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Celebrating Community
We’re
deadline driven at the magazines, of course. What that means is that one of us is usually writing the inside cover brief, affectionally called the “blurb,” the night before we send the magazine to press. It makes for a busy night of proofreading and putting on the finishing touches, but it also gives us the chance to see the magazine as a whole, not just all its many parts. We saw that this month, the magazine really showcases what a diverse and interesting community we have. We have all the usual interesting tidbits, including the events calendar, full of outside movies and live music. We stopped by one of Leland’s fire stations to snap photos of a “push-in” ceremony, when a new truck is welcomed to its new home — check the Spottings section for more. We also have a piece on a Mom Prom across the river, a time for area moms to dress up and to spend time with friends and make new ones. Taylor Swift Fans — Swifties — can also have a fun night of dancing with Leland’s Swifties Night Out. And if Civil War history is your thing, it’s a great time to get acquainted with the Cape Fear Civil War Round Table. So find yourself some shade, or some air conditioning, and read all about it! — Lisa
Community Swifties Night Out
All Ages Invited To Celebrate Taylor Swift
STORY BY LISA STITES
It’s a bit warm for a cardigan, but maybe your favorite red dress is just the thing for enjoying a night full of Taylor Swift music and dancing. The Town of Leland is hosting Swifties Night Out on July 12, a fun evening “Taylor-made” for fans of the iconic pop singer.
Swifties Night Out runs from 6 to 8 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, and tickets are just $5. Visit https://www.townofleland.com/ event/swifties-night-out for ticket information.
All ages are welcome, and adults accompanying children are expected to stick around for the evening and join in the fun.
Similar events in the past have truly attracted all ages, Recreation Coordinator Molly Prosser said. Attendees have ranged from 2 to 70 years old, she said.
“For our larger scale events, and I love to see this, it will be children, parents, and grandparents coming to the event, or meeting at the event,” Prosser said.
Prosser also said that they wanted to make this a larger event this time around.
“This is supposed to be an all ages event to just promote a general sense of fun for the community,” she said. “We know a lot of people love Taylor Swift and that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon.” With more than 250 charted songs, a dozen of them reaching the top spot, Swift has created a huge following.
“I love how into it people get,” Prossor said. Donning your favorite Taylor Swiftlike apparel is encouraged, and Prossor said that makes the night almost like a mini Eras Tour event.
The night will also include a chance to make crafts, like friendship bracelets, and there will be a Photo Booth. There will also be a DJ spinning the tunes, and a dance teacher will lead line dancing lessons.
Staff with the Leland Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department starts working on larger events, like holiday events, a year out, while smaller events can take up to six months of planning. The Department offers a wide range of outdoor programs through the town, and all kinds of arts programs at LCAC, including pottery, painting, theater, music, and dance, as well as live entertainment.
“Leland is about 50 percent young families and 50 percent retired families,” Prosser said. “We’re definitely trying to tap into that and make sure that we’re offering something for everyone.”
The Center is hosting an open house and instructors’ showcase and recep-
tion on Aug 2 — it’s a chance to meet the instructors and see their work, and to learn more about the many programs available.
So is there a favorite Taylor Swift song LCAC staff just has to hear?
“We absolutely cannot settle on one,” Prosser said. She added that she is “one of the older ones” at LCAC, and was in
middle school when Taylor Swift hit the music scene, so she likes some of the star’s older music, while fellow Recreation Coordinator Brenna Keegan is into some of Swift’s newer music and her remixes.
For Swifts Night Out, Prosser encourages everyone to dress to the nines and come on out to dance the night away. Get ready to Shake It Off with all your Swifty friends!
Community A Prom For Moms A Night of Celebrating and Networking
STORY BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
It was more than 50 years ago, but I remember every detail. I wore a powder blue floor length gown and silver heels. I had on long white gloves and my father surprised me with a faux fur cape with a small silver bow to match the silver beads on my dress and my shoes. My date wore a light blue jacket and black pants. His boutonniere matched my wrist corsage.
The venue was downtown — a place I rarely went. It was an upscale hotel that announced the event in bold signage. “Prom,” it said. The event that every high school girl wanted to attend, a right of passage. Our first “grown up” dance. After that dance, we would graduate, go to college and get jobs. We were ready to start the rest of our lives. We felt empowered. Or we thought we were.
Bonnie Rosario, founder of ANEW (A Network Empowering Women), goes above and beyond to ensure that women have a path to empowerment. She explained, “Moms wear so many different hats these days. We are business professionals, we are active in our communities, we are often caregivers to multi-generations, and we take care of our homes and families. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.”
Rosario said that moms need to feel celebrated, and that’s one reason why her women’s professional networking company, ANEW, is hosting “Mom Prom” on Thursday, July 11, at Freya’s Haus, 55
Scott’s Loop Road in Wilmington, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.
“You can come out, have a good time, and still be home early enough to put the kids to bed and be ready for work the next morning. We welcome all kinds of moms — biological moms, stepmoms, foster moms, bonus moms — any woman who plays a caregiving role. If you’re keeping hearts beating, you’re one of us!” said Rosario.
“I try to create different ways to connect to people and get them connected with new people,” she said. “Moms sometimes feel like they are too old for the bar scene and dance clubs. We want to be safe and be around others who share our interests, that’s why Mom Prom is so popular. It’s a three-hour event. Each hour we do a different genre of music. Our DJ, Joshua Sobel, from DJ Sobel Entertainment, has performed for us before and he always does a great job. We do this twice a year when Moms tend to be the most stressed—right after the holidays, so in January, and then when school is out we do another one in July.”
“This is a really fun evening,” Rosario continued. “Getting together and having a community of women who understand each other is so important. The Moms go all out. They get their hair done, dress up in gorgeous outfits, put on their high heels and hit our red carpet. We have a photo booth for striking a pose and getting that prom picture that maybe you weren’t able to get in high school, and food trucks for keeping energy up while we do dance offs and meet other moms. Freya’s has a bar and snack area. Our Greeting Committee hands out raffle tickets and
a gift bag for each Mom. At some point in the evening, we crown our Prom Queen— not the most popular lady in the room, not the most drop-dead gorgeous like in high school, but the one who is really embracing the idea of the event, the one with great energy who is joyous and reaches out to others.
“We used to have Mom Proms at the Hampsted Women’s Club. They do a great job of working with non-profit organizations, but this year we decided to have the event at Freya’s, because it is a female-owned small business,” Rosario said.
People like Bonnie Rosario understand what it takes to support women. Of the Mom Prom group, she said, “The women who attend this event are from all walks of life. They are at different levels in their careers. They are Moms and Grandmothers.
They understand the need for strategic mentoring and a network of men and women to help them achieve their potential. I believe women are already empowered. We just have to be reminded of it! Energy is better spent creating spaces than asking permission.” Rosario said that Mom Prom is also a great way to meet new friends.
“I moved to North Carolina from New York nine years ago, and it was a little lonely at first. I couldn’t seem to find the same outlets where I had previously made friends, so I started creating them. I’ve found so much joy in showing up and building the opportunities we all wish existed. With so many transplants in this area, I like to think of myself as a connector to people, places, and events that help women thrive!”
If you didn’t get to go to your prom, or you are looking to join a dynamic network, or you just want to dance the night away with some inspiring women, get your Mom Prom tickets at Freya’s Haus, located at 55 Scott’s Loop Road in Wilmington, or call Bonnie Rosario at 631-860-4548 for more information. Tickets are $35 plus tax which includes admission, raffle prize tickets and goodie bags packed by the women of ANEW!
Bonnie Rosario and her family
The ANEW (A Network Empowering Women) Networking Crew.
