Belhaven Fourth of July celebration attracts thousands

Published 7:23 pm Friday, July 5, 2019

By Matt Debnam

AGRARIAN ROOTS: A steady stream of classic tractors, driven by young and old alike, cruised down Main Street in Belhaven during Thursday’s parade. (Matt Debnam/Daily News)

When it comes to the Fourth of July celebrations, Belhaven pulls out all the stops, and the town’s annual celebration on Thursday did not disappoint. Drawing thousands of people from throughout the region, the two-day celebration offered an array of activities, from carnival-style fun and games to the traditional Fourth of July parade.

The parade, which lasted a whopping 40 minutes, brought everything from semi-trucks to golf carts, all decorated in red, white and blue. On Thursday, the celebrations lasted from morning to night, starting with a special breakfast for local dignitaries and ending with fireworks over Pantego Creek.

Marking its 77th year, the Belhaven Fourth of July celebration has become a much anticipated tradition for the Beaufort County town — one that has lasted generations, and will last for many more to come.

PATRIOTIC GIFT: During a special breakfast for dignitaries at Belhaven’s Fourth of July celebration on Thursday, North Carolina Representative Keith Kidwell presented Belhaven Mayor Ricky Credle with a pair of flags that have flown over the state capitol building. The two flags, one a U.S. flag and another a state flag, will now fly in Belhaven.

BELHAVEN BLOWOUT: On Thursday, thousands gathered along Main Street in Belhaven to enjoy the town’s 77th-annual Fourth of July Celebration. Here, Belhaven Mayor Ricky Credle, accompanied by town aldermen Ricky Radcliffe and Brenda Cherry, waves to the crowd during the annual parade. For more photos from the event, see this week’s Pamlico Life on page 1B.

A KIND GIFT: A girl hands out icy pops from a truck window during the parade, a welcomed gift in the July heat.

FREEDOM MACHINE: A crowd-favorite, the owner of this military surplus vehicle rigged up a confetti cannon and red, white and blue smoke machines.

OFF ROAD: Kids and adults of all ages showed up on ATVs to ride in the parade.

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