SOUTHPORT, N.C. — The North Carolina Fourth of July Festival has celebrated America’s independence for more than 200 years.
Every year, 40,000 to 50,000 people make their way to Southport — on the coast just south of Wilmington — to show their patriotism and celebrate America’s birthday.
Trisha Howarth, the publicity chair for the festival, said Southport has been celebrating the red, white and blue since 1795.
“Just off the waters out here,” Howarth said. “The captains anchored ship, fired their cannons and toasted the independence for our new and free America.”
Now, that freedom is still celebrated out on the water with the Red, White, and Blue Freedom Flotilla. That’s where hundreds of patriotically adorned boats take to the Intracoastal Waterway to ring in the nation’s birthday.
“Thank you to all of those who made America what it is today, it’s always changing, it’s always morphing into something new, different, but the basis is always the same,” Howarth said. “That life, liberty and freedom, it all rolls into being the Fourth of July, and the Fourth of July Festival just really culminates that feeling of patriotism.”
Howarth said it’s Southport’s year-round patriotism and deep roots in the American Revolution and Civil War that make this flotilla so exciting.
“There’s so many of us who live here full-time that say we bleed red, white and blue,” Howarth said. “So all of those things coming together just make it even more special that we are seeing this tribute out on the water for the Fourth of July.”
The Freedom Flotilla took place Tuesday, but the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival continues its festivities Thursday with a parade, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, fireworks, live music and more. You can see a full, detailed schedule of the events here.