The dance floor at last year’s Mom Prom
Community
Writing The South
Best-Selling Author Visits Brunswick County
STORY BY LISA STITES, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
New York Times bestselling author Karen White is coming to the Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbeque Rd, Ocean Isle Beach, on July 25 for a meet and greet and book signing. It’s part of a regular lineup of such events hosted by Pelican Bookstore in Sunset Beach (check the calendar pages for a list). White’s latest book, “That Last Carolina Summer” makes its debut just a few days before the event. Described on the author’s website as “an unforgettable family drama and mystery about the unbreakable bonds of family and the gift of second chances,” the latest from this prolific author taps into Southern culture and the family relationships that form the foundation for many of her stories. We had a chance to chat with Karen about her writing process, how the South works in her stories almost as its own character, and what to expect from this novel.
“I was lucky,” Karen said. “Both of my parents are from Mississippi. I was lucky because I was able to look at the South as an outsider because I never lived in the South until I married my Yankee husband and we moved to Georgia. My dad was an executive with Exxon, so we got to live all over the world — Venezuela, London, the Netherlands…but that’s what made summer vacation, when I visited my maternal grandmother in Mississippi, and all my cousins and aunts and extended family…I was able to see the South from that perspective. I think if I had been raised in it, I might not have understood or appreciated how special it is.”
She said it was the neighbors knocking on her grandparents’ door to share some extra tomatoes, and running around barefoot and going downtown where the druggist knew whose daughter she was and gave her a soda. She said that was just an unusual, different kind of thing that she thinks she would have taken for granted if she were born and raised in the South.
Karen is usually publishing a book a year, and that’s when she makes appearances at book signings and other
events. And how did that tour manage to find Brunswick County, North Carolina?
“You’d have to ask my publicist,” Karen said. “She has all these connections with libraries and book clubs, and she always does a great job of placing me where I have readers, or, maybe they don’t know me, but they’re readers. And this introduces them to Karen White. It’s nice going to familiar places, because I am going to recognize people. I’m going to know the bookstores or the librarians, but it’s really nice also to go to new places and think gosh, I’ve never heard of this place or been here before, but I have people here.”
There are actually two Karen White books coming out this year, the other one, called “The Lady on Esplanade,” the third in the Royal Street series, is set in New Orleans. Karen said that caring for elderly parents kind of derailed her writing for a year, and now she is catching up.
“I like to bring new readers into the fold,” she said of traveling to promote her books. “I used to joke with my mom at the church she went to. They would say turn and greet your neighbors be-
cause strangers are only friends you haven’t met. That’s kind of how I feel. If you love to read, then let me meet you. I have 36 books — there’s bound to be one that you’ll enjoy. Meeting my tried and true readers is really special, because when you’re an author and you’re creating these characters in your head, they’re very real, and it’s so neat when you meet readers who have read everything, or just a few books, and they start talking about these characters as if they were real, and you’re like, oh my gosh, they’re real to me too. That kind of makes them even more real.”
When she is ready to start a new project and bring new characters to life, Karen said she doesn’t plan out the whole plot or use outlines.
“I have absolutely no idea where the book is going when I start. It makes it so much harder and I have tried to do it in a more reasonable way but that’s just not
how my writing and my creative brain works. I always start with the main character. I know who she is, her internal and external conflicts, where she comes from, and I’ll have the setting, because the setting to me is always a big part of the book, a main character, actually. And I kind of go from there,” she said.
And even though she has spent so much time with these characters she created, Karen said when it’s time to wrap up a book, it’s time.
“Writing a book is hard,” she said. “Normally by the time I get to the end, I am so ready to say okay, you’re on your own now.” She said that her book tours are usually about a year after she has turned over a completed novel, so she has had some distance and can enjoy being with the characters once more. “I get to revisit them again when I talk about them,” she said.
Asked if there is one book she is most proud of, or if there was a point when she could call herself a successful writer, Karen quickly said she was still working on the second part of that question, then said each and every book had a different feeling, a different writing process, and was usually geared to where she is in life. She settled on “The Last Night in London,” saying it was her Covid book that no one even knows came out.
“I am so enormously proud of that, because it takes so much of my own life and puts it there — the seven years I lived in London. The building is sort of front and center of that story. It has that rich history of England, and I also threw in the Deep South, all of these elements I love into one book.”
Community
Karen said the release was delayed, and then it came out but she didn’t go on tour.
“It was kind of sad. It was what I consider a beautiful book, and probably one of my best books,” she said.
But she said “That Last Carolina Summer” is a special one as well. She had been dealing with health needs of her elderly parents, and while the book isn’t about that, she said it is central to what one of the characters is going through. She said she remembers thinking that she didn’t want to write a book about it, but she did want to explore the struggle of being an adult dealing with an ailing parent.
“The struggle is real, and I thought I could really put some emotion into that,
so I am proud of that book as well.”
While promoting her latest release, Karen is already working on her next book and has another idea “percolating” in the background as well.
“My best writing, and I say that with air quotes, usually happens in my head before I actually start the book,” she said. “It’s usually when I’m working on another book, so the book I am working on right now is Book 4 in my New Orleans series, which will probably be out in 2026, but the book that’s starting to simmer in the back of my head is my next big single title.” She said it was like seeing ghosts, when you see something out of the corner of your eye, and you turn your head and it disappears — that’s what happens with her book ideas. “If I start really thinking about it, it’s going to go away, so I just kind of let it simmer a bit until I’m ready to capture it.
“I love writing about families, especially Southern families because it’s what I know,” she said. “I particularly love to write about sisters and the sister relationship. I think there’s something very special about that, and it’s funny since I only have three brothers.” She said her mother was one of five, and her aunts were “beloved” to her.
“I just remember my happiest memories, and these are the voices I hear in my head, when I would be at my grandmother’s house, sitting at her kitchen table and listening to my mom and her sisters, and my grandmother and her sis-
ter, and all the female relatives crowded around my grandmother’s tiny kitchen, just doing their Southern sister girl talk.” She said she always knew that God had gifted her with so many blessings, but the one thing he forgot was to give her a sister.
“For writers, it’s not to what we know. It’s to write about the lives we wished we had, and that’s why my books are always, always about sisters,” she said.
Look for copies of “That Last Carolina Summer” on July 22, and “The Lady on Esplanade” coming out in November. Find the link to buy tickets for Karen White’s July 25 book signing at the Silver Coast Winery at https://pelicanbookstore.com/july-25-2025-karenwhite-book-signing/. Tickets are $45 and include a copy of the book, a glass of wine and light hors d’oeuvres, and the event starts at 5:30 pm.
With almost 2 million books in print in 15 different languages, Karen White is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 36 novels. Her latest releases include The Author’s Guide to Murder (November 2024), a collaboration with bestselling authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig, and the soon-to-be-released That Last Carolina Summer (July 2025) and The Lady on Esplanade (November 2025), the third book in her New Orleans-set mystery series. She grew up in London but now lives with her husband near Atlanta, Georgia.
With almost two million books in print in fifteen different languages, Karen White is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 36 novels.
Raised in a house full of brothers, Karen’s love of books and strong female characters first began in the third grade when the local librarian placed The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery, in her hands. Although most of her growing up years were spent in London, England, Karen’s roots run deep in the South where many of her novels are set. Her intricate plot lines and compelling characters charm and captivate readers with just the right mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.
Not entirely convinced she wanted to be a writer, Karen first pursued a career in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, in a weak moment, she wrote her first book. “In the Shadow of the Moon” was published in August, 2000. Her books—referred to as “grit lit” (Southern Women’s Fiction)—have since been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year.
