Start your holiday season in Historic Downtown Southport
This year, we welcome back many of our traditional WINTERFEST favorite events. Southport WINTERFEST 2024, the umbrella under which most of the city’s holiday events fall, will include everything from a “Winterfest Tea,” to the “Southport Christmas Flotilla.” Seventeen action-packed events of WINTERFEST 2024 include many events that will entertain adults and children of all ages.
Southport Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony
In the Spirit of the Holiday Season, join us at Whittler’s Bench for the Southport Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Trinity United Methodist Church Children’s Choir will serenade us with time-honored Christmas Carols.
Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided by the Southport Beautification Committee. Come join us on Friday, December 6, at 6pm to share in the Joy of the Season.
Fourth Annual Storefront Showcase
Southport businesses are decking the town with the Fourth Annual Storefront Showcase holiday decorating contest. From Friday, December 6 to Saturday, December 15, visitors, guests, or residents of Southport can follow the Storefront Showcase map that will be available online to visit each store and cast votes on each participating business.There will be five categories: Most Original, Most Kid-friendly, Most Traditional, Biggest Surprise, or Best Overall.
Voting participants may vote more than once per category. On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, winners will be announced and certificates will be awarded for Best Overall Business and Best Overall Home. Don’t hesitate; start planning your spectacular decorations now! Registration will open November 1.
Winterfest Tea
Join us for Southport’s Winterfest Tea, an enchanting tea with special holiday entertainment sponsored by the City of Southport Community Relations Department and the Southport Beautification Committee.
Saturday, December 7, at 1:00 p.m. at the Southport Community Building, located at 223 East Bay Street. Tickets will be $50 and are available at the Ft. Johnston Visitors Center and Museum beginning November 1.
Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the following local organizations: Providence Home, Carousel Center, and Southport Elementary School.
Tickets, priced at $50, go on sale November 1 and can be purchased at the Ft. Johnston Visitors Center and Museum. Ten-top tables can be reserved for $450. To reserve tickets and arrange for will-call at the Visitors Center, please call 910-457-7927.
Pet Pictures with Santa
Pet Party with Santa Sponsored by the City of Southport Animal Protective Services, the Pet Party with Santa will take place on Sunday, December 8, from 2-4 p.m. at Indian Trail Meeting Hall/ Keziah Park, 113 W. Moore St.
Bring your pets for a jolly picture with Santa. Enjoy some pet-friendly activities and treats while you wait.
Donations will be accepted to receive your photo with a frame.
Shop-with-a-Cop Concert
The Shop-with-a-Cop Concert featuring the Little Big House band is sponsored by Southport Police Department. It will take place on Monday, December 9, 6pm-8pm, on Fort Johnston Lawn.
The Shop-with-a-Cop program is a long-standing tradition in Southport. Applications and more information about the program can be found here!
Candy Cane Garden Party
Southport’s Garden Club is looking forward to hosting its Fourth Annual Candy Cane Garden Party at Keziah Park on Tuesday, December 10 from 6-8pm. The Park is transformed into a winter wonderland with lighting, artisan decorations, hot chocolate and holiday music. Santa and The Grinch will be there for our visitors. Items will be available for auction and purchase. A family-friendly evening that’s fun for all ages, this event has quickly become a Southport tradition. For information and to purchase a candy cane to decorate visit www.southportgardenclub.org, available for pickup at Visitors Center. Purchase stands for candy canes (extra cost).
The State Port Pilot Annual Cookie Contest
WINTERFEST continues with this year’s The State Port Pilot Annual Cookie Contest (Sponsored by The State Port Pilot) on Wednesday, December 11, 3:30pm-5:30pm at the Southport Community Building. Free… Come vote for your favorite! For information on entering email cookies@stateportpilot.com. Watch for more details in your copy of the State Port Pilot, the Holiday edition of Coast magazine, on our Facebook page, and at stateportpilot.com.
Supper with Santa’s Elves
Bring your children to enjoy Supper with Santa’s Elves on Wednesday, December 11, from 5-6:30pm. Parents will be able to drop their children off, shop at local stores, or have a romantic dinner. The children will enjoy a pizza dinner and watch a movie. This fun event is sponsored by the Southport Parks & Recreation. You must pre-register by calling 910-457-7945. The cost is $5 per child and is located at 209 Atlantic Ave., beside Southport Gym.
Christmas Movie “Polar Express”
The Christmas Movie “Polar Express,” an annual favorite WINTERFEST event, will be shown on the Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn at dusk on Thursday, December 12. This event is sponsored by Southport Parks and Recreation. Chairs/blankets are encouraged, and hot chocolate and snacks will be provided by Intracoastal Realty, Southport.
