Fireworks and fun — the Fourth is nearly here

The 2018 Fourth of July celebration in Wake Forest promises to include the most spectacular fireworks display in years because high aerial rockets can be used. They were banned at Trentini Stadium for fear of damage to the homes immediately behind the stadium. This year’s program and fireworks on Tuesday, July 3, will be at Heritage High School.

Remember, the Town of Wake Forest is now underwriting – with sponsors – the fireworks and stadium show so it is free as are all the activities on July 4 that are organized by the volunteer Fourth of July Committee, the children’s parade and activities afterward in Holding Park.

The gates at Husky Stadium will open at 5:30 and the program begins at 6 p.m. Crush, one of the area’s most popular bands, will provide entertainment before the fireworks show which begins at dusk, about 8:30, but there is no set time.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, and snow cones will be sold at a concession stand A variety of food and dessert trucks will also be on site, including Lumpy’s, Kona Ice, Sunshine Girls Lemonade, Jays Italian Ice, Morfa Empenadas, Havana Dave’s, Big C Waffles, and Mr. Mongolian.

Picnic baskets and/or coolers will be allowed, but alcoholic beverages, smoking, glass and pets are strictly prohibited on the Heritage High School campus. In addition, no bicycles are allowed inside the stadium and no chairs or blankets will be permitted on the stadium track.

Handicap parking (by identification only) and regular parking are available on the school campus.

A new option this year will be a free shuttle service, compliments of the Kerr Family YMCA. The free shuttle will pick up visitors at a yet-to-be-determined location, then drop them off on the Heritage High School campus. The shuttle is tentatively scheduled to run continuously beginning at 5 p.m. The final shuttle will depart from Heritage High School at approximately 11 p.m. Additional details, including pick-up locations, will be announced in the coming days.

The Independence Day revelry continues on Wednesday, July 4, with the Children’s Parade along North Main Street. Area youngsters are invited to hop on their bicycles and be a part of their very own “walking parade.” The lineup begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of North Main Street and West Juniper Avenue, near the Wake Forest College Birthplace. The procession will get underway at 10:30 a.m. Participation in the Children’s Parade is free, but bicyclists are encouraged to wear their helmets.

The Independence Day festivities conclude at 11 a.m. with Arts & Games in the Park. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to create a variety of interesting arts and crafts projects, join in a slew of games and activities, and enjoy giant inflatables. All of these festivities will take place at Holding Park, 133 W. Owen Ave. and R.H. Forrest Field, 123 W. Owen Ave.

Game activities will take place at Holding Park and include sack races, a watermelon seed-spitting contest and a pie-eating contest.

Sponsored by the Wake Forest Woman’s Club, arts and crafts activities will take place inside the Wake Forest Community House, 133 W. Owen Ave., and will include making various patriotic-themed crafts for all ages, cupcake decorating, tattoos, stickers and a photo booth complete with costumes.

The following sponsors have generously contributed to the 2018 Independence Day Celebration: PowerSecure, Gladwell Orthodontics, Capital PowerSports, Mitchell Heating & Cooling, Crossroads Ford of Wake Forest, Champion Windows, The College at Southeastern, McPherson Family Eye Care, Kerr Family YMCA, Passanante’s Home Food Services, LeafFilter North of North Carolina, British Swim School, Vision Martial Arts, Birkner Insurance, Rainbow Child Care Center, Heritage Eye Care, Candlewood Suites, Opendoor, the Wake Forest Woman’s Club and Hope Lutheran Church.