Karen’s latest releases include “The Author’s Guide to Murder” (November 2024), a collaboration with authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig and “The House on Prytania” (May 2023), the second book in her New Orleans-set mystery series.
When not writing, Karen spends her time reading, bird watching, and avoiding cooking. Karen and her husband have two grown children and a spoiled Havanese dog, Sophie, and divides her time between Atlanta, Georgia and the northwest Florida coast.
Community Summer Art Events
Southport’s Franklin Square Gallery
CONTRIBUTED
This summer, the Associated Artists of Southport (AAS) are offering a host of fun events at Franklin Square Gallery for art lovers to enjoy.
The Summer Regional Show runs through July 19 and features original paintings, pottery and sculpture by artists from all over the Lower Cape Fear region. The public is invited to attend the artists’ reception and awards ceremony on July 11 from 5-7 pm, to meet the artists and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine.
Next, to kick off Southport’s famous 4th of July festivities, AAS members will participate in the first-ever, city-wide “Celebrating Art in Southport Day” on June 30. Painters and potters alike will be on hand, in and outside the Gallery, to present live demonstrations of their work. The Gallery will also conduct its annual 4th of July raffle
at 5 pm on July 4. Raffle tickets are on sale now at the Gallery ($1 each or $5 for six).
Prizes include original artwork and pottery donated by AAS members, and proceeds will benefit the Gallery’s capital fund.
On July 9, artist and educator Kirah Van Sickle will be at the Gallery from 3-5 pm to present an informative lecture entitled “The Macchiaioli: Italian Impressionism Makes its Mark.” Additional lectures are scheduled for July 23 (“Art in the Digital Age”) and August 6 (“Art as a Mirror: Manet’s Bar at the Folies Bergere”). For more information, please visit the Gallery’s website at https:// www.franklinsquaregallery.com/.
Finally, from July 21 to August 16, the
Gallery will host exhibits by featured artists Marian MacKerer and Bev Haley. Ms. MacKerer is an award-winning contemporary still life painter working in oil. Inspired by the 17th century Dutch masters, her paintings feature delicately arranged fruits, vegetables, fabrics, shells and flowers, capturing form, color, light and texture with extraordinary technical skill. Ms. Haley, an accomplished artist and ceramicist, creates wheel thrown, altered and traditional pottery as well as hand built ceramic sculptures. Her
style reflects the natural world, from the forest to the sea.
Franklin Square Gallery, the home of AAS, is a cooperative of more than 120 artists and is seeking new members. It is located at 130 E. West St. in the heart of historic downtown Southport, and offers original art and pottery for sale. The Gallery is open to the public, free of charge, from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday.
Keeping Fit
It’s Never Too Late
Better Late Than Never Applies To Fitness Too
BY VICTOR FERNANDES
Victor Fernandes is owner of Fernandez Fit, helpjng clients achieve personal and professional success through health and fitness
Ihave a story to share with you. And although this story is geared toward people in their 50s and older (like me), the message within applies to everyone who has ever allowed self-limiting beliefs to hold them back in life.
Now, you’re likely saying to yourself, “What are self-limiting beliefs?” They are self-inflicted doubts – and more often than not, excuses we tell ourselves – that keep us from pursuing goals we believe we can’t accomplish. Or believe we are too old to accomplish.
It can be tied to health and fitness, or all aspects of our lives. But as we age, and we view ourselves on the back nine of life instead of embracing the possibilities that lie ahead, we limit the goals we set for ourselves – if we set any at all.
I did that for years. I talked a good game but rarely followed through on all that talk – until I finally began taking control of my health and well-being. Often, when I share that story, people become fixated on the number of pounds lost – 75.
But that was merely a footnote in the full story, compared to the mental and
emotional changes I experienced along the way – the changes that remain ingrained within me many years after all those extra pounds melted away.
Now I’m a firm believer in how we do one thing is how we do everything. If we do one thing the right way, we do everything in our life the right way. If we cut corners in one way, if you take stock of your life, you’ll likely find that you cut corners in all other areas of life.
I’ve seen that unfold, in both respects, over my adult life. When I struggled to take care of myself mentally, emotionally and physically, I struggled to take care of everyone and everything in my life that was important to me.
And when I gained control of my health and fitness, and in turn gained confidence in myself, I realized there was no limit to what I could accomplish.
Which is why, at age 47, I left the sports journalism industry after 26 years to make a complete 180-degree pivot into the health and fitness world, and into the world of entrepreneurship.
more is when my clients face that same life-changing moment in their life. One of my newest clients shared with me recently an intriguing approach to improving his health and well-being.
He’s actually making it his top priority. And by priority, I mean he has restructured his business to make more time for the work it takes to keep him healthy enough to run his business. He’s working to live in a way that will change his life.
I’m all for going above and beyond to achieve professional success. I can appreciate everyone who follows the “Rise and Grind” mentality, and who will sleep when they’re dead in pursuit of their personal and professional goals.
But if your health and well-being suffers to the point where you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor, is it all truly worth it?
Now I’m 53 and excited about what lies ahead, because in my mind the best years are ahead of me.
The only thing that excites me
Think of Colonel Sanders, who reportedly founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken chain at 62. Morgan Freeman and Samuel L. Jackson, who didn’t make it big in the film industry until after turning 40. It’s never too late to pursue – and achieve – your goals, no matter how lofty they may seem. The best time to start was 20 years ago. I can attest to that. The next best time is right now, even with the unofficial start to summer already upon us.
Want to make the new year the best year ever? There’s no big secret. Set your goals. Believe you can achieve them. Make them happen. And if you need help laying out the best plan of action, I’m here to help. Contact me at 814-504-7774 or by email at info@fernandesfit.com to get started.
You can also get more information on my website at fernandesfit.com.
My client and I are a few months into training together, and he’s doing great work — and with the attitude he’s taking into it he’s going to enjoy great success.
Once you make that choice to take care of yourself, and you begin sticking to it day after day, the rest is actually rather simple. You do the work.
Age, or the time of life that you’re in at the moment, have nothing to do with it.
As far as I’m concerned, I’m still on the proverbial front nine of life, even at 53, and taking control of my health and well-being set the wheels in motion.
But are you still not convinced?
July Fishing Report
Shaping Up To Be A Great Month For Fishing
BY CAPTAIN STEELE PARK
Summer is in full swing, and we’re on the water every day — and the fish are biting! Although the fishing has been productive, June brought a persistent Bermuda High that kept steady winds blowing for nearly 21 days. These conditions made it difficult, if not impossible, to fish offshore or even reach the ocean. It was unlike anything we’ve experienced before. The good news? The pattern is finally breaking, and July is shaping up to be an exciting month on the water.
Backwater
The red drum and flounder bite should continue to be excellent. We’ve primarily been fishing with live bait — small menhaden or finger mullet — on a Carolina rig. Productive areas include spots along the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), where structure and ledges offer fish protection from the current. Drift a bait past one of these spots and you’ll likely find aggressive bites from red drum and large flounder.
Though flounder are currently under a harvest closure, they still provide exciting catch-and-release action. For another productive option, target the oyster beds around Buzzards Bay — especially those with good tidal flow from main creeks. These areas have less current
than the river, making them ideal for fishing a popping cork with either live bait or artificial shrimp.
Nearshore
Spanish mackerel fishing should remain strong along the beaches throughout July, with bluefish frequently mixed in. Early mornings are ideal — look for birds working over glass minnows driven to the surface by feeding fish.
By the end of the month, tarpon action will begin to heat up. Look for them near the hot hole, on the shoals, and along tidelines where bait congregates. Rig up with a 60# leader, a large egg sinker, and a live menhaden for a chance at the fish of a lifetime — it takes patience, but the reward is well worth it.
