10:15am, 10:45am, 11:15am & 11:45am Kite Demonstrations.Middleton Park. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 10am-4pm 9/11 Remembered Traveling Memorial, Nash Street. Event of the Southport Fire Department.
• 12 pm Uncle Sam Skydiving. Middleton Beach Access, 49th Street, Oak Island.
• 1 pm-3 pm UPWA Live Pro Wrestling-Middleton Park. Sponsored by LeafFilter Gutter Protection.
• 3 pm Patriotic Concert - The Sea Notes Choral Society, Let Freedom Ring. Brunswick Community College, Odell Williamson Auditorium. Event of the Sea Notes Choral Society.
• 4pm Gospel Fest. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.

Monday, July 1st

• 7:00 am Beach Day - Contests registration at the Cabana. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 8:00 am Beach Day - Volleyball at the Beach. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 9:00 am Beach Day - Horseshoes at Middleton Park (Register at field). Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 9:00 am Beach Day - Beached Out Dog Costume Contest at Stage. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 10:00 am Beach Day - Cornhole at Middleton Park. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 10:00 am Beach Day - Baby Bathing Suit Contest at Stage. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 10am-2pm Historic Chapel of the Cross Self-Guided Tours. Southport, St. Phillips Church.
• 10am-5pm NC Maritime Museum at Southport
• 10am-5pm Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Event of The Associated Artists of Southport.
• 11:00 am Beach Day - Beachin’ Golf Cart Contest at Basketball Court. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 11:00 am Beach Day - Pre-K School Age Balloon Toss at Stage. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
• 11:00am - 2pm Beach Day - Inflatables at Middleton Park. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 12:30pm Beach Day - Sand Castle Contest, 46th Street SE & Beach Drive access. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 1:00 pm Beach Day - Jimmy Buffet Karaoke. 6th grade and up. Middleton Park Extension. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 5:30pm Welcoming Ceremony, Oak Island. Middleton Park Extension.
• 5:35pm Oak Island Birthday Recognition. Middleton Park Extension. Event of Oak Island Parks and Recreation. Sponsored by Focus Broadband.
• 6pm Beach Day Concert - 20 Ride Band. Middleton Park Extension. Event of Town of Oak Island.
• 9pm Beach Day - Town of Oak Island Anniversary Fireworks. Oak Island Pier. Event of Town of Oak Island.

Tuesday July 2nd

• 9:00am - 10:00am Assumption of Command. 596th Transportation Brigade, Military Ocean Terminal, Sunny Point. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Event of MOTSU.
• 9:00am - 10:00am 440th Army Band Performance. Sponsored by Blaze: Heating, Cooling, Electrical & Plumbing.
• 10am-2pm Historic Chapel of the Cross Self-Guided Tours. Southport, St. Phillips Church
• 10am-4pm 9/11 Remembered Traveling Memorial. Nash Street. Event of the Southport Fire Department.
• 10am-5pm NC Maritime Museum Opened at Southport
• 10am-11pm Trolley available from Southport Elementary, 701 W 9th Street. Sponsored by Downtown Southport Inc.
• 11am-7pm Arts & Crafts, Southport Waterfront. Sponsored By Beach Road Furniture.
• 11am-10pm Food Concessions. South Howe Street. Sponsored by Pepsi Bottling Ventures LLC.
• 12pm-5pm Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Event of the Associated Artists of Southport.
• 12pm-2pm Children’s Entertainment. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Organized by Brunswick Arts Council & Southport Rotary Club.
• 1pm-3pm Cape Fear Radio. Southport Waterfront Park.
• 1pm-5pm Military Exhibits. Southport Waterfront Park.
• 3pm-4pm Brunswick Summer Wind Ensemble. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
• 4pm Red, White & Blue Freedom Flotilla. Southport Waterfront Park. Organized Cape Fear Yacht Club.
• 5pm Reading of the Declaration. Southport Waterfront Stage
• 5:30pm A Salute to Veterans - Letters from Home. Southport Waterfront Stage. Sponsored by Mansfield Sales and Service, Inc.
• 7pm-10pm Waterfront Stage Entertainment, LunaSea, Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by State Port Pilot

