Southport Winterfest Flotilla to light up the waterway this weekend

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — The City of Southport has been celebrating the holidays all week and the fun will continue into the weekend.

Seafarers are preparing for the 29th year of the Winterfest Flotilla.

Residents and visitors are invited to the Southport Waterfront on Saturday at 6 pm to watch vessels of all sizes light up the river.

Cindy and Walt Faulconer are last year’s winners. They’re getting their boat ready to defend their title.

“There are a lot of good boats. That’s half the fun too. We always take friends with us and when you’re out there on the flotilla you pass each other,” Walt Faulconer said. “It’s just a great spirit and everybody has a fun time whether they just put one string of lights of lights on the boat or not. It’s all fun.”

Woody Wilson is the chair of the flotilla. He says it’s going to be a great year on the water.

“It’s just a good community activity where people can get out on the water and take a look and watch the boats go by,” Wilson said. “One of the biggest treats we have are our judges.”

The winners will be decided by Southport Elementary School art students. Wilson says the number one rule of the flotilla is no one can argue with the judges. What they say, goes!