Looking for a fun outing? Use your inshore gear to build a miniature king rig
Captain Steele Park, a US Navy Veteran, has been fishing the oceans, rivers, and lakes of southeastern NC since he was 7 years old and knows these waters like the back of his hand. He calls Southport home and captains the Catherine Anne Sportfishing & Excursions fleet. For more information please call at 910-620-9919
with #6 treble hooks. Catch small menhaden in the creeks, head out to the nearshore artificial reefs, and slow troll them — you’ll have a blast catching big Spanish mackerel.
Offshore
In the 15–30 mile range, slow trolling live bait on king rigs can produce mahi, king mackerel, barracuda, and more. Although gag grouper season is closed, you can still fish ledges, coral bottom, and rock piles in 100–120 feet of water for some great scamp grouper action. This time of year also offers prime African pompano fishing around reefs and wrecks in 90–110 feet of water, especially near the Frying Pan Tower. Always keep a bait suspended from a balloon behind the boat while bottom fishing — it gives you a great shot at landing kings, mahi, or cobia.
Gulf Stream
July tends to bring slower fishing in the Gulf Stream due to hot, fast-moving water. Still, opportunities remain for quality bites from big mahi, sailfish, and marlin. We’re using small ballyhoo rigged on circle hooks, paired with teasers to entice billfish strikes.
Though the action isn’t as hot right now, late August and September will bring a strong return to form. For now, you might not get a high volume of bites, but what you do get will be top quality. Tight lines and good luck out there this month!
4th of July Festival
Plan Your Day With This Year’s Schedule
The North Carolina 4th of July Festival (in Southport and Oak Island) is such a huge event, we thought you’d appreciate a look at the schedule. This year brings some new events, like the Brunswick Arts Council’s “AARGH! A Pirate’s Life For Me!” melodrama and vaudeville show and of course long time favorites like the Fire Fighters Freedom Competition, the parade and fireworks will return. Take a look at the schedule to plan your festival fun!
AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL (EXCEPT SUNDAY)
10 am–4 pm: Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum Open.
10 am–5 pm: NC Maritime Museum Open at Southport.
12:30 –3:30 pm: Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Historical Society.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
3:00 pm: The Tunnel to Towers 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit enters Southport at the intersection of 87 and 211. Hosted by the City of Southport Fire Department. Visit daily 10 am- 6 pm throughout the festival
6 pm: Welcoming Ceremony. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
6:15 pm: Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
6:30 pm: Brunswick Big Band. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
Saturday, June 28
7:30–10 am: Freedom Run 5K-1 Mile. Southport Waterfront.
10 am–5:00 pm: Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Hosted by The Associated Artists of Southport. Also enjoy daily July 1-4
1 - 2:30 pm: Brunswick Arts Council presents: AARGH! A Pirate’s Life For Me! Melodrama & Vaudeville Fun at the Southport Community Building
3 pm: 40th Annual Fire Fighters Freedom Competition & Apparatus Expo. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Fire Department.
3 pm: Patriotic Concert - A Tribute to ALL Our Heroes. Sea Notes Choral Society. Brunswick Community College, Odell Williamson Auditorium. Sunday, June 29
3 pm: Patriotic Concert - A Tribute to ALL Our Heroes. Sea Notes Choral Society. Brunswick Community College, Odell Williamson Auditorium.
5 pm: Gospel Fest. Franklin Square Park Stage.
6 pm World’s Largest Ice Cream Sundae. Franklin Square Park. Hosted by the Southport Fire Department.
MONDAY,
JUNE 30
10 am–5 pm: Celebrating Art in Southport – Patriotic Art Contest & Porch Activity at Artisans Gallery on Howe, 114 S. Howe Street. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
10 am–5 pm: Celebrating Art in Southport – Open House & Art Activity at Franklin Square Gallery, 130 E West Street. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
10 am–5 pm: Celebrating Art in Southport – Refreshments & Kids’ Craft-Making Activity at Studio Artists of Southport, 715 N Howe Street. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
10 am–5 pm: Celebrating Art in Southport – Patriotic Sidewalk Chalk Activity at Lantana’s Gallery, 113 S Howe Street. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
10 am–5 pm: Celebrating Art in Southport – Open House & Refreshments at Ricky Evans Art Gallery, 211 N Howe Street. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
TUESDAY, JULY 1
7 am: Beach Day - Contest Registration at the Middleton Park Rec tent.
8 am: Beach Day - Volleyball at the Middleton Park Complex.
8:30 am: Beach Day – Sandcastle Contest, 46th Street SE & Beach Drive Access.
9 am: Beach Day - Horseshoes at Middleton Park (Register at field by Softball Field).
9 am: Beach Day - Beached Out Dog Costume Contest at Middleton Park Complex Stage.
10 am: Beach Day - Cornhole at Middleton Park Complex.
10 am: Beach Day - Baby Crawling Race at Middleton Park Complex Stage.
11 am: Beach Day - Pre-K School Age Reusable Balloon Toss at Middleton Park Complex Stage.
11 am–2 pm: Beach Day - Inflatables at Middleton Park..
12: pm: Beach Day - Limbo (6th-12th grade & 18+ Divisions) at Middleton Park Complex Stage
5:30 pm: Welcoming Ceremony, Oak Island. Middleton Park Complex.
6 pm: Beach Day Concert - Chairmen of the Board Feat. Ken Knox at Middleton Park Complex Stage.
9 pm: Beach Day - Town of Oak Island Anniversary Fireworks. Oak Island Pier..
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2
10 am–11 pm: Trolley available from Southport Elementary, 701 W 9th Street. Sponsored by Bald Head Island Limited, LLC and Intracoastal Realty Corporation. Trolley runs daily through July 4
10 am–7 pm: Arts & Crafts. Southport Waterfront. Sponsored by Beach Road Furniture. Runs through July 4
10 am–7 pm: Merchandise Tent Open. Southport Waterfront, with Arts & Craft Booths through July 4
11 am–10 pm: Food Concessions. South Howe Street. Through July 4
12–2 pm: Children’s Entertainment. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Organized by Brunswick Arts Council & Southport Rotary Club
1–3 pm: Cape Fear Radio. Southport Waterfront Park.
1 –5 pm: Military Exhibits. Southport Waterfront Park. Through July 4
3–4 pm: Brunswick Summer Wind Ensemble. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
4 pm: Red, White & Blue Freedom Flotilla. Southport Waterfront Park. Organized by Cape Fear Yacht Club.
4:30-5:30 pm: 440th Army Band. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
5:30 pm: Reading of the Declaration. Southport Waterfront Stage.
6 pm: A Salute to Veterans - Keynote Dr. James ‘Jim’ Czarnik, Southport Community Building.Organized by River Road Animal Hospital.
3–6 pm: Waterfront Stage Entertainment - The Brown Dirt Cowboys. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by State Port Pilot.
7–10:00 pm: Waterfront Stage Entertainment, The Embers. Southport Waterfront
Park. Sponsored by the State Port Pilot.
THURSDAY, JULY 3
9-11 am Children’s Games. Southport Waterfront Park. Registration opens at 8 am. Hosted by the City of Southport Parks & Recreation.
9:-10:00 am:Children’s Games. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Registration opens at 8 am. Hosted by the City of Southport Parks & Recreation.
11 am–4 pm: Kid Zone. Taylor Field. Inflatables and kid centric vendors.
11 am-noon: 440th Army Band. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
12–1:45 pm: Naturalization Ceremony organized by Downtown Southport, Inc. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Sponsored by Downtown Southport, Inc.
