Eighty-seven years ago, the Intracoastal Waterway was finalized with a section passing through Belhaven, making it the official birthplace of the ICW. But it was in 2013, that then town manager Guinn Leverett made that connection to the past, discovering that, in 1928, the town was the last connection made in a 1,090-mile waterway stretching from Virginia to Florida.

Upon learning this information, the town embraced its missing heritage, creating its annual ICW Celebration, which marked 85 years since the waterway’s completion. Leverett and town officials even got the nod from the Atlantic ICW Committee that it was, in fact, the birthplace of the ICW.

But what started out as a small event after stumbling upon a bit of the town’s lost heritage, has grown over the past two years, bringing county residents and those from surrounding areas to participate in the festivities.

“In essence, we’re celebrating the 87^th anniversary of (the ICW) completion,” said Jerry Stubberfield, chairman for the event. “The town is very much behind it, and they see it’s quite an event that brings people to the town.”

The celebration features a lineup of activities slated for the third Saturday in September. This year, it will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 19, and will include the second year of the Chowder Down East, a component of the celebration that will feature 15 local chefs and organizations offering their favorite brand of seafood chowder, Stubberfield said. Chowder will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Belhaven Town Docks while the Ocracoke Sirens, a band from the Outer Banks, plays.

The celebration will also feature a lineup of local artists, showcasing a variety of nautical items on Water Street, and four local organizations — Sound Rivers, the North Carolina Estuarium, Little Washington Sailing School and the Pamlico Sail and Power Squadron — will be on hand to speak about the preservation of coastal waters related to environmental stewardship and recreation.

After opening ceremonies, the town will observe the Blessing of the Boats, a historical tradition that will be led by local members of the clergy, Father James Lupton and Pastor Kris Noble. Following the overall blessing, Lupton and Noble will bless each boat in the parade of boats, and each boat’s captain will be introduced.

“It started many years ago to bless men who were going out to sea to bring back their harvest,” Stubberfield said. “It was to keep them safe and from harm and that they would have bountiful harvests.”

The last couple hours of the celebration will feature a 1920s fashion show, accompanied by music from the Sand Sounds Band, as well as the Little Miss/Little Master ICW contests. And as a nod to its rich boating culture, several antique boats will be on display for attendees to see.

According to Stubberfield, the town-sponsored event is one that will continue to grow as various committees, comprised of town residents, work to expand each component and add something new each year. According Stubberfield, a survey from last year’s event determined that 30 to 35 percent of attendees were visitors from New Bern, Greenville and other surrounding areas — a testament to the event’s draw.

For more information about the Down East Chowder, call Teresa Van Staalduinen at 252-945-3899; tickets for chowder are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information about the ICW Celebration, contact the Belhaven Chamber of Commerce at 252-943-3770.