DEEP RUN — Are you looking to start celebrating Independence Day a few days early? The town of Deep Run can supply your needs with its fourth annual Independence Day Parade today at 5 p.m., followed by a slew of other events.
The parade — which was started in 2010 by Josh Bradshaw, Jo Ellen Sloan and Clarence Thigpen — will be highlighted by the band Classic Collection performing, a John Deere Gator raffle and a fireworks display. A majority of the events will occur at the Deep Run Volunteer Fire Department.
“We just wanted something to do in Deep Run, especially on a holiday,” Bradshaw said. “This is a little town and we wanted to bring excitement.”
Organizers said attendance has grown since the first parade. Sloan expects to see about 2,500 people there, a major spike from the 1,000 in attendance in 2010.
“The number of people that have come to the parade has grown tremendously,” Sloan said. “We have a lot of vendors, Classic Collection will be here and we have a great fireworks display. This has grown more than I thought it could grow.”
The parade line-up will start at the South Lenoir High School gymnasium at 5 p.m. and will begin down the main roads at 6 p.m. Vendors will be set up at the Deep Run Volunteer Fire Department throughout the day and the fire department will be selling barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs.
Classic Collection will perform at the fire department around 7 p.m. and will continue until 9 p.m., when the Gator will be given away at a raffle. Tickets can be bought for $10 and the winner doesn’t have to be present during the giveaway.
Following the raffle, the fireworks will be shot off behind the Deep Run Water Corporation, ending an early celebration of Independence Day.
“All of us work and it gives people a chance to still go out on the Fourth of July,” Sloan said.
Although rain is in the forecast for tomorrow, there is a backup plan for everyone trying to enjoy the parade. The line-up of floats may be delayed, but the band and vendors will be moved to the South Lenoir gym. The fireworks display will still happen whether the weather permits or not.
The fireworks and band are sponsored by Onslow Container Service, K.C. Crop Insurance, K & K Farms, The Lighthouse restaurant, Josh Bradshaw Plumbing, Inc., Pink Hill Pharmacy, Pink Hill Funeral Home, Southern Bank, Dean’s Cigars and Deep Run Ruritan Club.
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
4th of July events,
Tonight, you can get a jump on Independence Day fireworks by attending the Deep Run celebration. Here are some other Eastern North Carolina fireworks shows on Thursday, July 4:
Kinston — Pearson Park, 9 p.m.
Emerald Isle — Bogue Inlet Pier, 9 p.m.
Goldsboro — Berkeley Mall, 9 p.m.
Greenville — River Park North, 8 p.m.
Jacksonville — Onslow Pines Park, 9 p.m.
New Bern — Lawson Creek Park, 9 p.m.
Wilson — Fleming Stadium, following baseball game