Rough Draft, on the Village Green Saturday.
Looking for something to do this Independence Day weekend? Davidson’s annual July 4th event will take a different tack this year, incorporating the annual family parade as well as a Concert on the Green, with the R&B band Rough Draft. But the fireworks are gone, the victim of budget-cutting at Town Hall. If you’re looking for fireworks, you’ll find them at the Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville Friday night, during the Y’s annual Summer Celebration.
Also July 4, there’s a daytime celebration at Birkdale Village in Huntersville. And Davidson Mayor John Woods has been invited to help with the release of a rescued bald eagle in Huntersville, in honor of veterans and fallen military service people from North Carolina.
FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS
Lowe’s YMCA on Joe Knox Avenue in Mooresville will host its annual Summer Celebration on Friday, July 3, from 5-10 p.m.
The event includes activities for families and children, including rock climbing, inflatables, a jousting arena, face painting, a balloon artist and music by Lake Norman Orchestra. The night concludes with fireworks.
BALD EAGLE RELEASE
Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville plans to release a rescued bald eagle on Saturday, July 4, in honor of North Carolina’s veterans and fallen service members. Veterans, family members of fallen service men and women and local political leaders have been invited.
Davidson Mayor John Woods will be there, along with Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain, County Commissioner Karen Bentley, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, state Rep. Thom Tills (R-Cornelius) and other local leaders.
The release will be at McGuire Nuclear Station’s EnergyExplorium, off N.C. 73. Events begin at 8:30, with the eagle release at 9. Organizers suggest getting there by 8:15.
Besides the rescued eagle, non-release “ambassador eagles” from the Raptor Center in Huntersville will form a sort of “honor guard” for the release. Keynote speaker will be Col. Charles A. Dunn II of Pope Air Force Base.
Mayor Woods will release the eagle.
Raptor center officials say the bald eagle has “a miraculous story.” It was brought to Carolina Raptor Center on Memorial Day with injuries resulting from a conflict over territory. With help of rehabilitation experts at the center, it has made a full recovery.
The non-profit Raptor Center says Saturday’s event will honor our nation’s symbol, as well as those who have fought and sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom. (Mayor Woods lost a brother, James, in the Vietnam War.)
Details: www.carolinaraptorcenter.org.
Traffic alertOn Saturday, July 4, travel on some town streets will be affected briefly by the town’s Independence Day parade. The parade begins at 4:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. Main Street will be closed for 10 to 15 minutes while parade-goers walk to the Village Green. Police will direct traffic and will suggest alternate routes. |
DAVIDSON FEST
Davidson’s festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. Decorate your bicycles, wagons, pets and strollers in a patriotic theme and march in the small-town parade. Immediately after the parade, gather on the Village Green and enjoy a special children’s amusement area and the concert, featuring R&B band Rough Draft.
The concert runs 5-8 p.m., with Rough Draft, a popular regional act that sings tunes by Fleetwood Mac, The Temptations, Diana Ross, Kool & The Gang, the O’Jays, Doobie Brothers, Wilson Pickett and more.
As with all the Concerts on the Green, there’s a picnic contest, and for the Fourth, it’s “Patriotic: Red, White & You.”
The concert and parade are free. There’s a $5 admission for children’s activities. For more information, visit www.downtowndavidson.org
Town officials eliminated money for the fireworks this year as part of a slew of budget cuts brought on by lower-than-expected tax and fee revenues. The change also follows efforts last year to control crowds at the popular event.
HOLIDAY COMMUTING
Here’s a commuting reminder: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will operate a Sunday schedule on local bus routes on Friday, July 3. They’ll also operate a reduced express bus schedule for commuters to downtown Charlotte that day. For information on schedule times, call 704-336-7433.
Also, CATS will operate normal schedules on Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, 2009. No express service will operate on Saturday or Sunday.
LYNX Blue Line light rail trains will operate according to a Saturday schedule on Friday, July 3, and will operate normal weekend schedules on Saturday and Sunday. CATS promises extra trains on the LYNX Blue Line “as warranted over the holiday weekend in support of Independence Day events.”
WANT TO GO?
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 5-10 p.m., Lowe’s YMCA, 170 Joe Knox Ave., Mooresville – Lowe’s YMCA hosts its annual July 3 Summer Celebration for fa.m.ilies and children. Ga.m.es, inflatables, rock climbing, jousting arena, face painting, balloon artist, and music by Lake Norman Orchestra. The night concludes with a fireworks display. Free shuttle bus from Peninsula Baptist Church, 687 Brawley School Road. Proceeds support the Y’s Community Outreach Ca.m.paign. www.ymcacharlotte.org
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 8:30 a.m., McGuire Nuclear Station Energy Explorium, 13339 Hagers Ferry Road (off N.C. 73), Huntersville – Bald eagle release, in honor of fallen service men and women and veterans. Mayor John Woods is a.m.ong the invited dignitaries. www.carolinaraptorcenter.org
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Welcome Home Veterans/Richard’s Coffee Shop, 128 S. Main St. , Mooresville – Independence Day Celebration for Veterans, with special guest Major Gen. James A. Mallory II, 10 a.m. blessing and speeches, 11 a.m. watermelon and pretzels. Music by the Coffee Shop Gang. Free. www.welcomehomeveteran.org.
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Birkdale Village, off Sa.m. Furr Road, Exit 23, Huntersville – July 4th festival at the local shopping village, including 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Bike decorating, kids art, face painting, balloons, bounce house & more. 11:30 a.m., parade lineup. 12:15 p.m. Huntersville & Gilead Fire Department Water Fight, 11:45 a.m. parade begins. Noon award ceremony presented by Mayor Jill Swain at the fountain for Best Decorated Bike and Presentation to the Fire Departments. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Fun and Games with Radio Disney. Birkdale Commons Parkways will be closed during the event 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 4:30 to 8 p.m., Village Green – Davidson Fourth of July celebration, with a parade of bicycles, strollers, and pets and an evening of music and ga.m.es. Music by Rough Draft, which sings tunes by Fleetwood Mac, The Temptations, Diana Ross, Kool & The Gang, the O’Jays, Doobie Brothers, Wilson Pickett and more. $5 admission for children’s activities. (Note: This year’s Davidson July 4 celebration will not include fireworks.)
RELATED COVERAGE
March 11, 2009, “Board OKs budget cuts; July 4 fireworks on the list.”
July 4, 2008, “July 4 celebration goes on despite rain.”
June 11, 2008, “With popularity of July 4 fireworks, town seeks to limit crowds.”
