Independence Day falls on a Friday this year, which give folks a chance to take part in more festivities over the long Fourth of July weekend.
Take the fireworks show at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point Park, for example, sponsored by Vance County Tourism.
The annual event will take place on Saturday, July 5 this year, and Pam Hester and Norman Dickerson are working like a well-oiled machine to make sure there’s plenty of food and fun for the whole community.
“The fireworks are going to be beautiful,” Hester said, adding that the pyrotechnics team creating the show does a “fabulous job” that will surely wow the audience.
The fun begins at 4 p.m., and there will be a wide variety of food vendors, as well as music provided again this year by DJ Jay.
“As always, DJ J has it down to a science,” Hester said. He plays patriotic music during the countdown to the fireworks show, which helps get the crowd really involved, she said.
It does take place in early July, so in addition to the fireworks and the fun, friendship and fellowship that will be served up, Hester adds one word to the description: HOT.
While there will be plenty to do during the afternoon and into the evening, the star of the show is the fireworks, so the tourism duo makes sure that all the permits are secured and helping agencies are on board with their role in making sure all goes according to plan.
“It takes roughly 16 different organizations to pull off this 20-minute affair each year,” Dickerson said. “We are indebted to these organizations. Without them, we could not do it.” Among the assisting agencies are the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Highway Patrol, Vance County Rescue Squad, Fire Department, EMS and the county commissioners.
In addition, permits are needed from the N.C. State Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
And oddly enough, Dickerson said they have to seek approval from the U.S. Coast Guard, which has an auxiliary at the lake that assists the rescue squad to maintain safety along the perimeter of the shoot site.
Hester offered a shout-out to Kerr Lake Parks Superintendent Bill Stanley and his team. “Bill Stanley and his crew are just top of the line,” she said.
The shoot site usually takes place along the shoreline at Water’s Edge subdivision, Dickerson noted, but if the lake level remains as high as it is now (301.6 feet), the Plan B is to move across the lake near Shelter 3, which is more elevated.
“Anything over 301.6 and our shoot area is under water,” Dickerson said. The lake level may come down some between now and then, “but we’ve still got a backup, so we’re good,” he explained.
Here’s a quick rundown on some of the food and beverage options that are scheduled to be on site for the event:
- Bun on the Run – burgers and hotdogs
- King’s Southern Style Cooking – shrimp, fish, pork chops, fries, hush puppies
- RJ’s Grill – Cheese steaks, chopped pork, chicken wings and fish
- Kim Hudson’s loaded baked potatoes, nachos, lemonade and cold drinks
- Frostbites – a variety of ice treat and ice cream to help keep you cool
- DP and C – carnival treats like candy apples, funnel cakes and deep fried candy bars.
- Kernel Craze – gourmet popcorn in all different flavors
- De Tocho Morocho – offering Hispanic-inspired foods and drinks
The event is free, but there is a $10 gate fee to enter the park. And remember, alcohol is not permitted at any state park.
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