By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Final details of the 29th Annual Autumn Jubilee are being worked out as the county parks staff prepares for more than 50,000 visitors.
Two bands, the Extraordinaires and Nantucket, will perform at the weekend festival Oct. 4-5 at Dan Nicholas Park on Bringle Ferry Road.
Don Bringle, the county’s parks director, recently updated the Rowan County Parks Commission on the festival plans.
The festival includes more than 140 crafts vendors, games, a wide array of food and special exhibits.
Radio Disney, featuring interactive games and prizes, will be at the park Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. A Disney-themed event, it also features talent and music.
Admission and parking for the festival is free.
The Parks Commission heard other reports including:
– Bob Pendergrass, supervisor of the Nature Center, reported that the three red wolf pups born at Dan Nicholas Park and released near Alligator River in the Pocosin Lakes Refuge apparently escaped the huge fire that burned for weeks.
Pendergrass, who recently attended the Red Wolf Conference, said all reports indicate the wolf packs were able to stay ahead of the fire. He noted the fire may benefit the wolves in the long run by refreshing and diversifying plant growth.
He noted that at this point, there are no plans to move any of the four wolves currently at the park to another location.
– Despite a sluggish early July when attendance at Dan Nicholas Park began to dip on weekends, the park is once again filling up on weekends.
Bringle credited good weather on the weekends as a factor.
– All cabins and camp sites at the park are booked for the Labor Day weekend.
– The senior fishing tournament will be Sept. 8-12 at Dan Nicholas Park.