entertainment
Celebrate country and family this 4th of July
I hope they come away knowing they live in a county that supports and places family values and beliefs as a high priority. ~ TERRI NORRIS
Story by Chris DeWitt
S
ummer is here as cookouts and vacations get underway. This means Independence Day is right around the corner so are the celebrations that come with it. One such celebration is happening in Kenansville, N.C., on Monday, July 4th, at the Duplin County Events Center from 4-10 p.m. This yearly celebration will have activities for families, including a mechanical bull, bouncy houses, a rock-climbing wall, and a dedicated kids’ stage. Fireworks will be at dark. “It is a family-centered event with no alcohol being present,” said Terry Norris Emerge Ministries executive director. “All the entertainment is Christ-centered.” The theme for the event is The Founding, The Foundation, The Future. According to Norris, the July 4th Planning Committee chose the Events 22 | Southeastern North Carolina Magazine
Center to accommodate a large crowd. He estimates approximately 6,000 to 8,000 people to attend. “I hope they come away knowing they live in a county that supports and places family values and beliefs as a high priority,” said Norris. “[We] also recognize the worldview of a county that produces these same values and beliefs of freedom, individual liberty and justice for all.” This year’s celebration is an extensive collaborative effort on behalf of several community organizations, including Duplin County Veterans Office and Duplin County Tourism and Administration. Norris collected a cross-section of individuals from across the county to form the event planning committee. “It is an amazing story to be highlighted,” he added, explaining how such a diverse group came together to make the event possible.
Norris added that the event is budgeted at $27,000. He believes it could be “the largest July 4th event of its kind” in the state. “With the faltering economy, soaring gas prices, and difficulty feeding a family, people will be able to attend an event that is as great as any July 4th event in the entire state, close in proximity and free,” said Norris. For more information about the July 4th celebration, visit www.duplinevents.com or call 910-275-0009.