Festivities planned for July Fourth holiday
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 3, 2008 1:45 PM
If you plan on being on the streets of Mount Olive Friday afternoon around 4:30, be prepared to share the road.
Plenty of children are expected to kick off the town's Fourth of July festivities with a parade of bicycles, tricycles and wagons -- all decked out in red, white and blue.
And in neighboring Goldsboro, a more traditional parade is planned, one set to begin at 11 a.m. on Walnut Street.
The event, first organized by the Goldsboro Jaycees in 2007, is only the second of its kind, and will feature street vendors, food, a bouncy ride, clowns and a live performance by local pop rock band, Scuba Dog.
Back in Mount Olive, residents are invited to enjoy an old-fashioned celebration in Westbrook Park.
Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. will lead the Pledge of Allegiance at 5 p.m. followed by the National Anthem performed by Hampton Lee.
Entertainment will be provided by the town's own Harmony Boys, Kim Holmes of Calypso and Brent Hood of Grantham.
Bingo games will run under the American Legion pavilion and free soft drinks, pizza, hot dogs, watermelon and pickles will be available throughout the event.
Sopey-A-Clown will also perform and there will be a variety of children's games including a greasy-pole climb, three-legged race and water-balloon game.
A fireworks display will begin at the Mount Olive Airport at dusk.
Goldsboro residents will have fireworks Friday, too.
Officials at City Hall said they would likely begin shortly after dark at Berkeley Mall.
But for those living on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the display will be a second look. Their celebration is this evening.