Annual Fourth of July events to return

Despite many events locally being postponed or canceled due to COVID-19, two events which have annually been a part of the area will continue on July 4. Those events are the Red, White and You parade and the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast fundraiser, both on the downtown square.

Representatives from the two organizations placed a request for use of the square as an agenda item for the Graham City Council during their Thursday, May 28 meeting which was approved. City Manager Brandon Anderson said last Thursday he had previously met with the groups along with other organizations to make sure things ran smoothly.

“Our entire group sat down the other day, Chamber (of Commerce), CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau), Col. (Knox) Bishop, the Kiwanis just to talk about this,” Anderson said. “They had actually brought in Guy Gage with the Fourth at the Fields (event) too just to make sure logistically we were not stepping on anybody and kind of where they were at on their planning as well.”

Guy Gage, who heads Fourth at the Fields, said in a phone interview that the event will be accompanying the others in Graham that Saturday. The fireworks show will be at dark, but a kickoff for the event will be at 6 p.m. at the Graham Soccer Fields with music, vendors and more which will be announced as the event draws closer.

Graham Kiwanis Club President Jessi Ribble wrote in an email with The Graham Leader that several local restaurants will be assisting the organization with food preparation for the pancake breakfast which will be held from 7-11 a.m. With the help from the area restaurants, the organization will be able host both a sit down event on the Young County Courthouse lawn and “family style” pick up service from Neri’s Bistro.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, June 3 edition of The Graham Leader.