Event/Site: God
and Country Celebration in East Bend
Date: Saturday before July 4th, 9:30am—evening
fireworks;
Parade begins at 9:30am; Music, noon—6:00pm
with some gospel later in evening; Fireworks begin at 9:00pm.
Type: Day-long town festival with a patriotic theme
featuring regional crafts, music, and food, children’s activities,
parade, speeches, and fireworks. Lawn chairs recommended.
Location: East Bend
Elementary School (205
School St,, East Bend,
27018).
Take NC 67 (Reynolda
Road) out of Winston-Salem
and cross over the Yadkin
River. Continue about 4-5 miles. The road
will fork, with NC 67 on the right and Bypass 67 to the left. Take the
bypass and travel approximately 3 miles to the school, which will be on
the left.
Traveling south from Mount Airy
on US
52, take exit 123 “King/Tobaccoville”.
Take a right at the stoplight and go ¼ mile to Spainhour Mill Road. Go about 3 miles and turn left onto Donaha Road. Proceed 2 to 3 miles until you come
to NC 67. Turn right onto NC 67
and cross over the Yadkin
River. Continue about 4-5 miles. The road
will fork, with NC 67 on the right and Bypass 67 to the left. Take the
bypass and travel approximately 3 miles to the school, which will be on
the left. Click
here for a map.
Cost: Free.
Parking: Free. Accessible for bus tours.
Special
Needs Access: Restrooms
have limited access for people in wheelchairs.
Signage: Sign at location and en route.
Sponsor: God and Country Committee
Contact:
Wanda Hall
P.O. Box 176
East Bend, NC 27018
(336)
699-8387
thall57@triad.rr.com
Description of
Event: The theme of
“God and Country” weaves through the day’s
festivities. Estimates put
attendance at this popular event between 10,000 and 15,000 people. A patriotic parade begins at the town
library on NC 67 about a mile from the school and features floats and
bands, which compete for prizes.
At noon, music begins on the music stage at the school and
features local and regional bands performing bluegrass, old-time stringband, gospel, and rock & roll. Crafters from North
Carolina and Virginia
sell their handiwork, and a variety of food is also for sale. Some years have included a
storyteller’s tent. Beginning at 6:00pm, there is a patriotic
program featuring a special speaker each year who talks about
“God and Country” — the speech is usually a
sermon. There is also gospel
singing and a special feature to the evening program honoring local
veterans, which includes military music. Fireworks begin at 9:00pm.
History of
Site/Event: Residents of
East Bend started the celebration in
1990 to bring the community together for a day of patriotism, local
culture, and fun. The celebration is actually a throw back to earlier
days in East Bend. Around 1903, buggy
maker J. G Huff organized a fiddler’s convention, which began
with a parade, to celebrate our nation’s birthday. For many
years, the East Bend Fire Department sponsored the parade, which
included a horse show and fire queen contest.
Description of
Site/Facility: The celebration takes place in a
grassy area behind the East
Bend Elementary
School.
Patches of shade underneath the lawn’s tall oak trees are
popular spots at this event. East Bend is a small rural town that dates back to the
later half of the 19th century. Some older structures remain, and the
flavor of small town innocence and days- gone-by is still evident
Significance of
Site/Event to the Community: The God and Country Celebration brings together all ages and draws from East
Bend and Yadkin
County, as well
as neighboring counties. The
Mayor’s Citizenship Award, given to the Yadkin County 8th grade
student who has written the best
essay on what it means to be an American, adds a special touch to the
day’s festivities. The
event helps build a sense of community in East
Bend, while showcasing local and regional music, craft,
and food.
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