Story by Smith Reynolds

Photos by Jeff Conerly  and Laura Bageant

For many years, Surf City has been the host to one of the largest annual events that takes place on Topsail Island, the Surf City Sun-Fest.  If you have attended Sun-Fest you are aware of the local talent that thrives on Topsail Island, but have you ever wondered how the festival came about? 

An island native, Cookie Tilghman, informed me the journey that she and her husband went on to start the festival that is known today as Sun-Fest.  Cookie says that the idea of the festival came about because there was a need to “pull the community together with both the children, and adults being involved.”  In the first few years of operation, the festival was known as “The Pirate Jubilee” and the event actually took place in the fall, not the spring. 

The season is not the only thing that has changed about the festival.  When the event came about, Surf City was not the only town that did their part in hosting. The whole island from north to south was incorporated in the Pirate Jubilee.  Each town had specific events that mirrored what they had to offer. Towns had events ranging from boat racing to a beach tug-of-war tournament between local businesses to an outdoor drama that told the story of the infamous pirate, Blackbeard. 

While Sun-Fest has evolved from the events that once defined its existence, Sun-Fest is still dear to the many attendees.  It also might seem like all of the spectacular events that used to take place no longer do, but if you attend Sun-Fest this year, you will learn that the venues that were once a large part of Sun-Fest have been replaced by new venues that are different, but are just as much fun.  With time comes change, but one things is certain—Sun Fest is one island tradition that you don’t want to miss!

SMITH REYNOLDS is a seventeen-year-old junior at Topsail High School.  He enjoys skiing, surfing, reading, and of course, writing.