Faith Fourth of July festivities kick off with food and fun
Published 12:05 am Friday, June 30, 2017
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Jerry and Dolly Karriker pause while enjoying a charcoal grilled hamburger and Cheerwine to explain what keeps them coming back year after year to the Faith Fourth. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29. JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Daryl Cunningham pushes 21 month-old Josie Rogers in a stoller with Deidre Rogers and Holly Rogers as they enjoy the Faith Fourth on Thursday evening. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST The Tams packed out the house as they opened the Faith Fourth with open air concert. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Joshua and Jackson Stiller ride on the Sizzler. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Analise and Andrew White from Salisbury hold on as they ride the sizzler. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Wrigley Benfield proudly shows off the purple prize she won by popping a balloon at a game with her family. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Brian Tadlock, from China Grove, helps 4-year-old Grant with his dart at the Bruce McIntosh's Balloon Store game. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Sofia Livengood (4) ,from Faith, enjoys riding on one of the many rides for little kids as her family wave as she passes by. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Sofia Livengood (4) ,from Faith, enjoys riding on one of the many rides for little kids. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Emmalyn (4) and Alexander Broadway (5) poke their heads through a Spiderman cutout thy found on the midway. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
JON C. LAKEY / SALISBURY POST Kaye Brown Hirst and Robert Hopkins chat while the hot dogs cook on the grill at the Faith Fourth. The opening night of the Faith Fourth celebration was filled with everything you come to expect from an evening in Faith during the 4th of July season. Hot dogs, hamburgers, blooming onions and more. Rides that spin and prizes to win added to the excitement of both the young and the veteran alike. And no gathering in Faith would be complete without a moment to recognize veterans of the armed services. Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Faith, N.C.
FAITH — It’s a warm-weather scene that thrills the senses. Colorful and vibrantly-lit rides are whirling by on their tracks, hot and smoky grills are giving off the scent of deliciously-sinful food, and the sounds of excited laughter and squeals are filling the air.
The occasion? The Faith Fourth, a six-day Fourth of July celebration which began Thursday at 6 p.m.
All activities in this near week-long event are taking place at the Faith American Legion Park and Faith Elementary School grounds. With no admission fee, guests can enjoy nightly live entertainment, vendor and food booths, as well as rides and games provided by Wade Shows, Inc.
Rides include the Alpine Bobs, Scooter bumper cars, Starship 4000 and a Ferris wheel. There are a multitude of smaller rides available for children under 54″ tall. Rides are ticketed, but wristband passes are available for purchase.
This year marks the 71st year of the Faith Fourth, and Thursday’s early crowds reflected local enthusiasm for the family-friendly celebration. Jerry and Dolly Karriker, of Mooresville, were some of the first in line for a hamburger cooked by members of the American Legion Post 327. They are long-term attendees of the celebration.
“One of the best hamburgers you can get is down here,” said Dolly Karriker as she enjoyed her burger — all the way of course. “Year after year, this is the only place we get a hamburger from.”
Volunteers from the American Legion can be found behind the food stands, working over open charcoal grills to prepare their masterpieces. Apart from their esteemed hamburgers, they’re also selling hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches and trays, and ham sandwiches. Even the ham is prepared this cookout style, laid out over the smoldering coal for a knock-your-socks-off flavor.
For those craving more standard fair food, booths can be found around ever corner peddling everything from funnel cakes and cotton candy to loaded nachos and roasted corn. The Faith Fourth has it all: from savory to sweet.
Entertainment at this year’s celebration includes nightly musical performances. The Tams performed first on Thursday, to be followed by Too Much Sylvia, the Extraordinaires, The Entertainers, Jim Quick & Coastline, and The Randy Clay Band on each respective evening.
Jerry and Dolly Karriker said their main draw to the event is the bands.
“We always come for the bands,” Jerry Karriker said. His wife agreed, recalling her struggle to chose between seeing the Charlotte Symphony or Too Much Sylvia this Friday.
“The symphony is good, but they’re no Too Much Sylvia,” she said in an obvious tease.
The Faith Fourth is sponsored by the Faith American Legion Post 327 and Legion Auxiliary 327, the Faith Civitan Club and Faith Jaycees. Proceeds will benefit worthy causes in the Faith community.
