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Enjoy the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival

If you are in Brunswick County during the 4th of July holiday, you will enjoy the North Carolina 4th of July Festival in Southport and Oak Island. This celebration attracts about 500,000 visitors each year because of this old-fashioned family celebration. There is a parade featuring a variety of floats, bands, clowns and horses. There are firemen's games that are enjoyed by many, as well as vendors selling arts, crafts and food. There is also a naturalization ceremony that names people of various nationalities as citizens of the United States. To finish the holiday, you will enjoy the fireworks display over the water. For more information, contact the North Carolina 4th of July Festival at (910) 457-5578.

Take Your Kids To the Annual Children's Crab Derby

The Children's Crab Derby is held each year in September and open to children ages 16 and younger. Held at the Old Yacht Basin in Southport, the Children's Crab Derby divides its young participants into teams of two or three, separated by age category, and prizes are given for the largest crab caught and the most crabs caught in each age category. Children must bring their own small crab basket or line and bait, and some luck! For more information, contact the Children's Crab Derby at (910) 457-7923.

Attend the Brunswick Islands Home and Garden Show

Held each year in March, the Brunswick Islands Home & Garden Show displays a variety of area merchants and business that offer goods and services for the needs of your home and family. Almost 100 businesses participate in this show, which is held at the West Brunswick High School in Shallotte. The show normally runs throughout the weekend, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, contact the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 426-6644.

Go Running or Walking in the Area

A great way to get some exercise in the Brunswick County area while enjoying the local scenery and wildlife. There are a few organizations in the area that promote running and walking. The Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Walking Club at (800) 222-4790 encourages you to keep a daily record of the number of miles walked, with prizes rewarded at the end of the year. In Southport, the Southport Parks and Recreation Department at (910) 457-7923 works the same way, where walkers keep track of their miles and are given prizes at the end of the year. Of course, many of the area beaches and sidewalks also offer great opportunities for running and walking.

Practice Your Swing at the Driving Range

If you enjoy golfing but don't have time to golf a full round at a local course, you may want to check out a local driving range. Holden Beach Driving Range is a lighted facility that has lessons available on-site. A pro shop and batting cages are also available at this location. At this range in Holden Beach, you can practice your swing 24 hours a day, because when no staff is on duty, there is a self-payment booth for your convenience. For more information, contact the Holden Beach Driving Range of Holden Beach at (910) 842-3717. Another option is the Pro Tee Practice Range in Ocean Isle Beach. They have 36 fully lighted stations, a pro shop, refreshment area, batting cages, and a mini golf course. This facility is open daily and operates with a self-payment booth. For more information, contact the Pro Tee Practice Range at (910) 754-4700.

Have Breakfast at Russell's Place

Russell's Place Restaurant, located on Oak Island, is a diner-style restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. A favorite among locals, Russell's serves omelets, biscuits, pancakes and waffles for breakfast; while the lunch menu offers sandwiches and burgers. The atmosphere in Russell's is a friendly one, with many patrons sharing conversations with those seated at nearby tables. Russell's Place is open daily and can be reached at (910) 278-3070.

Take a Stroll on the Riverwalk of Southport

While you are in the area, you will enjoy a relaxing stroll along the Riverwalk of Southport. Beginning at Waterfront Park on Bay Street, the Riverwalk will take you along the Cape Fear River to the Southport Marina and the Yacht Basin. From here, you can see views of Bald Head Island and Oak Island. Also in this busy area, you will be able to see various ships as they pass. On the right day, you and your family may even get to see a school of dolphins playing in the water!

Participate in a Local Fishing Tournaments

As you will find in any popular fishing area, many saltwater fishing tournaments are held in Brunswick County throughout the year. Many tournaments award great prizes to their winners, and proceeds normally benefit local charities. For more information about dates and locations of area tournaments, contact the Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Center at (910) 575-3474, the Bald Head Island Marina at (910) 454-0042, the Old Yacht Basin of Southport at (910) 278-4575, the Southport Marina at (910) 278-4137 and the Holden Beach Marina at (800) 426-6644. Also, you may want to check local listings upon your arrival for information about other area tournaments.

Browse the Shops at Howe Street Purveyors

The Howe Street Purveyors shopping center is located near downtown Southport on Howe Street. You won't be disappointed by the nice shops in this center, which offer a variety of clothing for your family, as well as a food-related gift shop. Papaya Island at (910) 457-0256 offers comfortable clothing for your family, while Bermuda Bay at (910) 457-1030 offers beach clothing. Also in the shopping center is Cat on a Whisk at (910) 454-4451, which offers a variety of gourmet foods and food-related gadgets.

Fly a Kite

The beach is a great place to fly a kite, because of the open spaces and beautiful surroundings. Whether you fly a regular kite to mark your beach spot or you want the challenge of flying a stunt kite, you will enjoy doing so on the beaches of Brunswick County! For your safety, you will want to head to a clear area that is free of power lines and other obstructions. If you need to purchase a kite, some of the local shops may have some to choose from, or you can visit the Blowing in the Wind store in Wilmington, which can be reached at (888) 691-8034.