Mount Olive makes plans for 4th of July celebration
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on June 26, 2007 1:45 PM
From staff reports
MOUNT OLIVE -- Organizers say they are expecting more than 600 people to attend the town's July 4 celebration in Westbrook Park in Mount Olive.
Children are invited to decorate their bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles like wagons with a patriotic theme and enter the children's parade, which begins at 4:30 p.m. in the park.
There will be plenty of food during the celebration, which begins at 5 p.m. with a ceremony including the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.
The event, sponsored by the Mount Olive Exchange Club, draws large crowds and always has lots of food, club president Jeff Daughtry said.
"We give away about 1,000 hot dogs plus chicken nuggets and pizza donated by area restaurants," he said. "And we have pickles."
Three groups will be entertaining, including Kim Holmes of Calypso, The Harmony Boys from around Mount Olive and another group that Daughtry expects to confirm.
Prizes will be given to the youngest, the oldest and the person who traveled farthest to attend the celebration.
At dusk, the Mount Olive Jaycees are sponsoring fireworks from the Mount Olive Municipal Airport.
Jaycee Treasurer Ernie Taylor said the display will probably be a little longer this year. The Jaycees found a new company to do the performance.
Years ago, the Mount Olive Jaycees ran the displays themselves from behind the Piggly Wiggly, but liability issues grew and about five years ago, the requirements changed. The display moved out to the airport.
Costs grew prohibitive, around $10,000 for just 15 minutes, and the Jaycees were unable to have fireworks for a couple of years.
But this year, Taylor said, the new company has charged less, and he expects to be able to provide more of a display.