11/09/2025
๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ฎ 43๐ป๐ญ ๐๐ท๐ท๐พ๐ช๐ต ๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ซ๐ธ๐ช๐ป๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ช๐ต ๐๐ช๐ผ ๐ฝ๐๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ ๐ช๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ธ๐ท ๐ข๐ช๐ฝ๐พ๐ป๐ญ๐ช๐, ๐๐ฌ๐ฝ๐ธ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ป 25, 2025, ๐ช๐ท๐ญ ๐๐ฎ ๐ช๐ป๐ฎ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ต๐ต ๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ต๐ถ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฑ ๐ช๐น๐น๐ป๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ช๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ท, ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ท๐ฝ, ๐ฐ๐ป๐ช๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐พ๐ญ๐ฎ, ๐ช๐ท๐ญ ๐ต๐ธ๐ฝ๐ผ ๐ธ๐ฏ ๐ป๐ฎ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฏ! The culmination of monthly meetings, extensive planning, and countless calls, texts, and emails is all worth it when Main Street in the beautiful former Hub of the Seaboard town is filled with smiling faces, the making of new friends, the reunion among old friends, and our community uniting to celebrate the rich railroad history of Hamlet, NC!
The effort and coordination of an annual festival that consistently brings around 10,000 people to Main Street on the last Saturday of October cannot be understated and the many people, businesses, and organizations who deserve a personal thank you is longer than Facebook would allow, but we must give a huge shout-out to our sponsors Richmond County Tourism Development Authority (Visit Richmond County), Griffin Automotive, Rockingham Dragway, P*e Dee Electric, North Carolina, the City of Hamlet, North Carolina, Hamlet Depot & Museums, Hamlet Fire Rescue and EMS and Hamlet Police Department.
โช๏ธChris Carpenter: President
I want to thank our dedicated Festival Committee and the many volunteers who made the festival one of our best ever. I felt like it was going to be a great one from the moment the sun started to rise over Main Street while the vendors were setting up. I was not disappointed! The weather was perfect all day. We kicked off the festival with our opening ceremony highlighted by Amanda Kempenโs beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. It was a perfect start to what turned out to be a perfect event from start to finish.
I also want to thank the generous sponsors, our vendors, and all who attended. The festival is a proud tradition in our small city, and I am proud of the event we presented. It was a perfect representation of Hamletโs past, present, and future.
โช๏ธMechelle Preslar: Seaboard 5K Race Director
The 41st Annual Seaboard 5K wrapped up with an impressive 306 participants, marking the largest 5K in Richmond County.
The event began with the National Anthem, followed by a moment of silence honoring Lee โIcemanโ Watson, a beloved participant who ran in every Seaboard 5K until health issues prevented his participation in 2019. In 2023, Bib Number 1 was officially retired in his memory.
This yearโs Top Male Finisher was Nicholas Goard, age 17, from Pinehurst, NC, with a time of 17:26. The Top Female Finisher was Cameron Carpenter, age 26, from Monroe, NC, with a time of 21:54, improving her time by over a minute from last yearโs race, where she also claimed the top female title.
Our presenting sponsor was FirstHealth of the Carolinas and FirstHealth Fitness.
Gold Sponsors: Richmond County Tourism Development Authority, Hamlet Depot & Museums, Mike Griffin Automotive Group, Richmond Community College Cole Auditorium, Seaboard Festival, Clockwork Race Timing, City of Hamlet, Harrington Funeral Home & Crematory, Supreme Filter Service, and Hamlet Dentistry.
Silver Sponsors: Grantโs Express Tire & Auto and Bennettโs Fire Extinguisher, LLC.
Bronze Sponsors: Puckered Up Lemonade and Bynum Peach Farm.
Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors, the Seaboard 5K provides two scholarships through Richmond Community College and funds the Lee โIcemanโ Watson Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of Watsonโs long-standing dedication to the race.
Participants ranged in age from 6 to 81 and came from across the country, including as far away as Saint Helens, Oregon.
We extend our sincere gratitude to every runner, volunteer, and supporter who made this yearโs Seaboard 5K such a tremendous success.
Commemorative 40 oz 40th Seaboard 5K Tumblers are available for $30 at the Hamlet Visitor Center and Hamlet Depot & Museums Gift Shop, with proceeds benefiting the Lee โIcemanโ Watson Memorial Scholarship.
Mark your calendars! The 42nd Annual Seaboard 5K will be held on October 31, 2026, on Halloween Day. Registration is already open, so donโt wait. Sign up now at RunSignUp.com.
โช๏ธCar Show Managed by Corvettes of Sandhills Car Club and the Sandhills Classic Street Rod Association
Congratulations to the two organizations for their huge success in managing this yearโs Seaboard Festival Car Show. Bob Nelson and Stuart Goodwin were instrumental in coordinating volunteers to make this car show one of the best.