1-3 pm: Clicks of Confidence and Trick Horses, Southport, Taylor Field Park
2 pm: Flag Retirement Ceremony. Southport Waterfront Stage. Organized by Richard H. Stewart Jr. American Legion Post 543 and Cape Fear Council of Boy Scouts.
3–6:00 pm: Waterfront Stage Entertainment - The Rick Cannon Band. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by State Port Pilot.
7–10:00 pm: Waterfront Stage Entertainment & Street Dance - Sleeping Booty Sponsored by the State Port Pilot.
FRIDAY, JULY 4
7–10:30 am: Pancake Breakfast. Trinity Methodist Church, 209 E Nash St. Hosted by Trinity United Methodist Church.
9–11:00 am: Historic Chapel of the Cross Self-Guided Tours. St. Phillips Church, Southport.
10:15 am: Reading of the Declaration at the intersection of Moore and Howe Streets. 10:30 am: Flag Raising Ceremony. Intersection of Moore and Howe Streets. Organized by Brunswick Town Fort Anderson.
11:00 am: Festival Parade. Moore and Howe Streets. Sponsored by WECT TV6 and Dosher Memorial Hospital.
12–3 pm: Cape Fear Radio. Waterfront Park, Southport.
1–3 pm: First Responders Vehicle/Helicopter Display. Southport Waterfront Park. Organized by the City of Southport Fire and Police Departments.
3–5:00 pm: UPWA Live Pro Wrestling. Nash Street.
3–6 pm: Waterfront Stage Entertainment - Back Porch Rockers. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by State Port Pilot.
7–9 pm: Waterfront Stage Entertainment - Bounce! Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by State Port Pilot.
9 pm: 4th of July Fireworks. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by American Fish & Frying Pan. **New this year: if you would like noise cancelling headphones to reduce firework noise, please stop by the hospitality house prior to the show to check them out.
9:30–10 pm: Band Returns to Waterfront Stage. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by State Port Pilot.
Golf Tips
Nicole’s Golf Notes
Unwanted Advice and Staying In Your Lane
BY NICOLE WELLER LPGA/PGA GOLF TEACHING PROFESSIONAL
Nicole Weller instructs local area golfers at Compass Pointe Golf Club in Leland. Feel free to submit your question or topic for the Nicole’s Notes column via her website ‘Contact Nicole’ page. For more information on Nicole and her tips / videos, visit www.nicoleweller.com.
Theworld has become full of ‘helpfulness’ and often times that help isn’t requested…a computer or phone app that provides advice when not asked, a family member or even a stranger trying to be helpful on your task you’re doing or even another golfer stopping at your driving range station with some unsolicited advice. A year or so ago a video went viral of a man approaching a woman at a hitting range with unsolicited advice and was told multiple times by the woman that she was working on something from her coach but his tips kept coming. Turns out she was an LPGA professional actually working on her swing goals but the person wasn’t getting the hints to cease the advice-giving. So what can we do when so kindly offered extra help?
People love being helpful and many don’t realize that that are entering into your “lane.” They are just so keen to make things better with results…they may be more results-oriented than you if you’re working on the Process and not Results yet and not understand the process vs. results aspect.
· Technically when playing golf, a golfer must not give advice or ask anyone for advice (other than a caddie) and the general penalty is in effect (loss of hole in match play or two stroke penalty in stroke play). In order not to increase the score even more, politely decline with the reminder that you better not take advice as you
don’t want an even higher score! You can read more about it under Rule 10.2 with the USGA.
· At the range you can simply thank the advice-giver and with a smile, say you’ll run that by your coach, then get back to practicing.
· At the range you can thank the advice-giver and ask if you have more questions if you can approach him or her later (you may or may not but that ball in is your court).
· You can simply say thank you and that you are not accepting advice at this time.
· You can mention that research shows that coming across the ‘Ah Ha’ moment yourself will be more impactful than being told by an outside source. I brought Dr. Robert Bjork to a prior Club at which I worked to spend time with our members for a day and his research is fascinating. This resource may be helpful: https:// sanlab.psych. ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/ sites/13/2016/07/ RBjork_Dunlosky_ Kornell_2012.pdf
There’s a term called a Helicopter Parent that we’ve become familiar in the youth sports world. Parents who want to be helpful and very involved in their youngster’s
activity but sometimes to the detriment of the child with the persistent hovering that can create constant nervousness, fear of doing something wrong or failing, dependence instead of independence and an unhealthy fear of mistakes. Mistakes are actually how we learn and are a positive thing but often misconstrued as negative and therefore the advice is offered in an effort to avoid the embarrassment, frustration or lack of progress that is a normal part of the learning process. Parents and Advice-Givers mean well but the extra help can be stifling. Sometimes that can extend to a family member or golfers… being “Helicoptered” is challenging at the receiving end at times but hopefully some of the responses may be helpful and setting the stage at the beginning may help.
History Community Civil War Fair
July Cape Fear Civil War Round Table
STORY CONTRIBUTED
Wilmington’s Cape Fear Civil War Round Table will bring the community a “Civil War Fair” on Thursday, July 10 beginning at 7 pm at Elsbeth Hall of St John’s Episcopal Church, 1219 Forest Hills Drive in Wilmington. Members and friends of the round table will exhibit authentic uniforms, weapons, accouterments and other artifacts of the Civil War experience. The round table features a year-round program that showcases the talents and interests of the members during the summer months. Typically, these member forums highlight presentations about books written by members or presentations about topics of which they have special interests or knowledge, such as historical paintings. The club has also done actual round table discussions, similar to seminar type discussions about specific topics. The Civil War Fair concept is a variation on these themes.
owned and operated Shiloh Farm of Pitt County, an educational living history site centered on an 1827 plantation home he restored. The site also included a corn crib, slave quarters, smokehouse, tobacco barn and blacksmith shop that he built and operated.
For this special meeting, displays will be set up around the large room and members will discuss their collections and answer questions as those who attend will be free to walk around and stop at various stations.
A friend of the round table, Marty Thompson, was born in Johnston County, North Carolina, but has been a resident of Pitt County since 1994. He has been a student of history in general, and The War Between The States in particular, his entire life. One of his earliest memories is admiring the bayonet that belonged to one of his ancestors, stuck between the boards of his grandparents’ wash house, as he stirred the lard pot at hog killing time. (That bayonet now hangs on his office wall). Thus far Marty has identified 30 direct blood relatives that served in the Confederate Army, including three great-great grandfathers that served in the 5th North Carolina State Troops, two of which were wounded at Cedar Creek. One of those wounded was also captured and imprisoned at Point Lookout. Yet another served in the 40th NC State Troops (Artillery) at Fort Fisher and Fort Holmes on Bald Head Island, where he died of disease in 1864.
For several years Marty
Marty’s position in the Biomedical Engineering department of a major medical center, and his interest in the experience of his wounded ancestors, inspired him to focus on 19th century medicine. Since 2021, he has served as Regimental Surgeon with the 7th NC State Troops and the 5th NC State Troops reenactment groups and sets up his display of authentic medical instruments at various Living History events in eastern North Carolina. He has spoken to numerous groups including various historical societies, state historic sites and SCV camps. Marty has assembled an extensive collection of 19th century medical items including surgical, bloodletting and pharmacy tools. He is a member of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and The Society of Civil War Surgeons and serves on the Board of the Eastern Carolina Village and Farm Museum in Greenville, North Carolina.
Byron Hovey is a longtime active member of the round table and a dedicated re-enactor with the 26th NC regiment. He has been a member of the re-enactor regiment since 1997. The reenacting regiment began with a small group of descendants of men who actually served in the regiment during the Civil War. Byron reports that as the hobby of reenacting grew, it did as well, and it took part in many large reenactments. Byron will display uniform articles, accoutrements, and a rifle musket and a revolver.
