Anchors Aweigh for the Holiday Flotilla

Nov. 26th- 27th 

North Carolina Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach 

The sense of excitement has never been stronger for the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach, as many locals and visitors are hoping it will help chart a path to a brighter future over the holidays and into next year.

The relaunch begins with the door-to-dock decorating contest on Friday, Nov. 26. The boat parade, fireworks extravaganza and Day in the Park—complete with a classic car show, food vendors, inflatable houses and live music — form the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving weekend, taking over the town of Wrightsville Beach the following day.

“Everyone is ready to get together for the Flotilla,” says committee chair Linda Brown. She noted that early registrations from boaters are at a higher level than ever before, whether due to pandemic fatigue or an uptick in boat purchases over the past year.

Most of the Flotilla events are time-honored traditions. A refinement from the pandemic may prove just as enduring. To ensure compliance with social distancing and safety guidelines imposed by COVID-19, event organizers created the door-to-dock decorating contest in 2020.

“This was hugely popular last year, so it is here to stay,” Brown says. “It’s nice to see the lights up throughout the holidays.”

This year, people will have the opportunity to text in their vote for the Best Commercial

Dock, Best Residential Dock, Best Dock Spirit, and People’s Choice award.

“We have been redoing everything to come back fresh and better than ever after 38 years,” Brown adds, referring to the new logo and website.