Mount Olive Exchange, Rotary clubs to co-host Fourth of July celebration Friday at Westbrook Park

The Mount Olive Exchange Club and Rotary Club are partnering this year to co-host the town’s annual old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. this Friday in Westbrook Park.

It is the first time the two clubs have joined together to sponsor the free celebration normally hosted by the Exchange Club.

The event does not include fireworks. However, the town of Seven Springs will host its annual Fourth of July fireworks display Saturday, July 5.

The fireworks will originate near the Neuse River bridge between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Food trucks will be set up.

Those attending are encouraged to bring a chair.

“This is the first year that we decided to come together,” said Belinda Parent, Exchange Club president. “Both of our clubs, the members seem to be getting a bit older and a little bit more sparse.”

It is a struggle to find new members and get them engaged, Parent said. However, even with that, both clubs remain active, she added.

“I thought, well you know what, how about we do this — how about we see if Rotary might want to join us and put all of those hands together and have us a good event,” she said. “So that is what we did.”

Parent spoke to Rotary members who agreed to partner with the Exchange Club.

The event has been a holiday tradition for years, and the Exchange Club has sponsored it for more than 25 years, she said.

It had lapsed for a while before the club revived it, Parent said.

“We always do it on July 4 from 5 to 7,” she said. “When we first started it back forever ago we were doing a 1,000 hot dogs. We used to have a lot more people who came out. The last couple of years we probably have had 200 to 300, which isn’t awful. But we are serving 400 slices of pizza and 400 hot dogs.

“We hope the numbers will grow. This year we have done a lot more. We’ve ordered signs to put about the park, signs we are going to put up at area businesses. We have reached out more to social media this year to help spread the word. We are hoping between all of that and your good work you are going to put in that more people will know about it.”

Bingo will be played in the Senior Center. Prizes, donated by Rotary and Exchange club members and community members, will be awarded.

“We will have some cash on the table for prizes, too,” Parent said.

There is no charge to play.

The Harmony Boys and friends will perform under the big shelter.

The event also will feature an inflatable slide and new this year, face painting.

Piggly Wiggly will provide watermelon slices; Girl Scout Troop 389 will have popsicles; Mt. Olive Pickle Co. will provide free pickles; and Burger King will donate cookies.

Free drinks and water will be available.

For the first time, the Make A Difference Food Pantry will do juice boxes for children, Parent said.

“The best part is, everything is free,” she said. “Trying to get those families out to enjoy the day — it will be a lot of fun.

“It takes about 20 volunteers to do the event even though it is just a two-hour event. We will start cooking the hot dogs about 2 and setting up at 3 and then the event is from 5 to 7. Come and bring your lawn chair.”

Town office schedule

Mount Olive town offices will be closed July 4 and will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, July 7.

The town’s recyclable center will be closed as well. It will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 8.

Household garbage, recyclables and yard waste collection for June 30 through July 3 will be as follows:

— Monday and Tuesday, regular schedule.

— Thursday’s collection will be on Wednesday, July 2

— Friday’s collection will be on Thursday, July 3

Anyone who experiences a water or sewer emergency should call 919-658-5031 and select option 0 to be connected with non-emergency dispatch.