CFCWRT member William Jordan, a talented and expert re-enactor cook, will offer some savory samples from his
“campfire.” William re-enacts the role of a sutler. Sutlers were civilians who followed the armies and supplied individual soldiers with foodstuffs ranging from oysters, sausages, eggs, flour, lemons to cheese and butter. They also supplied all sorts of everyday items such as hair brushes, buttons, boot and shoe polish, needles, thread, etc. And, although it was mostly illegal, they sold whiskey, brandy and other liquors to the troops. Most were attached to a regiment or brigade and usually printed or minted their own tokens or scrip to ensure that soldiers would come back to the sutler to spend more of his money. Fortified by the sutlers, when circumstances allowed, soldiers were able to cook some pretty decent meals.
William regularly prepares meals at reenactments and special events such as a massive feast at the Eastern Carolina Village and Farm Museum in Greenville. William and wife Kim prepared a feast
Byron Hovey: courtesy of Byron
Field surgery: courtesy Marty Thompson
of turkey, pork tenderloin, boiled ham and corned beef for 47 people at the museum’s “Celebration of Trades and Skills of the 1800s.” Guests included the Pitt County Commissioners. And it was all done over the campfire!
William and Kim’s son, David, will also present at the fair. David is a dedicated and talented re-enactor who plays several different roles including Revolutionary War soldiers, both Union and Confederate infantry, cavalry and artillery. Now a strapping 17-year-old lacrosse player, David started his reenacting as a drummer boy and has demonstrated drum calls to the round table in the past.
Will Murray, an Iraq War veteran, is also a dedicated re-enactor. Will does many different reenactment roles, including a WWII sailor on the USS North Carolina. For the Civil War Fair, Will is going to demonstrate the uniform, weapons and kit of a corporal in the 5th NC Infantry.
The Civil War Fair will be a great opportunity to learn from re-enac-
tors about the history of the war and also to learn about the concrete facts of soldiers’ existence: what they wore, what they fought with, what they ate, how they were cared for when they became sick or wounded, and more.
Make plans to come and learn about the Civil War through the medium of the artifacts of a soldier’s everyday life. The meeting will take place on Thursday evening, July 10, beginning at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm. As usual, the meeting will be held in Elsbeth Hall at the rear of St. John’s Episcopal Church at 1219 Forest Hills Drive in Wilmington. The church parking lot and entrance to the meeting room is easily accessed via Park Avenue off of Independence Boulevard. Bring a friend!
For more information about membership in the Cape Fear Civil War Round Table, go to http://www. cfcwrt.org and pick “Join/Rejoin.”
See you there!
William Jordan: courtesy photo
Spottings
The Leland community gathered at Fire Station 51 to celebrate the activation of a brand new ladder truck with a traditional “Push-in Ceremony” on June 12. The new ladder truck arrived in the fall, and staff dedicated more than 1,300 hours to training to ensure they were fully prepared to operate it. It officially went into service in April, replacing two aging vehicles—a ladder truck and a heavy rescue truck—and consolidating their functions into a single, more efficient unit.
In the past, crews had to return to the station to switch vehicles if the initial response truck didn’t have the necessary tools. With the new ladder truck, those delays are eliminated, shaving crucial minutes off emergency response times. The previous ladder truck had also reached the end of its recommended 20-year service life and has moved to reserve status.
The Push-In Ceremony is a longstanding tradition in the fire service in which firefighters symbolically push a new truck into the station, honoring a practice from the days of horse-drawn fire engines.
You’llCALENDAR
notice that our Calendar is bigger and carries more information from all of Brunswick County. We publish three magazines — Leland Magazine, Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine, and Southport Magazine. We love collecting details about all the of the fun events from all across our county and thought that everyone in the county, no matter which magazine they read, should be able to see all of the opportunities our community offers. We hope you’ll find something unexpected in this month’s Calendar and we really encourage you to hop in the car and go to something you’ve never experienced before.
July
JUNE 28
Friends of Leland Library Book Sale Shop for new-to-you books at the Friends sale, 9:30 am to 3 pm at the Leland Library, 487 Village Road. Paperbacks are just 50 cents, hardbacks are $1, and children’s books are just 10 cents; specialty books will be priced individually. Visit friendsofthelelandlibrary.com to learn more about the group.
JUNE 28-29
Sea Notes Choral Society Concert
The Sea Notes present “A Tribute to ALL Our Heroes,” at Odell Williamson Auditorium on the campus of Brunswick Community College, 150 College Road NW, Bolivia. Performances are free, and begin at 3 pm both days. For more information about the Sea Notes, visit sea-notes.com.
JULY
2
Beach Bash — Ocean Isle Beach
The Town’s Recreation Department and the Museum of Coastal Carolina host this annual beach party at Town Center Park (11 E. Second St.). The event is 10 am to noon, and features activities, crafts, music, photo ops and more.
JULY 4
4th of July at the Old Bridge
The Old Bridge Historical Society hosts patriotic events starting at 9 am. Decorate your bikes, strollers and wagons and join in the parade. There will
also be children’s games and activities, and refreshments. Find the festivities at 109 Shoreline Drive West, Sunset Beach.
JULY 6-11
Pirate Week at the Museum of Coastal Carolina
Pirates take over the Museum this week, with events planned daily. Museum staff and the Ocean Isle Beach Recreation Department have teamed up to provide pirate-themed activities (see schedule elsewhere in this issue or visit https://museumplanetarium.org/ for more details). The Museum is at 21 E. 2nd St.
JULY 11-12
“Christmas in July” Art, Craft, and Bake Sale.
The Oak Island Senior Center & Gift Shop hosts this mid-year holiday sale, featuring handmade crafts, paintings, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, and home decorations. There will also be a raffle, giveaways, music, and food available for purchase for breakfast or lunch. The event is 8:30 am to 4pm both days at the Center.
JULY 12
Swifties Night Out — Leland
Taylor Swift fans will love this chance to dress up and turn out for Swifties Night Out. The evening includes making friendship bracelets or a vision board, a photo booth, and, of course, dancing! Children younger than 13 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at this family-friendly event. Tickets are
$5 per person, and the event is at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.
JULY 13
Oak Island 3rd Annual Tide Sit-In
Head to the Middleton Park beach access at 46th St SE with your beach chair and a donation of any size to the Caswell and Oak Island Turtle programs, set up at the water’s edge, and wait for the incoming tide. The last person standing (sitting actually!) Wins bragging rights for the year.
JULY 17
Sip, Savor and Shop at Silver Coast Winery
Enjoy works of art from eight local artists and sample from among 11 wines, 5-7 pm at the Silver Coast Winery (6680 Barbeque Road, mainland of Ocean Isle Beach).
JULY
19
After Hours at the Splash Pad
Oak Island opens its popular splash pad for adults 18 and older, from 6:308 pm. There will be music, games, and food trucks. The cost is $5, and registration is required; visit www.OakIslandNC. gov/PROGRAMS. The Splash pad is on SE 46th Street on Oak Island.
JULY 19
In The Glorious Cause of Liberty: The 250th Anniversary of the Burning of Fort Johnston
The NC Maritime Museum at Southport, in conjunction with the City of Southport, has planned a day-long symposium, with living history demonstrations and a nighttime commemoration.
