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Get ready for a great big party.
Mount Pleasant is preparing for its annual Independence Day celebration. Although a lot of things are the same about this annual event, some additions and changes are worth noting.
All of the basic ingredients for a wonderful Independence Day party are the same: a big parade, fireworks, music, a beauty pageant, food, dancing and celebrating with friends and neighbors. You can find the schedule for all of the events at the town's Web site, www.TownOfMountPleasantNC.org.
I noticed some signs around town, but I hadn't realized all of the additions and improvements this year until I talked with Mayor Troy Barnhardt. Not only will there be more activities, he said, they will happen at several venues, rather than everything at Town Hall. This year, the organizing committee took advantage of all the green space in town and scheduled events for the mini-park on Main Street, the grounds at First Baptist and Mt. Pleasant United Methodist churches, and Town Hall.
Everything kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with an all-patriotic concert at First Baptist Church by the Piedmont Singing Men, a chorus of about 40 Cabarrus men.
Saturday's parade begins at 10 a.m. This year's grand marshals are Doris and David Barnhardt, two very active volunteers who have given innumerable hours to make their community a better place to live. Be sure to bring a comfortable chair, because after the procession of floats, fire trucks, dancers and veterans, the Oasis Shriners will follow with their parade.
Immediately following the parade, you might want to stay on Main Street for a concert of local bands on the downtown stage in the mini-park. Or wander up the hill to the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society museum to check out their exhibits and Civil War encampment.
Wander a little farther to either Mt. Pleasant United Methodist or First Baptist and find a wide array of activities. Check out the Circle Track Car Show at the Methodist church. Mayor Barnhardt said these will be mostly cars from the Concord Speedway. There will be a burn-out contest at 4:30 p.m.
At First Baptist, the whole family can enjoy an Open Car Show (open to anyone, but pre-registration is requested), pony rides, children's games (with prizes), music and a World War II military display. The Living History Association of Cabarrus County will have exhibits on different aspects of the war, such as communications or weapons. There will also be several WWII-era vehicles and a Vietnam-era helicopter provided by the N.C. Vietnam Veterans.
Honoring our military will be a major theme at First Baptist. You'll be able to write a card to a soldier serving in Iraq or Afghanistan (the goal is to send 1,000 cards), meet two women whose father was a POW in World War II, and talk with a representative from the Disabled American Veterans who will collect flags for proper disposal and teach flag etiquette.
The ultimate event is the fireworks, which will interrupt the live music at Town Hall at 10 p.m.
There's going to be so much to do and see in Mt. Pleasant this weekend, you really should get all of your yard work done early and spend the entire day enjoying all the fun. I'm weeding now so I can see you there.
Freelance columnist Marcia Morris
