Pikeville will kick off 4th of July celebrations
By Laura Collins
Published in News on June 22, 2010 1:46 PM
The Pikeville Lions Club and residents are gearing up for the town's Fourth of July celebration Saturday.
The 13th annual gathering, which is hosted by the Pikeville Lions Club, starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and caps off with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. at Pikeville Community Park.
Mike Hooks, Lions Club president, said Pikeville Mayor Johnny Weaver will open the ceremonies along with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office Color Guard.
County commissioners are scheduled to speak and will be followed by entertainment, which will continue until 4 p.m. Included on the schedule will be a puppet ministry by Hands of Praise, gospel music by Eternity and Beth Ivey, line dancing by Shufflin Cupids, the Shriners Mini Rigs, Tri County Blue Grass music and Blended Fellowship gospel music.
There will also be a section of the park for children's games, three food vendors, five craft vendors and Cruise-In car show.
Hooks said the money the group raises at the event goes toward projects members do throughout the year.
"The main focus of the Lions Club is the vision impaired or blind," Hooks said. "The club gives eye exams or eyeglasses to needy families in the community."
In addition, the local Lions Club also has donated to the Kitty Askins expansion, Haiti relief and Tennessee flood relief and gives a $1,000 scholarship each year to a Charles B. Aycock High School student.
The celebration will end with a 15-minute fireworks show by Hale Artificier Fireworks. Town Commissioner Dennis Lewis, vice president of the fireworks company, said residents can expect the show they have grown accustomed to over the years.
"It's my hometown, and I treat it just like I treat the Relay for Life shows," he said. "It's a $4,000 or $5,000 show I sell to (the town) for $3,000. It's as good a show as they can get for the money. I can promise them that."
The show will start with low level fireworks them move up to maximum five-inch shells.
"It's the largest thing I can shoot there," Lewis said.
Former Mayor Herb Seiger, a member of the Lions Club, said the event is a great time for families.
"People can come out and have fun and relax. It's a carefree time that they can do a lot of things they normally wouldn't do. And it doesn't cost a fortune," he said. "All the games are free for the kids."