HAMLET — Independence Day weekend is finally here, and on Monday night the skies above Hamlet and Ellerbe will sparkle for the Fourth of July.
In Hamlet, the celebration has evolved over the years from loud, colorful explosions over city lake to an all-out event. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. at the depot on Main Street, with the Hamlet Business Development Association hosting watermelon eating contests at 6 and 6:30 p.m.
The Hamlet Fire Department will be on hand with its antique fire truck and super soaker for kids to play in and enjoy. Children aiming to get drenched are encouraged to bring a bathing suit and a towel.
U.S. Army personnel and the National Guard will have a Humvee out, and people will be able to tour the historic depot.
There will be a balloon artist, face painting, a DJ and food vendors, along with an art display by the Hamlet Senior Center Art Club. Patriotic music will be played ahead of the fireworks and a brief program in honor of local military service members and veterans.
According to City Manager Marcus Abernethy, “the fireworks display has been increased by 20 percent from last year’s show.”
Family fun activities are set to go on until 8:30 p.m. with fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m.
“On behalf of the city of Hamlet, I would like to thank the HBDA for coordinating the event with the city,” Abernethy said. “I also would like to thank Richmond County Tourism Development Authority and Duke Energy for sponsoring the event. Come out and bring the family as we celebrate Independence Day.”
The Ellerbe Lions Club, this year with a little help from the town of Ellerbe, is also planning a big event for the Fourth of July.
“The town is contributing to the fireworks this year,” said Mayor Lee Berry. “It’s the first year we had to do that, but the price of fireworks has gone up. It’s still under the Lions Club, though. Ken and Betty Lyerly are really the backbone of that.”
Ellerbe Lions Club President Ken Lyerly said the gates will open at 10 a.m. Monday to kick off this year’s festivities at the Lions Club Park on Church Street.
“We’ll have lots of things primarily focused on the young people all day,” he said. “At 2 p.m., games and other events for the children will begin. And at 4 o’clock we’ll have the opening ceremony and we’ll announce the Ellerbe Lions Club Citizen of the year. This year, that’s Dan Bennett of Ellerbe Telephone Company. He’s been very supportive of all we do at the Lions Club.”
Lyerly added that other awards will also be given, including one for his wife, Betty — Lion of the Year.
“She has earned it,” he said. “And I was not on the selection committee, so we’re good there. She’s our treasurer. And we have a large playground area for the children that is set to be named after John Harris Rummage.”
At 7 p.m., musical entertainment will begin and a pair of kayaks will be given away, followed by a performance by the band Dark Horse, who will play until dark when the fireworks begin.
“And there will be all kinds of games all day,” Lyerly said. “There’s going to be a big, plastic covered area where kids will have to capture the watermelons and the fire department will be there spraying it down, so that’s going to be slippery. I don’t think anybody will argue when I say Ellerbe has the largest fireworks display in Richmond County. It goes on for 25 minutes, and we expect it to last that long again this year.”
The fireworks begin at dark.
Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter @meloniemclaurin.