The burning and destruction of Fort Johnston by more than 500 Whig militiamen during the summer of 1775 spurred the colony of North Carolina into a war after which it would never be the same. Events are planned in the Museum (204 E. Moore St.) and out on the lawn from 10 am to 5 pm, and the nighttime luminary commemoration planned for sunset to 10 pm. The day’s schedule includes half-hour musket/
artillery tandem demos on the lawn, at 10 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm and 4:15 pm. The Symposium, at the Southport Community Building (223 E. Bay St.) includes the following: Jim McKee, “The Construction of Fort Johnston” at 10:30 am; Stephen Atkinson, “HMS Cruizer and British Naval Activity in the Lower Cape Fear” at noon; Jack Fryar, “When the British Came: Revolution in the Cape Fear, 1765-1782” at 1:30 pm; and Chris Fonvielle, “With Such Great Alacrity: The Burning of Fort Johnston” at 3 pm.
JULY 19
Art Market — Leland
Shop for works from local artists and enjoy interactive activities at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way. The Market is 10 am to 3 pm.
AUG 2
Instructor Showcase and Open House — LCAC
Learn more about the instructors who lead all sorts of arts programs at the Leland Cultural Arts Center at this showcase and open house. The program is 10 am to 1 pm at the Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.
SUMMER
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Wednesdays through August 6
Story Time by the Sea - Oak Island Children ages 12 and younger can enjoy a coastal-themed story and make a craft project to take home; the weekly event (except for July 2) is at the cabana, at the corner of E. Beach Drive and SE 46th Street, from 10-11 am. The program is free, but registration is required.
Thursdays through June
Kids Events in Mulberry Park 123 Mulberry St., Shallotte Events start at 10 am.
Kids Activities in Ocean Isle Beach Town Center Park 11 E. 2nd St.
Art in the Park — craft making is at 10 am, July 8-Aug 12. On Wednesdays,
kids can go on a Scavenger Hunt from 10-10:30 am (registration is required; visit https://www.oibgov.com/)
Holden Beach Turtle Patrol
Turtle program volunteers will lead Turtle Talk on Wednesdays. The programs are at 7 pm at Holden Beach Chapel, 107 Rothchild Street. Children’s Turtle Time (for children ages 3 through 6, who are accompanied by an adult) is on Wednesdays at 4 pm.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Boiling Spring Lakes Concerts in the Park
Spring Lake Park, 210 Pine Road (6-8 pm)
June 27 — The Chance Union Band
July 11 — The Doorsmen
July 18 — Lunar Tide Band
Aug 1 — The Band Whiplash
Calabash Summer Concerts
Calabash Town Park, 868 Persimmon Road SW (6-8:30 pm)
July 1 — The Extraordinaires
July 15 — Thomas Road Band
July 22 — The Main Event Band
July 29 — J.B. and the Get Down Browns
Aug 5 — The Tonez
Oak Island Summer Concerts
Middleton Park Fields, Dolphin Drive and SE 46th Street (6:30-8:30 pm)
June 27 — Julio & The Saltines
July 1 (Beach Day, 6-9 pm) — Chairman of the Board featuring Ken Knox
July 11 — The Embers featuring Craig Woolard
July 18 — The British Invaders
July 25 — Rivermist
Aug 1 — The Sand Band
Aug 8 — The Extraordinaires
Aug 15 — The Salty Dawgs
Aug 22 — 52nd Street Band
Aug 30 (sat) — The Main Event Band
Moonlight Movies (7:30 pm)
Ocean Isle Beach, Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St.
June 25 — “Under the Boardwalk”
July 2 — “Playmobil: The Movie”
July 9 — “Th Pirates! Band of Misfits”
July 16 — “Surf’s Up”
July 23 — “The Tiger’s Apprentice”
July 30 — “Planet 51”
Aug 6 — “The Croods”
Aug 13 — “Sinbad: Legend”
Peggy Hughes Summer Concert Series
Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach
June 30 (Monday) — The Extraordinaires
July 11 — The Catalinas
July 18 — Chocolate Chip & Company
July 25 — Too Much Sylvia
Aug 1 — Band of Oz
Aug 8 — Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot
Aug 15 — The Embers featuring Craig Woolard
Aug 22 — Special Occasion Band
Aug 31 (Sun) — Continental Divide)
Sound Waves
Concerts at Sunset Beach Town Park
206 Sunset Blvd. North (6-8 pm)
July 2 — The Extraordinaires
July 9 — Band on Fire
July 16 — Devin Dove Band
July 23 — The Entertainers
July 30 — JB & The Get Down Browns
Aug 6 — Julio & The Saltines
Aug 13 — The Mac Daddys Band
Aug 20 — Too Much Sylvia
Aug 27 — 52nd Street Band
July 2 — The Extraordinaires
Book Sale
AT THE LELAND LIBRARY 487 VILLAGE RD, LELAND, NC 28451
July 9 — Band on Fire
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF THE LELAND LIBRARY OR TO BECOME A MEMBER VISIT FRIENDSOFTHELELANDLIBRARY COM
July 16 — Devin Dove Band
July 23 — The Entertainers
July 30 — JB & The Get Down Browns
Aug 6 — Julio & The Saltines
Aug 13 — The Mac Daddys Band
Aug 20 — Too Much Sylvia
Aug 27 — 52nd Street Band
Sunset Beach Pier
101 W. Main St. (6-8 pm)
July 4 — DJ Taco
July 10 — Sea & Sand Band
July 27 — Trublmkrz
July 24 — Salt Road
July 31 — John Toppings - Desperado
Aug 7 — The Mac Daddys Band
Southport Summer Concerts
Franklin Square Park
June 26 -- Sandy Branch Band
July 10 — River Sound
July 17 — Rock the Dock
CALENDAR
July 24 — The Doorsmen
July 31 — Deep Creek Soul
Aug 7 — Almost Blue
Aug 14 — Jazz Adjacent
Aug 21 — Mike’s Garage Band
Aug 28 — Brunswick Big Band
Movies on the Lawn - Southport
Garrison Lawn
203 E. Bay Street
July 11 — “Dog Man” — movie begins at dusk
Holden Beach Summer Concert Series
Bridgeview Park (6:30-8 pm)
June 29 —The Extraordinaires
July 6 — The Tams
July 13 — Jim Quick and Coastline
July 20 — The Sand Band
July 27 — Continental Divide
Shallotte Summer Concerts
Mulberry Park, 123 Mulberry St.
July 3 — The Catalinas
July 10 — Too Much Sylvia
July 17 — Chocolate Chip & Company
July 24 — The Tonez
July 31 — Thomas Road band
Aug 7 — Julio & The Saltines
Aug 14 — The Entertainers
Aug 21 — Chris Taylor & The Rumor
Aug 28 — Band of Oz
Sept 4 — The Extraordinaires
Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
701 N. Third St., Wilmington
June 28 — Gladys Knight
July 2 — Stars and Stripes by the North Carolina Symphony
July 8 — Diana Krall
July 12 — “Jaws” the movie in concert with The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra
July 21 — Jason Isbell and the 400
Unit
July 22 — Todd Rundgren
July 27 — Sal Vulcano
Aug 2 — Henry Cho
Aug 8 — Chris Isaak
Aug 14 — Three Dog Night
Visit https://wilsoncentertickets.com for more information.
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut St., Wilmington
June 27-29 — The Performance Club
Theatre Company performs “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”
July 10-20 — Big Dawg Productions presents “A Ride Through the Country”
July 17-27 — The Opera House Theatre Company presents “9 to 5”
Aug 14-24 — “Oklahoma” by the Opera House Theatre Company
Check https://www.thalianhall.org/ calendar for more information.
Greenfield lake Amphitheater
1941 Amphitheater Drive, Wilmington
June 28 — Big Something
July 6 — Steel Pulse
July 12 — Shakey Graves: And the War Came - 10th Anniversary Tour
July 19 — Flipturn - The Burnout Days Tour
July 27 — Wilderado
Aug 3 — Drive-By Truckers & Deer
Tick
Visit greenfieldlakeamphitear.com for more information.
