The Friendly City by the sea
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Welcome to Swansboro, the friendly city by the sea! Incorporated in 1783, our beautiful community is home to a rich history and a bounty of festivals and celebrations. Our downtown streets are great for taking a leisurely stroll and offer up an assortment of quaint shops and delicious restaurants. And don't forget water! Bordered by both the Intracoastal Waterway and the White Oak River, we have a lot to offer in the way of fishing, kayaking, sailing, or just enjoying the view!
We sure love our festivals here! Our most popular festival by far is the Mullet Festival, which celebrates its 70th year in 2024. What began as a small event to celebrate the completion of the bridge over the White Oak River has become a highly anticipated part of eastern North Carolina culture. Taking place on the second weekend in October, it's celebrated with a parade, live entertainment, street vendors, and tons of seafood, especially our local delicacy--the mullet! The second Saturday in June is home to Arts by the Sea, where our fabulous local artists show off their arts and crafts. We also have lots of food and live entertainment. We celebrate our independence with a spectacular fireworks display at the waterfront. Grab some popcorn and a funnel cake and get ready to ooh and ahh at the sights! Finally, we welcome the holiday season with our Christmas Flotilla. Taking place on the Friday following Thanksgiving, it's popular with locals and visitors alike! If you want to see a parade of colorful, festive, and brightly-lit decorated boats, this is the event for you! The kids will also love this one because they get to meet Santa.
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The 2024 Swansboro Festivals is presented by Team Chevrolet of Swansboro, Onslow County Tourism, Swansboro Tourism Development Authority, The Town of Swansboro, and Curtis Media Group.
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We hope you'll stop by and take part in one of our local celebrations!
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