Columbus County is gearing up for a huge celebration of epic proportions this week. Several firework displays, festivals, and a food truck rodeo will take place all over the area this week. If you miss out on one, you have several opportunities to participate in the country’s 250th year.
The Town of Brunswick will be having their fourth of July extravaganza and fireworks display at the Columbus County Fairgrounds tomorrow, July 1, beginning at 7 p.m. The evening will include festival food, carnival vibes, and of course, fireworks.
Bring a blanket or a chair to 886 Prison Camp Road in Whiteville.
The Veterans Memorial Park of America will be hosting a big event in honor of America’s 250th. Freedom Fest will be on July 4 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the park. The day will include family-friendly fun, diverse vendors, and food trucks.
If you would like to set up at the festival, the cost is $40 for a 12×12 space or for a food truck to park. Proceeds will go directly to the VMPA to help veterans. Vendors can begin preparations at the park the evening before the event or the morning of Freedom Fest at 7 a.m.
Reserve your space by calling 570.760.1515 or send an email to rengland.vmpa@gmail.com. The Veterans Memorial Park of America is located at 6354 James B. White Highway South in Whiteville.
The Town of Fair Bluff will also be celebrating Independence Day in the western part of the county. They will hold their First Saturday Market July Jubilee on July 4 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Riverside Drive. The day will include local vendors with handcrafted items, vintage pieces, baked goods, and so much more.
The town will also have a golf cart and ATV parade, the Touch a Tractor event, and food trucks like Two Terrys Coffee, Brenda’s Touch, Ana’s Tex Mex, and The Sweet Life will be set up for folks to come out and enjoy.
The annual Columbus County Fireworks Show will be on July 4 at South Columbus High School. The Greater Tabor City Chamber of Commerce will have its traditional concession stand open during the event. B’s Bubbles and Brews will be on site, MASH Italian Ice will be serving up something to keep you cool, and popcorn form a local church will also be up for grabs.
Live entertainment will be happening throughout the evening, and fireworks will fly at dusk. Gates open at 6 p.m., and admission is completely free. South Columbus High School is located at 40 Stallion Drive in Tabor City.
The Town of Lake Waccamaw has many annual traditions when it comes to Independence Day, but this year the municipality will be adding more events in honor of America’s 250th birthday. The traditional fire department hot dog sale and boot drive will be happening just like in previous years, but a golf cart and bike parade, the opening of a 50-year-old time capsule, and the placement of a new vessel to be opened on July 4, 2076 will all take place during this year’s celebration.
Golf Cart and Bike Parade
Gas up and charge up those golf carts, stretch those legs to peddle those bikes, and decorate them the patriotic way for the Lake Waccamaw Independence Day Golf Cart and Bike Parade. Participants will meet up at 9 a.m. at Columbia Avenue next to Elizabeth Brinkley Park to line up, and then the group will wheel down Lake Shore Drive and end the procession at Town Hall.
Please remember that all golf carts must be inspected by Lake Waccamaw Police Department, and inspection stickers must be placed in the corner of the windshield of the cart. Proof of liability insurance must also be presented at the time of inspection. For more questions about golf cart requirements, call Lake Waccamaw Town Hall. Parade participation is limited to Lake residents only.
Time Capsule Opening, Ceremony, and Reception
On July 4 of 1976, a time capsule was placed at Town Hall with strict instructions by Betty Timberlake that it was not to be opened until 2026, and a reception with ice cream and cookies was to be held to celebrate the resurrection of the vessel. On July 4 at 10 a.m., the citizens of Lake Waccamaw will gather just as they did 50 years ago to witness the opening of the relic and view the contents inside.
The ceremony will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem. The Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum will have a program followed by that long-ordered ice cream and cookie reception, as requested by Timberlake, in honor of the removal of the old time capsule.
Items for the new capsule are now being exhibited at the depot museum for viewing by the public, and contents from 1976 vessel will be on display at the reception.
Fire Department Hot Dog Sale and Boot Drive
The Lake Waccamaw Fire and Rescue Department will continue their annual hot dog sale and boot drive this Independence Day at the station. Hot dogs can be purchased at the back entrance of the building, and fire trucks will be set up on Flemington Drive on the street for boot drive donations.
A raffle will also take place at the event. Tickets are $10 each, and first prize will be a 65-quart Yeti cooler. The second prize up for grabs is $100 in cold hard cash. To get your tickets, contact a fire department member or swing by the station on July 4.
All proceeds from the fundraisers will go directly to the department for their ongoing efforts to serve the community.
Chadbourn will have their second annual Food Truck Rodeo and Fireworks Show on July 5 from 5-9 p.m. Come out and get some good eats at 602 North Brown Street, and then head over to the Strawberry Event Field to watch the fireworks fly. Admission is free.
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