
Applications are being accepted for the 17th annual Mount Olive Black History Month Parade. The annual event, sponsored buy the Unity Organizations, will step off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. The Southern Wayne High School Marching Saints participated in the 2024 parade. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
Applications for entries and vendors are being accepted for the 17th annual Mount Olive Black History Month Parade. The entry deadline is Feb. 15.
Sponsored by the Unity Organization, the parade, that traditionally attracts a large crowd of people who line Breazeale Avenue from Talton Avenue to the Carver Cultural Center, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.
Saturday, March 1, is the rain date.
Unity President Vicky Darden said she and other organizers are very excited to be able to present the parade.
“To me, this parade presents such a joyful time,” Darden said. “It is beautiful to see so many people come together and enjoy themselves.
“We are getting candy ready to be thrown out during the parade. The parade will feature clowns, marching bands, antique cars, motorcycles, floats and much more.”
No horses will be allowed.
Vendors will be selling food such as funnel cakes, turkey legs and chicken, she added.
Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton will serve as grand marshal. Also returning as grand marshal is Gilbert Baez, who recently retired as the Fayetteville reporter for WRAL-TV 5.
Darden is asking churches in Mount Olive, Dudley, Goldsboro, Fremont and Wayne and Sampson counties to participate.
“I want all of the pastors to line up behind him (Newton) and all the funeral home cars to line up behind the pastors,” she said.
The lineup will be held between 11 a.m. and noon on Talton Avenue that will be a one-way street on parade day.
Signs will be in place to direct traffic to the lineup area.
From Talton Avenue, the parade route will turn left (south) on Breazeale Avenue. It will follow Breazeale Avenue south to the Carver Cultural Center where the parade will disband.
“I want to thank the late Ora Jean (Truzy) — she fought and helped us — and Sheila Oats and Mr. Rickey Faire for coming on board,” Darden said. “We want to thank those who gave us donations to help us put this parade on.”
Applications are available at the water bill office at Mount Olive Town Hall, 114 E. James St., and the Wayne County Public Library, 1001 E. Ash St., Goldsboro.
People also call Darden at 919-658-3961 and send applications to P.O. Box 128, Mount Olive, N.C., 28365.