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Photo Gallery Marines and sailors staying in town for the Fourth of July weekend liberty will find plenty to do.
For those who are ready to get the festivities started early, Surf City holds its Independence Day celebration Friday.
“When we first started doing the event, other towns were already doing theirs,” said Kristie Grubb, director of Parks and Recreation for Surf City. “We wanted to give people more bang for their buck, so we started doing ours on July 3 and it’s actually worked out very well.”
The party is set to kick off at 6 p.m., Friday, at Soundside Park, located next to the swing bridge on Topsail Island. To get there from Jacksonville, take Highway 17 South. In Holly Ridge, turn left onto U.S. Highway 50 and continue about five miles to the swing bridge.
“Mark Roberts and the Breeze” band is set to take the stage at 6 p.m. The fireworks presentation is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. See the town’s Web site at townofsurfcity.com for parking and other information.
Camp Lejeune’s July 4 celebration, which is open to the public, is scheduled to start at 5 p.m., Saturday, at W.P.T. Hill Field. Parking and a trolley service will be available at the Main Exchange/Commissary parking lot. Handicap parking is available at the Hadnot Point Seven Day Store.
Charlie Miller, Camp Lejeune theater manager and event organizer, said Marine Corps Community Services will set up a children’s center complete with inflatables in the center of the field.
“That seems to be a pretty good place for the children to go and have fun and where the parents can watch them and still enjoy the other activities as well,” said Miller.
Vendors will be on hand to sell everything from southern barbecue to funnel cake.
The 2nd Marine Division Band is handling entertainment for the evening. The party band will roam through the crowd starting at 5:30 p.m. The rock band will perform on the side stage at 6:30 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., approximately two dozen service members and spouses will be sworn in is as American citizens on the main stage.
Mitzi Lanier, Camp Lejeune immigration coordinator, said the idea to hold the event on Independence Day just came naturally.
Though many Americans take the rights and privileges of citizenship for granted, the service members and their families stationed aboard Camp Lejeune who apply for citizenship “are well aware of what it took to immigrate,” she said.
“To watch somebody do one of the most important things of their lives is fabulous,” said Lanier. “They are so grateful to be called Americans. It’s right up there with marriage and children as one of the most important events in their lives, because it will change their lives.”
The full 2nd Marine Division band is set to take the main stage at 8 p.m. to play some patriotic favorites. The Crystal Coast Choral Society will perform a few numbers in conjunction with the band, as well as a few solo selections.
“It’s an incredible sense of pride for the band to perform for the whole base,” said Staff Sgt. David Wilson, 2nd Marine Band drum major. “It means a lot to perform for the Marines who are fighting for us and for them to be at home having a good time after being deployed.”
The fireworks display is scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m. Pets, alcohol, sparklers and personal fireworks will not be allowed at this event.
For those seeking activities earlier in the day, Onslow County has scheduled its 26th annual Freedom Festival to kick off at 2 p.m., Saturday, at Onslow Pines Park. The park’s entrance is just one mile south of Marine Corps Air Station New River, just before the New River Harley Davidson dealer.
Carol Trott, the county’s assistant recreation supervisor, said people tend to arrive early and stay all day. Many take advantage of the park’s tennis courts and baseball and softball diamonds. Picnics are welcome and food vendors will be on hand as well.
Karaoke and children’s activities are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. A free children’s scavenger hunt is set for 4:30 p.m. “Like Flint,” an oldies and beach music band, is set to take the stage at 5:30 p.m., with the fireworks display to follow at 9 p.m. For additional information, visit the Onslow County Parks and Recreation Web page at co.onslow.nc.us/parks.
For those who have the itch to get out of town this weekend, the City of Wilmington, N.C., has scheduled its Riverfront Celebration at Water Street Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The 440th North Carolina Army National Guard Band is on tap to perform at Riverfront Park and fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:05 p.m. from the Battleship North Carolina. For more information about this celebration, visit the city’s Web site at wilmingtonrecreation.com.
And that’s not all. For more information about other activities taking place around the state this weekend, check out North Carolina’s tourism Web site at visitnc.com.
