Southport 4th Festival holds firefighter competition, craft market

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — The NC 4th of July Festival in Southport continued Saturday with a firefighter competition and craft market.

The festival’s annual Firefighters Freedom Competition began in 1984. Fire Departments from different towns come together to compete with various exercises. Southport Fire Chief Charles A. Drew said the event can be a stress reliever for the competitors.

“Not only are we celebrating freedom but this is a good opportunity for the fire departments to get together with camaraderie and brotherhood, and also it can be considered as training,” Drew said.

Next door to the competition, visitors browsed tents filled with crafts and art created by local vendors.