Weekend full of magic, fishing and fun in Rockingham

Golden Corral Carnival of Miracles/ Auction Dinner

Golden Corral’s “Week of Miracles” will culminate with a carnival Saturday featuring live music throughout the day.

“It gets bigger and better every year,“ said Deb Sterling, marketing director for the Golden Corral of Reidsville. This year marks the store’s fourth annual carnival to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Admission is free, but the Golden Corral welcomes donations. The carnival begins at 10 a.m. and ends about 8 p.m. The event will also include an inflatable fun park, classic cars, motorcycles, games, clowns, local “celebrity lock-up” and concessions, including funnel cakes, cotton candy and snow cones.

The Week of Miracles began with a magic show Tuesday evening starring Jim Light, also known as Capt. Jim “The Magical Pirate” and his son Guy “The Little Magic Guy.“ Also scheduled is a “Champions for a Cause” auction dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Monroeton Elementary School of Reidsville.

Each $25 ticket admits two for dinner and the auction. Tickets will be available at the door. Auctioneer Jim Isley will auction things such as a limited edition golden fiddle from Charlie Daniels to signed items from sports stars such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brett Favre and Chipper Jones.

“It’s not just an auction. It’s a party,“ said Sterling. “Jim keeps it very fun and lively and entertaining. He’s a great, great showman.“

So far, Golden Corral has raised $10,000 for the Duke Children’s Hospital of Durham. This year’s goal is $35,000.

“It’s been refreshing to see the support of the community, even in a challenged economy,“ said Sterling.

Last year, the store raised the most amount of money out of all the Golden Corral stores nationwide and received the Golden Corral President’s Award. The store also received the Golden Circle of Excellence Community Service Award.

“Without the community, we definitely couldn’t do it,“ said Shane Marsh, Reidsville store manager. “To be number one in this size county is incredible because we’re going up against the Raleighs and the Greensboros.“ He said the community support reflects the friendly “small-town atmosphere” of Reidsville.

The theme is “Building a Miracle,“ because God’s Pit Crew, a disaster relief group from Danville, Va., has pitched in for the cause. The group built a 10-by-15-foot playhouse valued at $5,000 furnished with electronics by Aaron’s of Reidsville. Golden Corral is taking $2 donations for a chance to win the playhouse. The drawing is May 31.

Sterling said the money will go to children born prematurely, accident victims and children with special needs such as severe food allergies or debilitating conditions such as cystic fibrosis.

Golden Corral of Reidsville is at 1566 Freeway Drive.

Kids Walk

This year’s Relay for Life of Rockingham County will include a Kids Walk, beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at the McMichael High School track. Registration begins at 7:30. Deanna Chambers, Miss North Carolina 2008, will host the Kids Walk, which includes a balloon launch, face painting, a poster contest and a clown. To register, visit http://events.cancer.org/rflrockinghamnc.

Fishing Derby
The 2008 Kids Hooked on Fishing Derby is Saturday.