SCHEDULE

July 4
9:00 AM: Vendors Open for business:
Main Street
9:00 AM: Little Miss Independence Pageant: Wilkinson Center Stage
9:00 AM until Helicopter Rides:
Behind Wilkinson Center
10:00AM – Noon: Schooner Jeanie B tours: Downtown Docks
10:00 AM – 9:00PM: Sailboat Charters 30-40 minute rides: Downtown Docks
ages 7-12 $10.00 – 13+ $15.00 reservations
252-671-0080
10:00 AM: Dignitary Breakfast:
Belhaven Civic Center
11:00 AM: BELHAVEN PARADE: Main Street
Noon: Belhaven’s BEST Pies! Main Street Market
Noon until: BVFD Dunking Booth:
Chamber Lot
($1.00 per throw/$2.00 to push the bar)
Noon: Belhaven Yacht Club Wilkinson
Center Lawn
Rain Gutter Regatta
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Schooner Jeanie B tours: Downtown Docks
Noon – 4:00 PM: Hole-In-One Contest:
Beside the Chamber
(ages 7-12/3 golf balls for $3.00 – 13+/3 golf balls for $5.00)
1:30 PM: Mud Run – Pantego Fire Department Highway 264 West
12:30PM – 1:30 PM: Music by Wilkinson
Center Stage
Mac & Tammy McRoy Band
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Music by The Coltrain Family: Wilkinson Center Stage
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Music by Easy Breeze Band: Wilkinson Center Stage
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Music by Don Cox:
Wilkinson Center Stage
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Music by Charles Martin Band: Wilkinson Center Stage
9:00 PM: Town of Belhaven Fireworks:
Waterfront

 
This may be its 71st consecutive year, but if you think you know what to expect at Belhaven’s Independence Day celebration, think again. Organizers have packed the Jul 4 week with new events and family entertainment.
“We’re going have fun. Belhaven is alive,” said Jimmie Southerland, one of the organizers of the event. “I’m just so excited to be a part of it this year.”
The events start Monday with the first of three pageants: the Young Miss Independence Pageant at the Wilkinson Center at 6 p.m.
The town’s new docks will be the place to be Wednesday afternoon. Vendors begin sales at 2 p.m., and sailboat tours and rides start at 4 p.m.
Southerland is part of the 12-person committee that organized the event for the town.
“We’re really trying to promote our new docks,” she said.
The new docks inspired the addition of Stella et Zela, a 37-foot-long sailboat that will offer 30- to 40-minute rides.
“We’ve got a lucky-duck regatta, and if your rubber ducky wins, you could win $100,” Southerland said.
The Belhaven Volunteer Fire Department offers a dunking booth that promises to get some Belhaven folks wet, if those throwing the balls can hit the target.
“There’s also a good, old-fashioned hot dog-eating contest,” Southerland added.
Miss Independence will be picked at an evening pageant in the Wilkinson Center.
The evening will see the return of the Twilight Hour. Southerland said the late Effie Goff started the event, which will bring artists and musicians to Pamlico Street.
“We’ve got five different acoustical bands, and the yacht club will be selling beer and wine,” Southerland said.
At 8 p.m., The Mighty Saints of Soul will join in on the fun. The band will headline the town’s street dance.
“They play everything you want,” Southerland said. “They specialize in beach music, but play country and gospel. Plus, they’ve got their own music, too.”
The July 4 festivities start at 9 a.m. with the Little Miss Independence Pageant at the Wilkinson Center. Vendors and helicopter rides also start early.
Southerland said the committee would accept applications for those who want to participate in the 11 a.m. parade until just before parade time. Anyone who fills out an application may join the parade for free.
Uncle Sam will be one of the judges at this year’s pie contest. Drop off an entry Thursday morning, and the winners will be announced at noon. The pies are then up for grabs. Southerland said entries will be sold by the slice, but a few whole pies might be available for sale.
The Belhaven Yacht Club will hold the Rain Gutter Regatta at noon. Southerland said children would race miniature sailboats by blowing air into the sails with straws.
Bayview Golf Course will hold a hole-in-one contest beside the Belhaven Community Chamber of Commerce. The contest runs from noon to 4 p.m.
At the downtown docks, the schooner Jeanie B will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to noon, and the Stella et Zela will continue its charter rides. The charters run throughout the day. Also at noon, is the lawn-mower pull.
“And there will be live entertainment all day long, from 12:30 to 7,” Southerland said.
Southerland recommended reserving a spot for the 9 p.m. boat ride, which will include one of the best views of the evening’s fireworks.
“If I wasn’t hosting this, I would be on that darn thing,” she laughed.