“An Evening Beneath the Stars,” the upcoming outdoor celebration in downtown Henderson, started out as an event to mark the nation’s 250^th birthday and it’s truly living up to its theme: “Honor the past. Celebrate the present. Build the future.”

The event includes dinner, patriotic music played by DJ Jay Rogers and a special video presentation that will incorporate the nation’s history along with a tribute to veterans and first responders, said Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson.

Tickets for the Sept. 11 event are $100 each and are on sale now, but don’t delay – the deadline to purchase tickets is Tuesday, Sept. 1. Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 to purchase tickets or email Tanya Wilson at tanya@hendersonvance.org.

A joint collaboration of the local Chamber of Commerce, Vance County Tourism, Vance County Economic Development Commission and the City of Henderson Downtown Development Commission, “An Evening Beneath the Stars” is being planned for the Breckenridge Street area between McGregor Hall and the Henderson Police Department.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the American Legion Post 60 mission to further enhance the newly installed veterans’ memorial located in the traffic circle just outside the police department entrance.

In information from the Chamber publicizing the event, organizers described it as “a breathtaking evening of patriotism, remembrance, and community as we celebrate 250 years of the American spirit. We will gather to honor our nation’s history, reflect on its resilience, and invest in its future. This unforgettable evening will feature live entertainment, inspiring tributes, fine dining, and moments of remembrance that unite us all.”

Wilkerson and Vance County Tourism’s Pam Hester were guests on Monday’s TownTalk to discuss how the event took shape and the plan for making it an annual event.

Collaboration is a key ingredient for the success of any event, Hester said. It’s important to show the community that different agencies and groups are working together for a common goal.

“The only way to make things successful is to come together as a group,” Hester said. “Everybody does a part. Some people like to be up front and some people like to be in the back. I’m one of those “in the back” people,” she said. “I like to be behind the scenes.”

For Wilkerson, it was a no-brainer to seek partnerships with the city and county agencies.

When the four groups came together to start the planning, the Sept. 11 date bubbled up. And that’s when they realized that this year marks the 25^th anniversary of 9/11. The veterans’ memorial, newly installed on Breckenridge Street, became the perfect backdrop for the dinner, she added.

“It’s going to be a very memorable event,” Wilkerson said.

The goal is to make this an annual event that folks want to come back for.

And that’s where the third prong of the theme comes in: Build the Future.

Hester said she expects the monument to draw visitors – veterans and others – to the area. It’s another attraction for downtown Henderson, which gives folks another chance to experience how caring the people are and how wonderful the city is.

“We all have to have that that positive outlook and go from there,” Hester said.

 

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