25th Annual Southport Flotilla makes locals merry

Southport celebrated its 25th Annual Flotilla Saturday night. The town is also the focus of this month’s Cape Fear Pride series, as featured by WWAY NewsChannel 3.

Youngster J.J. Fallin of Southport said of the flotilla, “It was a lot of fun…I saw ummm…a lot of Santa Clauses and there was a lot of boats out and um like 3,000 people, and it’s cold out here.”

Despite the low temperatures, holiday spirits were up at Southport’s Flotilla. From shrimp boats to sailboats, nearly a thousand people gathered to watch.

The event was judged by Southport elementary school kids.

For this occasion, Santa left his sleigh at home; instead, he traveled by sailboat.

Katy Rollings said, “I stood with my mom and I got to see Santa Claus a lot of times.”

The boats cruised up the Cape Fear River, passed the trusty judges and the pier, before turning around in Kingsley Park.

With the boats, came holiday cheer. Quincy Taylor said, “I’m having a lot of fun out here and it’s really cool, cause it’s making me want Christmas to come a lot more faster.”

Jacob Packer added, “They’re really getting everyone in the Christmas spirit and I look forward to a really good Christmas this year with my family.”

Best-in-show and $200 went to captain Ron Pittman and his crew aboard the Anna Bee.