Friends of Wrightsville Beach to host fundraiser celebrating its past

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Wrightsville Beach is almost unrecognizable when you compare how it looks today to the way it did in the 1950’s.

For the first time ever, a group has organized a fundraising event called The Friends of Wrightsville Beach Reunion which takes place this weekend.

“This is basically an event for anyone who came to the beach for one reason or another, usually a watersport of some type, from the 1960’s to now,” said event organizer Rick Beitel.

From paying tribute to the waterman and women who worked, lived and played here for generations, Beitel says its important to preserve the history of Wrightsville Beach because so many who live here now may not know about the area’s rich and diverse history.

“The beach has changed and we want to hold on to that,” Beitel said.

The event will be held as a fundraiser for the Wrightsville Beach Museum and to help pay for renovations to the recently moved second museum building. Event organizers expect hundreds of people to participate in this first-time event.

The fundraiser will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, from 1-5 p.m. Admission is free but donations are strongly encouraged. There will be silent auction featuring items from local restaurant, bar and business sponsors including a donated custom surf board from Michael Paul of Hot Wax Surf Shop.

In the evening, the party will move from the Wrightsville Beach Museum to Waterman’s Brewery and Palm Room where a number of bands will provide entertainment.

Jim Arnold