Festival kicks off with concert
By Steve Herring
Published in News on April 22, 2016 1:46 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Dill-light to the country sounds of the Blake Kearney Band and RaeLynn.
Relish an extra-long day of festivities.
And be sure to eat some pickles.
It can all be done tonight and Saturday as the North Carolina Pickle Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The festival is sponsored by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by Mt. Olive Pickle Co., the town of Mount Olive and the University of Mount Olive.
"The Voice" alum RaeLynn will headline tonight's concert at the Mount Olive Airport located off the Old Mount Olive Highway just north of town.
The Blake Kearney Band will open for the Academy of Country Music Awards nominee during the concert presented by Katie Country 97.7.
Gates will open at 7 p.m. with the Blake Kearney Band performing at 8 p.m. and RaeLynn taking the stage at 9:30 p.m.
Concert ticket are $13.25 in advance, and $15 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ncpicklefest.org.
Advance tickets can also be purchased in person at the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce and at Katie Country 97.7 in Goldsboro.
Overflow parking and a free shuttle will be available at the former IMPulse NC location on the Old Mount Olive Highway.
Concessions and a beer garden will be available at the concert.
While the concert is going on, Brinkley Entertainment will have carnival rides in the Steele Memorial Library parking lot at the corner of North Chestnut and West Main streets.
The festival moves into full swing Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until 8 p.m.
The festival normally wraps up at 5 p.m.
"Well, for years (festival co-chairman) Lynn Williams, and I have been wanting to extend the festival because we realize there is an economic benefit by doing that," festival Co-chair Julie Beck said. "So last year, after we had our critique meeting for the 2015 festival, we talked about ways that we could extend it."
Some events will still wind down at 5 p.m. including the classic car show and dancers' stage on North Center Street, the antique farm equipment show and Model A car show on West James Street and the Circus Stella on South Center Street.
The main stage next to Southern Bank and the praise stage on South Center Street will have entertainment until 8 p.m.
A hallmark of the festival is its mixture of the tried and true, like the classic car show on North Center Street, the Tour de Pickle Bike Ride, the Cuke Patch 5K and the Hwy 55 Challenge, and the new.
Among the new attractions this year are the Artisan Village, a collection of artists in the fine arts presented by the University of Mount Olive, the inaugural homestyle chili cook-off presented by First South Bank and the Goldsboro News-Argus, and a Mascot Race featuring up to nine different costumed characters.
Parking on town streets is limited to one side year-round to ensure there is plenty of room for emergency vehicles to get through so parking is at a premium on the main festival day.
Signs mark which side of a street where parking is not allowed.
Police Chief Tommy Brown said motorists need to abide by the parking signs or there is a "good chance" their vehicle could be towed at the owner's expense.
It is important to keep the streets open for emergency traffic, he said.
So instead of searching for a parking place, and in an attempt to help ease traffic congestion, festival-goers are being encouraged to park at Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive campus and ride a free shuttle to and from the downtown events.
The free shuttle will run every 15 to 20 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and will drop off and pick up passengers downtown on the Station Street side of the fire station.
The cost is $5 per car.