Busy holiday on tap in Rockingham County

Thousands of people are expected to attend several July 4 celebrations throughout Rockingham County. Here’s a look at some of those events. 

July Fourth Fun Parade
Start celebrating Independence Day first thing in the morning at the 14th Annual July Fourth Fun Parade. The parade route goes through the neighborhood behind Fair Funeral Home.

Parade participants need to meet at 8:45 a.m. in the parking lot of Fair Funeral Home at 432 Boone Road. The parade begins at 9:30 a.m.

This year’s parade will honor “all of our veterans of Rockingham County,” said Ann Fair, parade organizer. She said the Rockingham County Honor Guard will be at the parade to pay special tribute to the veterans. The grand marshal from last year’s parade, Travis Sigmon, will be at this year’s parade as well.

“Hopefully, we’ll see a lot of people showing up in their red, white and blue,” said Ann. “It’ll be fun.”

According to Fair, the parade brings out the best in the community, from their patriotism to their creativity in decorating their yards, floats, bikes, trikes and wagons in red, white and blue. Fair said she’s eager to see what Marlo Walker of Highland Drive has in store for this year’s parade. Last year the Walker family had a “Happy Birthday, America” themed float. Last year, the family had a Hawaiian theme.

“Mike and Marlo Walker always do these wonderful floats. She [Marlo] has these unique ideas,” said Fair. “I love to see all the creative ideas that everyone has.”

The Fairs reward creativity at their parade. Along with most creative, prizes go to most original, most unique and best float. The Fairs also have a tradition of honoring the oldest parade participant. At the age of 99, Ray Warner was last year’s winner. Fair said she believes Warner plans to attend this year’s parade as well.

Ann Fair and her daughter, Alice, began the July Fourth Fun Parade when Alice was just 5 years old, and the event has grown every year. Ann Fair estimated that between 800 and 1,000 people participate in the parade and hundreds more watch from their yards and the sidewalks of Highland Drive and Glovenia Street.

Eden’s Ole Fashion Fourth of July Celebration
Have some good old fashioned fun on the Fourth of July at the Morehead High School stadium. The 40th Annual Ole Fashion Fourth of July Celebration will be a two-day event, offering rides and games for children, the traditional games of beach bingo and horseshoes, beach music, carnival-style food, and, of course, fireworks.

“We have the area’s largest fireworks show,” said Wayne Kirkman of the Eden Kiwanis, event organizers. “It’s a pretty good show.”

Kirkman said Hale Artificier of High Point has been doing the approximately half-hour show for the past seven years. He said between 12,000 and 15,000 people park in the nearby areas of Meadow Greens or the mall or sit in the Morehead High School stadium to watch the fireworks.

The fireworks will begin shortly after The Holiday Band’s performance ends at 10 p.m. The Holiday Band is a popular beach band that frequently performs in the Eden area.

“They’re one of the top bands around, right up there next to the Band of Oz,” said Kirkman.

The Holiday Band will be the last band to perform Saturday evening, beginning at 7 p.m. The Bullet Band will provide the music from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the Calabash Blues Boogie Band will entertain from 2 to 4 p.m. Gates open at noon Saturday and the horseshoe throwing contest begins at 1 p.m.

Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday and close at 10. Friday’s offerings include rides by Fun Time Amusements of Danville and carnival-style foods such as cotton candy, Sno Cones, blooming onions, and funnel cakes. Fun Time Amusements will have a one price ride-all special on Friday evening. Admission to the Ole Fashion Fourth of July Celebration is free both Friday and Saturday.

Lake Reidsville Independence Day Festivities
Lake Reidsville will host its annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday. The City of Reidsville Parks & Recreation Department has planned a fun-filled day, beginning at 11 a.m.

“We’re expecting once again a very large turnout; we’re expecting around 10,000 people,” said Harry Brown, director of Reidsville Parks & Recreation. “We’re very excited about it. Every year we look forward to it.”

Saturday’s activities will culminate with a fireworks display over the lake at 10 p.m. Zambelli’s of New Castle, Pa., will put on the 30-to-40-minute show, said Brown.

Before the fireworks display, from 6 to 10 p.m., “The Voltage Brothers,” a nationally known band that plays a wide variety of music from classic rock to swing, will entertain the crowd.

“They play a wide variety of music. They play a lot of oldies music, too, from the 70s and 80s,” said Brown. Prior to the performance by “The Voltage Brothers,” “Total Silence,” a contemporary gospel/jazz band will entertain the crowd at the amphitheater, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Activities during the day include rides, games, “Bouncing Souls” inflatables for children, a horseshoe tournament beginning at noon, a car show and Bill Plemmon’s RV and camper display from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a kayak and canoe demonstration from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Vendors will offer a variety of foods to satisfy the appetites of the crowds.

“We just believe that because of the economy, people are doing what they call ‘stay-at-home’ type vacations. With that in mind, we really want to provide recreational opportunities in any way that we can so people won’t have to travel to have a good time,” said Brown.                                                             

The cost of admission to Lake Reidsville’s Independence Day festivities is $5 per car. Those coming to the lake to see the fireworks should plan to arrive by 9 p.m. No coolers or pets are allowed into Lake Reidsville Park on Independence Day.