FAITH — Over the past few years, the town of Faith has made a concerted effort to upgrade its event offerings, with 2024 and early 2025 bringing the “Fun in Faith” series and a Veteran’s Day parade. When added to the town’s preexisting Fourth of July festivities, the Street Dance and the Faith Frosty Fest, the smallest town in Rowan County has one of the larger slates of events.

Early in 2023, town organizers announced the “Fun in Faith” series, a long list of concerts, outdoor movie nights and National Night Out. The series also lines up with the town’s preexisting events, which include the Faith Oyster Roast, the Street Dance and the town’s Independence Day events, including the parade, one of the more famous events held in Rowan County.

The series was aimed at providing members of the community more opportunities to meet and be with their neighbors as well as just enjoying the town.

“There was a time and day when I knew every single person that lived in Faith growing up here. And so this is an outreach to get out and meet people in the community and get everybody involved, and it’s good family fun,” said Fun in Faith Committee Chairman Dale Peeler before the 2024 rendition of the series.

None of the events are run by the town itself, although town officials work closely with the organizers and sometimes provide funding and assistance when necessary. Instead, they are run by committees of community residents. While Peeler has since been elected to the town’s board of aldermen as mayor pro tem, he was not on the board when the series first began. The same is true for Faith Mayor Randall Barger, who was part of the Faith Fourth of July events committee and served as the entertainment chairman before being elected to the board himself.

The Independence Day festivities may be one of the largest events in Rowan County. The event actually lasts for multiple weeks, with the Faith Street Dance kicking it off near the end of June. Following the street dance, the town opens up food booths, rides and hosts concerts every weekend night in the park behind the town hall.

The event is officially sponsored by Faith American Legion Post 327, Faith American Legion Auxiliary Unit 327, the Faith Civitans and the Faith Jaycees.

The celebration has been recognized as one of the biggest Fourth of July Celebrations in the state of North Carolina. That recognition was on display in 1992, when then-President George H. W. Bush stopped by, participated in a community baseball game and gave a speech with then-Governor James Martin and several Congressmen in attendance as well.

“You know what it means to be good neighbors. You know what it is to have families, strong and united; good schools; safe neighborhoods; job-creating economy; and a world at peace. Now, you go over to the Faith Soda Shop or the Hairport or R&I Variety, and you’ll see the values that can achieve these goals. One is faith in self-reliance. You believe in equal rights for all Americans. Don’t let anybody knock your town. You stand with me against bigotry and against racism. You believe in what is good and what is right,” said Bush during his speech.

Bush also spoke during his visit about the town’s clearly visible support for the local veterans. That outward support brought results early in 2025, as the Rowan County Veterans Council looked for a new home for the annual Veterans Day Parade.

Josh Dobbs, service officer for the council, said that the organizers had received some uncertainty from the previous host, the city of Salisbury, and so were looking for a new home for the future. Because of their perception of Faith as being particularly veteran-friendly, the town was their first choice.

“We have some ideas to make it a very special day, especially for your families. It’s just such an honor to be honest. We’re so happy to have the (American) Legion here to begin with, just look at our mural out there, this town supports our veterans daily,” said Alderman Jayne Lingle when the aldermen agreed to allow the parade.

Lingle and the other members of the board have voiced their desire to turn the Veteran’s Day Parade into a fully-realized event, one with food vendors, craft tents and other attractions all aimed at providing a fun environment for the families of veterans from throughout the county.

“Eisenhower spoke of ’the great and priceless privilege of growing up in a small town.’ Well, (First Lady) Barbara Bush and I are privileged to be in a small town that proves how right Ike was,” said Bush in 1992.