FAITH — Thursday’s Faith Fourth parade and fireworks will march on, rain or shine, organizers say.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service was predicting a 50 percent chance of rain and possible thunderstorms during the day Thursday.
Thursday night, that chance drops slightly to 40 percent.
The high temperature is forecast at 84 degrees, with a low temperature of 70 degrees.
“With the fireworks, we plan on shooting them as long as it’s not lightning,” said Randall Barger, one of the event’s organizers. “We can shoot in rain, but we won’t shoot in lightning.”
If it’s storming at 10:30 p.m., Barger said the town and the fireworks operators will have to make a decision. They will likely wait until about midnight, he said, before deciding to cancel the explosive show. There is no rain date.
“Never in my lifetime have we had to do it,” Barger said. “Hopefully, this is not the first.”
Grand Marshal Howard Hayes will lead the Fourth of July parade that starts at 10 a.m. At the end of the parade will be a flag raising and a performance of the national anthem.
Then, Miss Rowan County Veteran will be crowned.
Rides will be open throughout the afternoon unless there’s heavy rain or lightning. The rest of Thursday’s events will start in the evening.
“We hope they’re going to come and have fun and enjoy some barbecue,” said Gloria Wilhelm, another organizer for the event. “We’re expecting lots of people still.”
The Faith Idol finals will be held at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Park. If there is inclement weather, it will be moved to Faith Lutheran Church Family Life Center at 200 S. Main St. in Faith.
At 8 p.m., Seacruz will perform.
Over at the Faith Elementary School ballpark, races, games, a watermelon eating contest and an egg toss will take place at 7 p.m. that evening, and a DJ will play music starting at 9 p.m.
Finally, the fireworks themselves will begin at 10:30 p.m., weather permitting.
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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