It’s the week we’ve all been waiting for, and we can’t wait to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday with you. If you miss one event, there are plenty more to attend. Firework displays, the July Jubilee, a time capsule opening, and the Freedom Fest are all on tap in the days to come.
Columbus County News is now updating VBS times and locations. Send in your church’s details to be included in the CCN VBS List for absolutely free. Visit https://columbuscountynews.com/2026/05/ccn-vbs-list-for-2026/ to see the article.
Be sure to check out the Good News every Wednesday morning for your weekly dose of updated events, gatherings, community announcements, and happy stories. You wouldn’t want to miss any of it.
Let us know if your church, civic group, association, or non-profit has markets, VBS, revivals, plays, gatherings, or fundraisers that you want published in The Good News. Would you like your church’s weekly services to be added to our Community Church Listings? Send all your submissions to ccn.cfaircloth@gmail.com. We will get them out there for absolutely free.
The Columbus County Community Farmers Market has new hours of operation. The facility will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. and every Saturday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Come shop fresh and local and support vendors and farmers in our community.
The market has fresh produce, farm-fresh eggs, homemade breads, jams and jellies, local honey, fresh juices, handmade jewelry, custom tumblers, crafts, games for all ages, live music, and so much more. The market is located at 132 Government Complex Drive in Whiteville.
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 N.C. Forest Service will begin accepting orders (today) Wednesday, July 1, for its annual tree seedling sale. With an average annual production of 10 million seedlings, and a reliable supply of more than 40 tree species, the NCFS Nursery Program produces enough native and genetically improved tree seedlings to plant roughly 18,700 acres of land.
The program offers quality conifer and hardwood seedlings. Genetically improved stock is available for Fraser fir, loblolly, longleaf, shortleaf, Eastern white pine and Virginia pine. These seedlings offer better volume growth, tree form, disease resistance, straightness, and other characteristics needed to produce beautiful Christmas trees, healthy woodlands, and quality forest products. Customers interested in knowing more about specific tree species and available inventory can speak with NCFS
How can you order tree seedlings from the NCFS Nursery Program?
- Tree seedlings can be ordered from the online seedling store at buynctrees.com.
- Tree seedlings can also be ordered by phone at 1-888-NCTREES (1-888-628-7337) or 919-731-7988.
- Tree seedlings can be ordered using the order form in our FY26-27 Nursery Seedling Catalog. Complete the form and mail to Seedling Coordinator, 762 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530.
- A user-friendly online catalog will soon be available at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service/nursery-tree-improvement-program. Seedling catalogs will also be available at local NCFS offices beginning in July. Within the catalog, landowners can find information about the types of tree species, quantities, and cost to order. Each species description includes information about ideal planting locations and whether a species is typically used to benefit wildlife, restore forest habitats or as marketable timber.
- Accepted methods of payment are check, money order, Mastercard and Visa.
Most containerized seedlings are available and used November through March, while most bare root seedlings are available and used January through March. Seedling orders can be shipped to one of 13 distribution centers statewide for a small fee or via UPS for a charge. Seedling orders are also available for pickup from the NCFS Claridge Nursery in Goldsboro or the Linville River Nursery near Crossnore.
For information on planting trees, customers are encouraged to contact their local NCFS county ranger. Contact information for NCFS county office and nursery locations is available at www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts.
Today, July 1, is the last day for donations for the Columbus Baptist Association for their Nicaragua Mission Team. Items include sports equipment, school supplies, beads and string, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, plastic cereal bowls, flip flops, fingernail polish, kids socks, and used eyeglasses.
If you have a big donation, you can call 910.642.2155 to arrange a pickup, or you can drop them off at the CBA office located at 208 South Thompson Street in Whiteville.
William CDUB Smith and Tramaine Howard will be hosting a free field day for the kids. All Out Water Wars will be held on July 3 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Whiteville Recreation Center. Water guns and water balloons will be included at the event, but children are welcome to bring their own.
There will be free burgers, hot dogs, fries and drinks up for grab, and live DJ will be playing music throughout the day, and there will be fun activities like kickball, a three-legged race, water war zones, horseshoes, a cornhole contest, pass the water bucket, and a water race. The rec center can be found at 1107 North Madison Street 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.
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.
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.
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.
Facts of Life Church Outreach will be hosting their Youth Camp 2026 on July 5-10 on Campus 2. The event is for kids ages 1-15 years old. Join the fun with creative learning, outdoor activities, team games, and new skills through faith and friendship.
Register your child today by calling 910.918.4531 or by visiting the webpage at www.factsoflifeoutreach.com. The campus is located at 506 North Lee Street in Whiteville.
The Whiteville Junior Women’s Club will be hosting a charity workout class on July 11 at 9 a.m. at Nautilus Fitness Center in Whiteville. The cost is $15 per person for the full body strength workout, and all proceeds will go to benefit the club’s mission to support the local community. Leslie Little will be leading the class.
A gym membership is not required for the event. Nautilus can be found at 618 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
Movies on Madison will be returning on Friday, July 10, at 7 p.m. to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville. The next film in the series will be Curious George. This free event is sponsored by the International Paper Foundation.
This fun-filled adventure shows how an inquisitive monkey and a friendly museum tour guide become an important part of each other’s lives. The 2006 movie is rated G and runs for 87 minutes.
Museum doors will open at 7 p.m., and the movie will start upstairs at 8 p.m. Arrive before showtime to let your curious side out with natural science activities on the museum floor.
Please remember that this is a family-friendly event, so no pets, coolers, alcohol, or smoking is permitted. Refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information, call 910.788.5100. The NCMNS-W can be found at 415 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
The museum is also offering Nature Storytime and Playdates throughout the summer. The programs will be available through August, with Nature Storytime evert Thursday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Playdate with Nature at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
Heart of the Wild Equine Rescue will be Cleaning for a Cause to raise money for the horses in their care. When you schedule a house cleaning with the non-profit, your cleaning fee because a tax-deductible donation to the organization. Pricing varies based on the size of your home.
Each donation go towards hay, feed, vet care, farrier services, and shelters and safe havens for mustangs and equine in need. You can message Heart of the Wild or Nicole Scholl via Facebook to learn more. The rescue’s EIN is 33-2261434.
Remember to check out our Good News tab throughout the week. We love to hear about all the great things happening around you. Email your submissions to ccn.cfaircloth@gmail.com or visit us at our new location at 125 Suite A, East Main Street in Whiteville. We love visitors. If the door is open, we are open for business.
