| 113th Year, 47th Issue | Thursday, July 4, 2002 | Sparta, North Carolina |
Area civic groups plan to make the celebration of America's 226th birthday a festive one, with fun events today as well as into the weekend. Sparta and Alleghany County plan to host a fireworks display today — Thursday, July 4 — beginning just after dark, with fireworks launched from Davis Field behind Alleghany High School. The rain date has been set for Friday. Local officials promise the show will be even larger than last year, with more six-inch shells, some of the largest used here.
Parade Saturday
Sparta's annual Fourth of July Parade is set for Saturday, July 6, beginning at 11 a.m. The parade will make its way southward through downtown on Main Street, beginning at Sparta Elementary School and marching to Trojan Village Shopping Center. Main Street Coordinator Barbara Lucier said the parade will include classic and antique automobiles, homemade floats, walkers, horseback riders and fire trucks, along with four commercial floats. A puppet show scheduled for after the parade has been canceled. However, clowns including Alleghany Clowns in Motion are expected to participate in the parade. Lucier said there is still time for parade entrants to register. Anyone interested in being part of the parade may contact her at 372-6135. Grand marshals for the parade are World War II veterans Wanda Reeves Wills and Walter Bell. Sandy Rost, chairman of the Sparta Revitalization Committee, which organizes the parade, said the festivities will also include a fly-over by a National Guard Blackhawk from Salisbury. Scheduled to make its pass at 11:15 a. m. , the Blackhawk will be piloted by Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Gordon. Some groups will be making refreshments available. The Boy Scouts will be selling cotton candy and other concessions. Lucier said that during the parade, Main Street will be closed from Doughton Street to Grandview Drive. Commuters may use the Sparta Parkway (bypass) to circumvent the downtown area. The Sparta Lions Club's 14th annual game show is also scheduled for this weekend, Friday and Saturday, at the Higgins (Alleghany County) Fairgrounds. The show will be held from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. Friday, and beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages seven to 17, with children under six admitted free. Parking is free, and concessions will be available.
Also this week, the annual Trojan Village community flea market is slated for today and Saturday, beginning at 7 a.m. each day, featuring antiques and collectables. Sponosored by Trojan Village Merchants and Miles Consolidated Companies, the flea market offers free set-up, with spaces assigned upon arrival at the Trojan Family Bowl parking lot. Participants should bring their own tables, and those interested may call Allen at 372-4199 or 372-5557 for details.
Surrounding Counties The Ashe County Parks and Recreation Department's annual fireworks presentation is scheduled for tonight (Thursday) at Ashe Park. While the park is open all day, a spokesman said people typically begin arriving for the festivities at about 6 p.m. Paddle boats are available, and local fire departments will be selling concessions. The fireworks themselves are to begin at about 9:20 p.m., preceded by country and bluegrass music. There is no charge to park for the show, but donations are accepted to help fund next year's fireworks presentation. The Elkin Jaycees will host their ninth annual Fourth of July Celebration today from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. at Elkin Municipal Park on N. C. 268. That event includes rides and games for all ages, foods, crafts, wrestling and live music by five bands. Fireworks are set to begin at 9:30, rain or shine. In Wilkes County, Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro Inc. is hosting its third annual Fourth of July Celebration today from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. That gala will include performances by the Fort Defiance Reenactors and bagpipe player Lelia McInnis, a fire truck parade at 5 p.m. and will culminate with fireworks at Memorial Park at about 9:30 p.m. In Grayson County, Va., a full day is planned today at the 1908 Courthouse in Independence, including an arts and crafts festival, games, a parade and fireworks. Meanwhile, Galax, Va. will hold its annual July 4th parade today at 1 p.m. on Main Street, followed by fireworks at 10:30 p.m. at Felts Park. Felts Park is also the site of a carnival all this week through Saturday, sponsored by the Galax Volunteer Fire Department.
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