Fireworks over Wayne County
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on June 30, 2004 2:00 PM
The weekend of July 4 will be filled with action from one end of the county to the other, with fireworks planned for Saturday night in Mount Olive and Pikeville and for Monday night in Goldsboro.
*Berkeley Mall will sponsor fireworks at 9 p.m. Monday, July 5. About 30 minutes of fireworks will be staged from the JC Penney parking lot.
*The Mount Olive Jaycees will sponsor a fireworks display Saturday beginning at 9 p.m. at the Mount Olive Municipal Airport.
The Mount Olive Exchange Club will sponsor a children's parade, with line-up at 4:15 p.m. at Westbrook Park. The children will decorate their bikes in a patriotic theme and parade along the park's new walking trail.
At 5 p.m. is the opening ceremony followed by entertainment, free food and activities like children's games and bingo.
At 5:15 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 200 will perform a flag-burying ceremony.
At 5:40 p.m. is a demonstration buy Hwarang Warriors Martial Arts.
At 6:05 p.m., Justin Smith sings.
At 6:30 p.m. the Mount Olive Community Instrumental Ensemble performs.
*Pikeville will have fun games, music and fireworks at the town's seventh annual Independence Day Festival on July 2 and 3. This is the first year the Pikeville Lions Club will be the host.
The event starts with a 5K run at 7 p.m. on Friday, with registration beginning at 6 p.m. It will begin at the old school building. Applications are available in the Town Hall and on site and the fee is $15, which includes a free T-shirt. There will be a $20 fee for those who sign up at the last minute.
Following the run, the Charles B. Aycock Jazz Band will play from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. People are encouraged to bring chairs.
There is a full schedule of events on Saturday, July 3, beginning with a yard sale at 7 a.m. The opening ceremonies will be from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and during that time will be the crowning of Miss and Mr. Independence Day and the award for Pikeville's Distinguished Man or Woman.
The rest of the schedule for July 3 is as follows:
At 10 a.m. children's games, including a water slide, will continue until 3 p.m.
At 11 a.m. the lawnmower tractor pull begins.
At 11 a.m. the car show, which is something new this year, begins its display.
At 11:30 a.m., horseshoe competition begins with four sets of pits open to the public.
At 1:30 a.m., the sheriff's drug-sniffing dogs will do a demonstration.
At 2:45 p.m. the Fun Loving Steppers perform.
At 3 p.m. is a variety show.
At 4 p.m. is DJ Luke Vail.
At 7 p.m. is Gospel singing with Sanctified, Servant's Heart and other groups.
At 9:30 p.m. is the fireworks display.
*Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will celebrate July 4 across from the fitness center. There will be music from Wild Hearts DJ and karaoke from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and from 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., Fatback and the Cadillacs will perform. Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. For information, call 722-0339. The event is for military, but anyone with a gate pass can bring someone on base for the event.
*The American Legion Wayne Post 11 will hold its July 4 Celebration on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. Bring family and friends and enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on the grill. People are encouraged to bring a covered dish, and there will be sparklers for the children.