Once More Bookstore’s Holiday Open House
Step into the warmth of the season at Once More Bookstore’s Holiday Open House on Friday, December 13th, from 10:00-4:00. At 727 N Howe St behind Southport Realty. Browse through a treasure trove of holiday delights, from adult and children’s books to puzzles, DVDs, and CDs, all offered at irresistibly low prices. As you explore, let the cheerful notes of holiday music envelop you, and indulge in complimentary cookies, a sweet treat for valued shoppers. This event is proudly hosted by Friends of the Library Southport Oak Island, adding a touch of literary joy to your holiday festivities.
Historic Holidays
Enjoy a tour, Historic Holidays, at the NC Maritime Museum at Southport, 204 E. Moore Street. This annual tradition, presented by the museum crew, will be from 3pm on Friday, December 13. Staff and volunteers will be dressed out in period attire and historic activities and take-home crafts will be available for visitors to participate in.
Light Up the Night Christmas Parade
Children, grownups, residents, and visitors, look forward to the annual Light Up the Night Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Southport Fire Department. On Friday, December 13, at 5:30pm the children will begin to board the fire engines at the Southport Fire Station. The parade begins at 6:30pm. Parade route: Waterfront Park, down Howe St., back to the Southport Fire Station. Following the parade, children are invited to visit with Santa.
The parade application can be found here.
Winter Craft Festival
Homemade Arts and crafts, homegrown winter vegetables, cut flowers, homemade baked goods, honey, jellies, and pickles are only a few items that you will find at the Winter Craft Festival on Saturday, December 14, from 9am – 4pm on Bay Street.
Santa’s Workshop
Get your children into the holiday spirit at Southport’s Santa’s Workshop on Saturday, December 14. Children will be making ornaments, decorating cookies, and creating other fun crafts. The workshop is from 10-11am at 209 Atlantic Ave., beside the Southport Gym.
Winterfest Performing Arts
Not to be missed, is the popular Winterfest Performing Arts program, sponsored by Up Your Arts.
Enjoy the performing arts, including instrumentals, singing, and dancing on Saturday, December 14, 11-3 pm at the Community Building.
Old Brunswick County Jail Museum Tours
The Old Brunswick County Jail Tours sponsored by the Southport Historical Society will take place on Saturday, December 14, from 1-6pm at the Old Jail, decorated for the season. The jail was built in 1904 when Southport was the county seat, located on the corner of Nash & Rhett Streets. This is a perfect time to come learn a piece of Southport’s history.
Annual Holiday Tour of Homes
Southport Historical Society’s Annual Holiday Tour of Homes is scheduled for 11am-5pm on Saturday, December 14. Tickets are needed to join this tour and can be purchased for $30 through the Southport Historical Society’s website (southporthistoricalsociety.org), sale date to be announced soon. Limit of 4 tickets per person.
Southport Train and Toy Show
Southport Train and Toy Show which will take place at the Indian Trail Meeting Hall on December 14, running from 12pm-5pm. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Wilmington Railroad Museum for their participation, as they will be showcasing a modular train setup and Wooden Tracks for kids. Our appreciation also goes out to the Grand Strand Model Railroaders and Intercoastal Model Railroad Club who will be sharing their traveling layouts with us.
Charlie Brown Christmas Concert & Party
Get ready to enjoy family fun at the Charlie Brown Christmas Play & Party on Saturday, December 14 from 3-5 pm join us for a party & special live performance by BAC Community Players , Santa, and more come together full of music & fun! For kids of all ages, including entertainment, snacks, drinks, an Ugly sweater contest, and more surprises! This event is hosted by the Brunswick Arts Council. In the spirit of giving, we invite you to bring along a donation—whether it’s cash, a can or a boxed food item—to help us spread holiday cheer.
Southport Winterfest Flotilla
For the 30th year, the Southport Winterfest Flotilla, sponsored by Cape Fear Yacht Club, Downtown Southport, Inc., and the City of Southport will illuminate the waterfront. Bring chairs and blankets to enjoy the beauty of Christmas lights bouncing off the water on Saturday, December 14, 5pm at the Southport Waterfront. The flotilla route will showcase vessels from Old American Fish to Marker 19 near the Southport River Hotel, then return to Old American Fish and the Yacht Basin. Students from the Southport Elementary School Art Program will be judging the sail, power, and paddle boats of the flotilla. Come on down to the waterfront and support all the flotilla participants and enjoy the celebration. Click here to register.
‘Tis the season for fun, family, and community. So, join Southport for the week-long 2024 Christmas Season celebration. CLICK HERE for more information about Southport’s WINTERFEST 2024 events and activities or call the Southport Visitors’ Center at 910-457-7927.
