Best seats in the house...

       The Thanksgiving holiday weekend at Wrightsville Beach is very special. While many student renters have left town, going home to family for the long weekend, the town comes alive with the influx of visitors. The hotels fill, the streets fill and restaurants fill as our community neighbors from near and far come to enjoy Wrightsville Beach.

And these will be the best seats in the house....

Wrightsville Beach Harbor...Banks Channel pre-Thanksgiving
Courtesy Ned Belmont

       This weekend will be a well planned and well attended series of  family focused events and paramount to it all is the iconic  Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach Harbor.


       Santa arrives Friday afternoon at 5:45 when we will light our town Holiday Tree at Town Hall.

       ...and later that evening, in preparation for the Flotilla on Saturday evening, the Blockade Runner is host to the captain's meeting followed by the "Anchors Away" launch party which is open to the public.

Public "Anchors Away" Party
Courtesy NC Holiday Flotilla

       On Saturday, we have a big day at the the Town Hall Park planned for the family, with the "Festival in the Park". There will be numerous craft vendors and plenty of entertainment for kids...

a train ride, bouncing castles, face painting and coloring contests. There will be a strong turnout of antique cars as well displays by local police and fire departments.

Courtesy Weather.com ...zip = 28480

The weather has traditionally been great for being outdoors to help 
digest that turkey dinner 
and the current forecast is looking
 just fine.

       Then it's time to get ready for the evening show........
           the NC Holiday Flotilla.
The Captains begin to line up their  vessels south of Bradley Creek on the ICW and are expected to get underway at 5:45 pm. The traditional parade route can be seen in the map below.

Courtesy of NC Holiday Flotilla 

       The Flotilla will head east onto Mott's Channel past Seapath and wind around to Bank's Channel heading north to the Causeway bridge. With a hard turn to starboard the fleet will head south on Bank's Channel past Wynn Plaza, Blockade Runner and down to the Coast Guard station. There is good viewing from many locations in and around both Mott's and Bank's Channels. The bridge on Causeway is a great viewing spot...but it fills up early as well as Wynn Plaza.

F-F-F Courtesy NC Holiday Flotilla

And let the Fireworks Begin!

At approximately 7:30 the Fireworks start...don't miss the F-F-F (Flotilla Fireworks Finale)

Below are some links to video clips from past years (Courtesy of YouTube.com contributors)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=ycz3AaqPix4&feature=endscreen    sponge bob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8GPD5hjl6c  flying dragon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=cNbApazuPl8&feature=endscreen  watching the flotilla float by

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSCdFXqU6cM&feature=related  Flotilla Fireworks Finale

Enjoy and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving in Wrightsville Beach

Thanks from the Team at Wrightsville View.