Festivals

By Jessie H. Nunery

Kayla Baez, 14, left, and Isabel Wilson, 13, spin in the Tubs of Fun ride during the Happening on the Common at the Tarboro Town Common.

Georgettae Turrentine recently moved from Rocky Mount to Tarboro with her husband, Preston, and three children.

The Turrentines always are looking for activities to keep three girls ages 3-9 active and engaged.

It only took a few steps for them to achieve that goal on a June weekend when the family walked down the street from their home and enjoyed the 2018 Happening on the Common event in downtown Tarboro.

Happening on the Common is one of just many family-oriented festivals and events the Twin Counties has to offer its residents, and it is a welcomed feeling for residents like the Turrentines, who are natives of Maryland and remained in the area after graduating from N.C. Wesleyan College.

“It was well worth it,” Turrentine said. “You want your kids to have safe and affordable fun. It was local, and we didn’t have to go to Raleigh or anywhere to get it. It was a nice change of scenery.”

Events such as Happening on the Common, which featured rides for children, music and vendors, are not limited to yearly spots on the calendar.

The city of Rocky Mount offers its residents some weekly series during the Discover Downtown event series, which includes its Juneteenth festival, Downtown Live, Lawn Chair Theatre and Summer Night Lights events and more.

Downtown Live! takes place every other Thursday evening beginning and May and ending in September. It’s a free event and gives the chance for adults to gather on the lawn of the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences and listen to a variety of live musicians who play everything from beach music to R&B and oldies.

Lawn Chair Theatre invites people of all ages to the Imperial Centre’s lawn for family-oriented movies every other Friday evening from May to July. It’s another free event where children can also participate in crafts prior to the movie beginning at nightfall.

Summer Night Lights features many of the city’s parks and is a weekly Friday night event that allows families to come out and enjoy music, crafts and games for children.

Yearly events in the city of Rocky Mount include its Juneteenth Festival, which in recent years has feature nationally acclaimed recording acts such as Dru Hill, Avant and Silk.

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“These are opportunities to provide family-friendly events to citizens of Rocky Mount and visitors to our area while showcasing downtown Rocky Mount,” said Tameka Kenan-Norman, the city’s chief communications and marketing officer.

The city’s Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown each October welcomes residents from across the state to take part in a professional cooking competition that includes chicken, pork ribs, pork, and beef & brisket.

Those who wish to continue traveling down U.S. 64 in the Twin Counties can also enjoy Nashville’s yearly Blooming Festival in May that features a weekend of amusement rides, vendors, live music acts and more.

Twin Counties events and festivals aren’t limited to the summer, as many areas celebrate the holidays with parades and more.

For addition information on events, visit rockymountnc.gov, Tarboro-nc.com or townofnashville.gov.

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1) Trinity Rich, 10, jumps during the 2017 Happening on the Commons in Tarboro. 2) Shane Peele swings his daughter, Brylee Peele, 5, in the rain at the July Fourth Freedom Celebration at Englewood Baptist Church.

3) Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson Jr. is dunked by a community member in the dunking booth at the Kids Back to School Bash at Abrams in Tarboro.

4) Ray Pittman, 5, slides down the slide during the 2017 Happening on the Commons in Tarboro. 2

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