Live Oak Bank Pavilion
10 Cowan St., Wilmington
June 27 — Parker McCollum
July 6 — Gary Clark Jr.
July 17 — Kidz Bop Live
July 24 — Brad Paisley
July 25 — Weird All Yankovic
July 26 — Primus
/July 2025/ Leland Magazine
OPEN AIR MARKETS
Sunset Beach Town Park
206 Sunset Blvd North
The Market is held from 9 am to 1 pm on Thursdays at the park (on the mainland by the bridge).
Belville Riverwalk Farmers Market
Riverwalk Park, 580 River Road, Belville
Shop for produce, ice cream, and fresh seafood, seasonings and all things related to seafood, with the beautiful backdrop of the Brunswick River. Hours are Fridays 10 am to 6 pm; and Sundays 11 am to 3 pm, except ice cream is available every day.
Oak Island Farmers & Artisans Market
Shop for produce, baked goods and arts and crafts at this Monday market, 8 am to 1 pm at the Middleton Park Fields, at the intersection of E. Dolphin Drive and SE 46th Street.
Ocean Isle Beach Summer Market Series
5 West 3rd St.
This summer market is on Tuesdays, from 9 am to 1 pm. The market will run through August 26.
One Love Market
9887 Oak Street, Calabash
Markets are held on Wednesdays through August 6, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, featuring music, crafts, artwork, jewelry, fruits, flowers, local flowers and photography. This market is a non-profit, benefitting local rescue and aid agencies for humans and all kinds of animals.
Southport Summer Market
Waterfront Park, E. Bay Street
The summer market runs Wednesdays through August (except the week of July 4). The market’s hours are 10 am to 4 pm, weather permitting.
4th Friday Art Market
Shop among 30-plus vendors, eat, dance and enjoy spending time with friends and neighbors at this monthly market next to Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar (1175 Turlington Avenue, in Bruns-
wick Forest). The market is open from 4-8 pm.!
ONGOING EVENTS
Friends of the Library Southport & Oak Island
The Libraries are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 6 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am - 6 pm; and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. The Once More used bookstore, at Southport Realty (727 N. Howe St.), with new-to-you books, is open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm and Saturdays 10 am to noon. Visit https:// folsoi.org/blog/ for information on summer youth programs.
Barbee Library, 8200 E. Oak Island Drive: Call 910-278-4283 for details on children’s story time and other programs. The Lifelong Learners Group meets at 10 am on Thursdays. Other programs offered at the library include chair yoga, one-on-one tech support on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm, and more. Harper Library, 109 W. Moore St., Southport: Call 910-457-6237 to register for programs. One-on-one tech support is offered on Thursdays, 1-3 pm.
NC Maritime Museums - Southport
204 E. Moore St.
Hours are 10 am to 5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Sensory Saturdays (low light and quiet time in the museum) are the first Saturday of the month, 10 am to noon. Anchors Aweigh, a drop-in children’s program, is offered 11 am to 3 pm on Wednesdays, starting June 11. Visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.com to register for special programs.
Historic Bike Tours in Southport
Tour historic Southport on bike with the Adventure Kayak Company, Inc. Tours can be for parties of four or more. Call 910-454-0607 or visit www.theadventurecompany.net.
Oak Island Recreation Department
Join the Striders Club at various locations and dates/times to get out and about with a group or try your hand at art with the Paintbrush Academy. There are book clubs, kayak tours in the
Davis Canal, surf fishing lessons, and much more. Visit https://parksrec.egov. basgov.com/oakislandnc for details on programs.
Franklin Square Art Gallery
The Gallery is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday and can be found at 130 E. West St., next to Franklin Square Park. The summer art show is on exhibit June 23-July 19. The summer lectures are 3-5 pm, with The Macchiaoli: Italian Impressionism on July 9 and Art in the Digital Age on July 23.
First Friday Gallery Walk — Southport
The First Friday Gallery Walk is 5-7 pm in Southport at participating galleries, such as Lantana’s, The Rickey Evans Gallery, the Franklin Square Art Gallery, Artisans on Howe and the Intracoastal Realty Downtown Southport Office. Stroll along and browse in the shops to see what local artists have to offer.
Tide-Dye Tuesdays at Holden Beach
Bridgeview Park, 125 Davis St.
Make your own personalized beach summer of 2025 memento with a tiedyed shirt. The program is 1-2:30 pm at the Park, and participants must be in line by 2 pm to do a shirt. The cost is $7$10, depending on shirt size needed.
Bingo at the Elks Lodge — Oak Island
Bingo games are on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the Lodge, 106 E. Dolphin Drive, Oak Island. Games are open to the public; no one under 16 and no outside food or drinks allowed. Doors open to the public at 5:45 pm with games starting at 6:30 pm. Snacks and drinks available for purchase (cash or checks only). Progressive Jackpot and winner take all coverall.
Battleship North Carolina — near Leland
Tour the USS NORTH CAROLINA and participate in group programs and special programming throughout the year, such as a Memorial Day observance at 10 am (weather permitting), Museum
Ships Weekend with the Azalea Coast Radio Club (June 7-8), and more. Visit https://battleshipnc.com/. The battleship site is at 1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington (west side of the Cape Fear River).
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
8884
St. Philips Rd. SE, Winnabow
There is plenty to do and see, with a museum, historic ruins, great information on the site’s history, and some of the most beautiful riverfront property in the County. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. A new speakers series debuted this summer, and though times and specific details are forthcoming, the scheduled programs are: Bonnie Mitchell, NC Coastal Federation on July 10; Todd Rhoades with the Battery White Historical Association on July 12; Hunter Ingram with the Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens on July 26; and Paul Shivers Friends of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson on Aug 2.
Museum of Coastal Carolina
21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach
The Museum is open Mondays through Fridays, 10 am to 4 pm (Until 7 pm Tuesday and Thursday)and Sundays from noon until 4 pm. Sandbar lectures every Tuesday at 6 pm. Snakes Alive, Thursdays at 6 pm. The touch tank is open Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, 11 am to noon.
.Ingram Planetarium
7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach
The Planetarium is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm; dome shows start on the hour from 11 am to 3 pm. Laser shows are on Thursdays through Saturdays at 6 pm and 7 pm. Visit https://museumplanetarium. org/ingram-planetarium/ to see the show schedule..
Leland Library
487 Village Road NE
Baby storytime is at 10 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Pre-K and older storytime is at 11 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
4th
Friday Art Market
Shop among 30-plus vendors, eat, dance and enjoy spending time with friends and neighbors at this monthly market next to Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar (1175 Turlington Avenue, in Brunswick Forest). The market is open from 4-8 pm.
Town of Leland/Parks & Recreation
Check out https://www.townofleland. com/parks-recreation-and-cultural-resources for more information on classes and programs, including starting an art journal, pottery, gardening, writing creative nonfiction, acting, dance and more.
Wilmington River Tours
212 S. Water St., Wilmington
Tour the beautiful Cape Fear River and learn more about the area’s history and ecology. Sunset cruises include acoustic music Thursdays through Sundays! Tours are offered daily, to the
north along historic downtown Wilmington, the USS North Carolina Battleship and Eagles Island on the even hours, and to the south under the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and past the shipyard on the odd hours; visit https://wilmingtonwatertours.net/ for schedules and to purchase tickets.
Art League of Leland (ALL) at the Leland Cultural Arts Center
The group welcomes artists of all kinds and meets monthly (except in summer months) 4-6 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.
Don’t see your event or location listed? Try as we might, we don’t catch everything, so to be sure to be included send your events to lisa@southportmag.com before the 20th of each month!