Running of the 2025 Seaboard Festival Auto Show was outsourced to the Corvettes of Sandhills Car Club and the Sandhills Classic Street Rod Association. The two organizations provided 16 volunteers to manage the operation of the show. The number of vehicles present was up from last year's attendance of 80 vehicles to a total of 103 vehicles of varying types, model color and condition. Throughout the day, a heavy flow of spectators covered the grounds occupied by the car show participants. Trophies were awarded to the top 25 cars as determined by a staff of four judges. Trophies were also awarded for the three highest vote getters (Best in Show) and a Participant's Choice as selected based upon the votes of the registered car owners. The highlight of the day was a participant's car which embodied the best of the show- a beautiful Ford Galaxy with an operating model train in the trunk. The weather was absolutely perfect with lots of blue sky and a fall temperature of 60 degrees. Many thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make the show a huge success and all of the town's staff members who performed their duties with professionalism and efficiency. We look forward to the 2026 edition of this very popular part of the annual Seaboard Festival.
Car Show Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor is Griffin Automotive Group
Trophies Donated By: Rockingham Dragway (The Rock)
Door Prizes Donated By:
Advance Auto Parts
Bob Nelson
Carolina Hearts Home Care
Champion Car Wash ($50 Gift Card)
Chapmanโs Food & Spirits ($25 Gift Card)
Char 7 Bar ($50 Gift Card)
Chiliโs Grill & Bar ($5 Gift Card)
Corvettes of Sandhills Car Club
Hickory Tavern ($10 Gift Card)
Kennametal
OโReilly Auto Parts
Rail House Brewery ($15 Gift Card)
Sandhills Classic Street Rod Association
Stoner Car Care ($25 Gift Card)*2 Separate Cards
Stoner Car Care ($25 Gift Card)*
Talamore Golf Club (Free Green Fees For 4)
Valentiโs Italian Restaurant ($100 Gift Card)
Donations for Grab Bags Provided By:
Carolina Hearts Home Care
Corvettes of Sandhills Car Club
eastcoastmoparts.com
FirstHealth of the Carolinas
Hamlet Depot & Museums
Hagerty Classic, Exotic, & Collector Car Insurance
Richmond County Crime Stoppers
Richmond County Hospice, Inc.
Richmond County Tourism Development Authority
Sandhills Classic Street Rod Association
Seaboard Festival Day, Inc.
โช๏ธDiane Leggett: Vendor Coordinator | Vice President
Many of this yearโs vendors are already eager to register for the 2026 festival, sharing that our level of organization and attention to detail made their experience exceptional. From a seamless setup to a quick breakdown, the entire day ran smoothly. I also heard many compliments throughout the event about the beautiful fall decor and the warm, welcoming atmosphere. Itโs always a surprise to people that a team of only six coordinates this event each year. Vendors are already reaching out to secure their spots for next year.
โช๏ธMeghann Lambeth: Marketing Director
I continue to be amazed by the overwhelming support from this incredible community for The Seaboard Festival! Itโs truly heartwarming to see the engagement, response, and love pouring in across our Facebook, Instagram, and website.
Whatโs even more inspiring is how many visitors from outside of Richmond Countyโand even out of state are part of this annual tradition. Since joining the planning board and working at the festivals, Iโve heard countless vendors from across the Carolinas and beyond say that theyโve attended numerous festivals, yet none have been as well-organized, welcoming, or profitable as The Seaboard Festival.
This continued support and enthusiasm remind us that The Seaboard Festival is more than just an eventโitโs a celebration of community, connection, and the spirit that makes Richmond County truly special.
โช๏ธKenzie: Treasurer
The support and enthusiasm for the festival never cease to amaze me. It is incredible to see our community come together in such a special way each year. Iโm so grateful to our incredible volunteers and the devoted committee members who pour their hearts into making this day possible. The success of the festival is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication that happen all year long behind the scenes. Being part of this team and seeing the impact this festival has on our community is something Iโm truly proud of and deeply thankful for.
Music & Performances
DJ Bowtie (Steve Bryant), Jonathan Robinson Music, The Sand Band, the Cameronian Gospel Quartet, Good Company, Erik Hawks & Hard Luck Band, and The Radio all delivered amazing performances! Performances by Bold Moves Dance Co, Dance Sensations, Hamlet Senior Line Dancers, PKSA Demo, and Triple Toe Cloggers.
Thank you again to our sponsors โฃ๏ธ
We are so thankful for the support from our sponsors.
Richmond County Tourism Development Authority
D.W. Williams Electric
City of Hamlet
Hamlet Depot & Museums
P*e Dee Electric (Kids Zone)
Thank you to the many photographersโฃ๏ธ
Robbie Singletary Drone Photography
Arco Photography | John & Gratten White
Richmond Observer | William Toler
