October is already half gone and I don’t want the rest of it to pass without offering some suggestions on how to get out and enjoy this final run-up to Halloween. It’s a busy time of year when it seems like every group, establishment, and organization has something planned to ring in the Fall season. The cooler temps, bright blue skies, and an ebbing pace are a much-anticipated and welcome change, bringing with them a much-needed attitude adjustment! My energy level is up, my running regime bolstered, my to-do list is getting shorter…..and the "soup is on!"
Walking outside this morning and I am thinking oysters…It is about time for the an
nual clean-up of "Camp Burton", our little hideout in the back yard, camouflaged by tall wax myrtle on one side, a wall of cat briar on the back, and tall stacks of firewood to finish out the enclosure. It's a rough-around-the-edges little oasis…nothing out of one of those "Backyard Hideaways" magazines I may be guilty of fawning over occasionally. There's a fire pit of course, dug out and lined with old bricks from our river beach, carried home long ago when we still had easy access to child labor. The sides are block and brick stacked up tall enough to hold a wire mesh grate and a half a bushel of oysters at a time. Stump seating and big colored Christmas lights complete the scene.As usual…I digress… Now on to the "What’s Happening Now" calendar…
Tomorrow head on down to Ocean Isle for their big annual Oyster Festival. There’s an oyster shucking contest, a surfing contest, games, food vendors, entertainment, and an oyster stew cook-off. Oct 17 and 18. While you’re down there, you might try and catch the Ingram Planetarium – Music Laser Show in Sunset Beach Saturday evening only.
Angela Eastering, a highly touted singer-songwriter makes a stop off on her current tour to the Amuzu Theatre in Downtown Southport on Saturday, the 17th at 7 pm. Tickets are $15 and part of the proceeds go to the renovation of the theater, a historic local landmark, home of Stage II Productions and featured musical artists brought in by Circle Entertainment throughout the year. Please get out and support your local arts scene. It takes numbers to make these creative endeavors viable. Things start to get busy next weekend as Halloween approaches. On October 23rd starting at 6:30, Southport is hosting a Pumpkin Festival on the Garrison lawn. There’s a pumpkin decorating contest, a costume contest, cake walk, games, and a “Creepy Hayride" along the river. If that doesn’t get you in the Halloween spirit, on Saturday, the 24th, head out to Boiling Spring Lakes for their own Halloween Carnival to be held at the Community Center. Everyone is encouraged to bring two cans of food to benefit area food banks. A haunted hayride will start after dark. Admission free with food donations.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see Brunswick Little Theatre’s adaptation of Charlotte’s Web. T
his will be BLT’s first show in the newly completed Virginia Williamson Event Center at Odell Williamson Auditorium on the campus of Brunswick Community College. Opening night is Friday the 23rd at 7:30 with matinees on both Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. The same schedule follows for the next weekend. (Oct 30-Nov1) Anyone who has seen a show directed by Debbie Skillman, then you know what a fantastic job she does assembling a batch of local youth and funneling their energies and talents with positively engaging results. Admission $15 for adults, $10 for students, and $6 for kids under 12.Oak Island’s Parks and Recreation will hold it’s own "Fall Community Spooktacular" on the 24th from 5 to 7 pm at Middleton Park. Children rides, family entertainment and hayrides are on the menu. Middleton Park Cinema will show "Ironman" beginning at 7pm, weather permitting. Bring chair or blanket.
For the grown-ups, on Halloween, the Stede Bonnet Halloween Regatta and after party at the Provision Co are long-standing traditions in Southport. Local and visiting sailors take this verrry seriously and bragging rights are good for a whole year. As for the pirate sailors, the Captain's meeting is at 9am and the course will be decided that morning depending on conditions. The race starts at 1pm at the old Yacht Basin and will commence all around the Cape Fear between Southport and Bald Head. The Block Party starts at 5pm at Provisions with awards, live band, and plenty of merriment, as this is the last hurrah before they close down for the winter.And last but not least, on
the 31st is the Brunswick County Fall Festival offering lots of Halloween fun starting at 8:30am. There will be tons of music, food and entertainment a 10am softball and kickball tournaments, a 1pm pie-eating contest, water balloons, and tug-of-war. At 5, there's a bon fire and marshmallow roast, at 6, hay rides, and at 6:45pm, and a Christian karate light show. And if that’s not enough, Trunk or Treat starts at 7pm. All this will be held at the Bill Smith Park on Fish Factory Road off of Long Beach Road. Free Admission. Contact: Mike Hilliard – 910.547.0431I'm sure I am missing some things here. Please feel free comment and add anything I haven’t covered. So let’s all get out there and enjoy the season; the cool weather, the sparkles on the water, the changing colors, the spectacular sunsets, the smell of a campfire, and the taste of that first Lockwood Folly oyster. Life is good.
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