One of the most popular of the local events, the Holden Beach Festival By The Sea, is taking place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26, beginning with a parade down the Holden Beach NC causeway. There will be free admission and free parking during both days of this year’s festival.
This annual event features an in-shore fishing tournament, arts and crafts, children’s activities, live music, hot air balloon rides, a sand castle building contest and a horseshoe tournament. The arts and crafts vendors will be open for shoppers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Children will enjoy special activities just for them including face painting, kite flying, Home Depot workshop for kids and other amusements. There will be live musical performances both days in the pavilion at Holden Beach.
Following is the schedule for this year’s Festival by the Sea:
Saturday, October 25 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
7:30 a.m. In-Shore Fishing Tournament
Captain’s meeting will be Friday night.
10 a.m. Parade
Holden Beach Bridge will close at 9:30 a.m. and open after the parade. Parade Grand Marshall for 2014 is CC Martin, a local county music singer and songwriter from Shallotte, NC.
10 a.m. to 12:30 Brickhouse Band
11:30 a.m. Horseshoe Tournament Registration
Location: Mermaid Island Bar and Grill
1:30 to 4:00 p.m. CC Martin Performs
2 p.m. Sand Sculptures Judging Begins
You may begin your sand sculpture any time Saturday morning. The contest will be held at the public beach access across from Jordan Blvd. Please check the Holden Beach tide tables for tide times and plan accordingly.
11:30 a.m. Car & Motorcycle Show Registration
You are welcome to come early and be in the parade or just come afterwards.
11:30 a.m. Re/Max Hot Air Balloon Rides
On Blockade Runner, weather permitting.
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Street Dance
The Catalinas (shown above) will be performing at the Beach Mart Parking Lot. Bring your chairs and your dancing shoes! Free parking. No admission fee.
Sunday, October 26 – 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
8:00 a.m. Church Service
Service by Pastor Tom Johnson of Harvest Fellowship. Music by Laura Lee and Harley Lytton
10 a.m. to 12 noon Morris Cardenas Band Performs
12 noon Corn Hole Tournament
To be held on festival grounds
1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Gary Lowder & Smoking Hot Performs
1:00 p.m. Children’s Costume Contest
To be held in the children’s area.
2:00 p.m. Womanless Beauty Pageant – Tips and Assets
All tips collected will go to Wounded Warriors.
The Festival by the Sea is sponsored by the Greater Holden Beach Merchants Association. A mission of charity and local promotion, the Greater Holden Beach Merchant Association was formed over 30 years ago to promote local businesses and tourism.