Wednesday, July 3rd

• 9am Children’s Games. Southport Waterfront Park. Registration opens at 8 am. Event of the City of Southport Parks & Recreation.
• 10am-2pm Historic Chapel of the Cross Self-Guided Tours. Southport, St. Phillips Church.
• 10am-4pm 9/11 Remembered Traveling Memorial. Nash Street. Event of the Southport Fire Department.
• 10am -5pm Military Exhibits. Southport Waterfront Park.
• 10am-5pm NC Maritime Museum Opened at Southport.
• 10am-5pm Summer Regional Art Show, Southport, Franklin Square Gallery. Event of the Associated Artists of Southport.
• 11am-7pm Arts & Crafts. Southport Waterfront. Sponsored by Beach Road Furniture.
• 10am-11pm Trolley available from Southport Elementary 701 W 9th Street. Sponsored by Downtown Southport Inc.
• 11am-10pm Food Concessions. South Howe Street. Sponsored by Pepsi Bottling Ventures LLC.
• 11am-1pm Cape Fear Radio Southport, Waterfront Park, Southport.
• 12:30pm-3:30pm Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Event of the Southport Historical Society.
• 1pm Flag Retirement Ceremony. Southport,Waterfront Stage. Organized by Richard H. Stewart Jr. American Legion Post 543 and Cape Fear Council of Boy Scouts.
• 1:30pm 440th Army Band. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Sponsored by Blaze: Heating, Cooling, Electrical & Plumbing.
• 2:30-3:45pm Naturalization Ceremony, Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Sponsored by Downtown Southport Inc.
• 4pm-6:30pm Waterfront Stage Entertainment -Salty Dawgs. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by The State Port Pilot.
• 7pm-10pm Waterfront Stage Entertainment & Street Dance - The Embers. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by The State Port Pilot.

Thursday, July 4th

• 7am-10:30am Pancake Breakfast. Trinity Methodist Church, 209 E Nash St. Event of Trinity United Methodist Church.
• 10am-2pm Historic Chapel of the Cross Self-Guided Tours. Southport, St. Phillips Church.
• 10am-3pm 9/11 Remembered Traveling Memorial. Nash Street. Event of the Southport Fire Department.
• 11am-9pm Arts & Crafts. Southport Waterfront. Sponsored By Beach Road Furniture.
• 10am-5pm Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Event of the Associated Artists of Southport.
• 11am-10pm Food Concessions. South Howe Street. Sponsored by Pepsi Bottling Ventures LLC.
• 10am-11pm Trolley available from Southport Elementary, 701 W 9th Street. Sponsored by Downtown Southport Inc.
• 10:15am Reading of the Declaration at the intersection of Moore/Howe Streets.
• 10:30am Flag Raising Ceremony, Southport, at the intersection of Moore/Howe Streets. Organized by Brunswick Town Fort Anderson.
• 11am Festival Parade. Moore & Howe Streets. Sponsored by WECT TV6 and Dosher Memorial Hospital.
• 12pm-5pm NC Maritime Museum Opened at Southport
• 12pm-3pm Cape Fear Radio. Waterfront Park, Southport.
• 12:30pm - 3:30pm Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Event of the Southport Historical Society.
• 1 pm Flyover, Southport Waterfront.
• 1pm-3pm First Responders Vehicle Display. Southport Waterfront Park. Organized City of Southport Fire and Police Departments.
• 3pm-5pm UPWA Live Pro Wrestling-Southport. Nash Street. Sponsored by LeafFilter Gutter Protection
• 3pm-6pm Waterfront Stage Entertainment - The Doorsmen. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by The State Port Pilot
• 7pm-9pm Waterfront Stage Entertainment - Liquid Pleasure. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by The State Port Pilot
• 9pm 4th of July Fireworks. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by American Fish & Frying Pan
• 9:30pm-10pm Band Returns to Waterfront Stage. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by The State Port Pilot