As you buy the charcoal, clean off the grill and get everything together for a Fourth of July celebration at home, you might want to make time to attend one of the many celebrations around Burke County.
Several municipalities and communities are planning to celebrate the country's 233rd birthday.
The celebrations include:
Town of Valdese and Trail of Faith
Fourth of July celebrations will kick off Friday evening with Harry Deal and the Galaxies performing beach music in the Wachovia Bank parking lot. Main Street will be closed for the antique and classic cruise-in and there will be free tram rides. Folks also can sample a free taste of Waldensian Heritage Winery wines at Cornerstone Antiques and Coffee Shop or browse through downtown shops that plan to stay open late.
Saturday's Fourth of July celebration starts at 5 p.m. at the Trail of Faith, located on Church Street. Guest speaker will be former POW Vernon Rader and entertainment will be Daybreak Quartet and The Kistler Family.
A kids park will be set up with water slide, bounce rides and batting cage. Admission is $2. Trail of Faith tours will be $2.
General admission to the celebration is free.
Downtown Valdese also will have live entertainment at 7 p.m. in the Wachovia Bank parking lot featuring the Extraordinaires singing classic tunes and rhythm and blues.
The evening will wrap up with a fireworks display at the Trail of Faith.
Glen Alpine
The town of Glen Alpine will hold its annual Fourth of July parade, which starts at 10 a.m. on Pea Ridge Street. Anyone wanting to participate can sign up that morning, starting at 9 a.m., say town officials.
Folks need to line up by 9:30 a.m. It's free to participate in the parade. The parade route runs from Pea Ridge Street to Linville Street, circles Cemetery Street back to Linville Street and ends at town hall.
Mayor Christine Abernathy will address the crowd at the end. Music will include Bill and Una Reep. There will be free watermelon and food vendors include the Boy Scouts, the recreation and fire departments.
There will be a drawing for a bicycle for ages up to 12, donated by the Glen Alpine Ruritan Club, and a cake walk.
South Mountains Fire Department
The South Mountains Fire Department Fourth of July parade starts at 10 a.m. Participants should line up at 9:30 a.m.
Lake James
Mimosa Boat Landing will have a fireworks show Saturday night. Parking is free and you don't have to be a member of Mimosa Boat Landing.
Dry Ponds community
The annual Dry Ponds Community Fourth of July Parade will start at 3 p.m.
The parade lineup will be at the Dry Ponds Community Ball field, Patton Road, beginning at 2:45 p.m.
The parade will end at the West End Fire Department on Jamestown Road. All entries are ask to decorate and/or dress patriotic.
For more information call, 584-3150.
Fonta Flora community
Folks in the community find anything they can to ride in their Fourth of July parade, including horses, lawnmowers and canoes, said Mike Barnes, one of the organizers of the parade.
"We usually don't have anybody watching it," Barnes said. "Everybody's in it. It's a good time."
The parade route is through the community to an old farm and back again, Barnes said.
The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at the end of Fonta Flora Road, which is past the Linville Boat Access.
Holiday towns closing
The offices of the towns of Hildebran, Valdese, Connelly Springs and Drexel will be closed Friday. Glen Alpine town offices will be open on Friday from 7:30 until 11:30 a.m. and will be closed on Monday. The town of Rutherford College offices will be closed Monday.
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