The Holiday Weekend at Wrightsville did not disappoint!

       True to form the events at Wrightsville beach this past Thanksgiving weekend were a real crowd pleaser.

Mare's Tails over Southend WB
Courtesy Ned Belmont

      ...and the weather was a  proud steward for us all, ensuring clear sunny sky's and a calm evening with a beautiful sunset,  The Festival, Flotilla and Fireworks drew a tremendous crowd on land and sea.

Vendor's Row...local crafts
Courtesy Ned Belmont

Inner workings of a Jumping  Castle
Courtesy Ned Belmont

Cliff Climbing (in WB?)
Courtesy Liz Daschel

Wood Carvings
Courtesy Ned Belmont

Summiting the Castle
Courtesy Ned Belmont

Every good slide deserves another...& another...
Courtesy Ned Belmont

WB Express
Courtesy Ned Belmont

Wrightsville's Bravest
Courtesy Liz Daschel

Seahorse in Metal
Courtesy Ned Belmont

Baracuda in Metal
Courtesy Ned Belmont

Yard Art Butterfies & Dragon Flies
Courtesy Ned Belmont

The Classic Cobra
Courtesy Liz Daschel

Stingray..
People's Choice
Courtesy Ned Belmont

...and the winning flotilla boats were.... (highlight & Click...GoTo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK6XlY_7IHY

...and the Fireworks Finale....(highlight & Click...GoTo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHLsAVM2TCY&feature=related

Firework Finale
Courtesy NCPressRelease.com & Joshua McLure

Thank you to all those who planned, managed, attended and kept it safe, orderly and clean at Wrightsville Beach.  Noah

Important Flotilla TRAFFIC Update

A notice from TOWB: (regarding Saturday Nov. 24 NC Holiday Flotilla)

"Due to ongoing Department of Transportation repair work, be prepared for significant traffic delays crossing the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge during this event.  Heavy traffic is expected during the late afternoon as spectators arrive for the 6:00 p.m. Boat Parade, and again between 7:30 and 9:00 p.m. as spectators depart following the event.  We appreciate your patience as we experience traffic delays caused by the drawbridge repairs".  from Katie Ryan  Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Department

Note: there are only 2 lanes operating across the drawbridge

Our local Police department plan to close the bridge to eastbound traffic around the time of the fireworks to enable 2 lanes of departure to flow more smoothly off the island. They will alternate the eastbound flow about every 15 minutes or depending on the traffic jam at Military Cutoff by having officers and flagmen at each end of the bridge.. 

Be aware  that traffic will be coming onto the island from midday morning Saturday to attend the Festival in the park, so parking can be a challenge..

A Few Tips

• consider car pooling 
• consider riding a bike
• consider dusting off your skateboard...if you dare.
• have a full tank of fuel
• bring a good book, magazine or Word Search/ Sudoku... and several pencils
• bring water or other....
• Have Patience and lots of it!

Kowabunga, Peace on Earth, Enjoy........ 

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.

Repeating History...The Wisdom of Abe Lincoln

We repeat history when we fail to learn from it.

Shared by a Facebook Friend

          I'm not sure how to apply this directly to Wrightsville Beach, but given the enormity and intensity of the social and economic dysfunction we are facing in the USA and across the globe... well perhaps this can help guide us.

Thanks for reading. Noah

Wrightsville Beach to Video Stream Town Meetings

       

       Thanks to all the citizens who put their support to this important issue. A special thanks to local advocate Neal Briggi who can now retire his Android phone/camera and to Bill Columbus our local citizen who has donated the necessary equipment.

      Not every agenda item at the town meetings will be exciting and engaging, but, we will all have the opportunity to see first hand how the most critical issues in this town are discussed and decided by our elected officials. 

A Citizen Victory

        

     Perhaps this broad exposure to the citizens will compel more of us to give our input regularly to our Mayor and Alderman by email or otherwise. They truly need to hear from us, otherwise they/we risk decisions being made that are "out of touch" with the citizens and worse that are based purely on their personal agendas. 

Stay tuned!

Thanks for Reading,  Liz