By Stan Welch
The Fourth of July weekend promises a number of activities to celebrate Independence Day in the Pelzer/West Pelzer/Williamston triad.
A Freedom Parade will by held in West Pelzer and Pelzer at 4 p.m. and will start either at West Pelzer Elementary School or the WP Fire Department, and wind its way to the old gym in Pelzer. You can still sign up until Friday.
West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders explained that Pelzer had taken the lead as far as the two towns’ cooperative parade effort this year, but West Pelzer has “a surprise” and other activities as well as a busy summer social schedule planned.
“With Pelzer taking the lead on the parade, and the Fourth falling on a Sunday this year; and with Williamston having their event, we just decided to go in a slightly different direction,” said Sanders. He declined to say what that direction would be, but promised a surprise in the town on July 3rd, Saturday.
Sanders added that with COVID restrictions having essentially ended, the town hopes to catch up on its ribbon cutting duties. “We will have three ribbon cuttings on July 10th. Tim Lee’s Guitar Shop and Mr. Sandless Flooring are both located in 1 Hindman Street. We will cut those ribbons and welcome those businesses to our town. Then, we will cross Main Street and officially open the Moon Dog Coffee Shop. We invite all our citizens to come out and get acquainted.”
Also this month, on the 18th,, the town will host an ice cream social at Chapman Park. The ice cream will be free. “It’s an old Southern tradition, the ice cream social. It just gives us a chance to meet and mingle with our neighbors, and enjoy our park. And of course, who doesn’t like ice cream? “ said Sanders.
Finally, on August 2, the town will take part in the National Night Out, an event that was begun several years ago as a demonstration that the nation’s streets were safe. First responders will be featured, and the evening will begin following the town council’s regularly scheduled meeting.
