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    The town of Hope Mills is planning a bang-up celebration this year, with plenty of events, performances and fun and games that are sure to create fond memories for the entire family.
Hope Mills’ Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor, Kenny Bullock, has been working to ensure that this year’s celebration is a success. Even with all the hard work, Bullock enjoys watching the impact his efforts have on the public.
    “I enjoy the parade and seeing the kids have fun --— and the games” said Bullock. And everyone’s favorite … the fireworks. “The fireworks are always the top of the show. Everybody loves to see the fireworks,” he added. 
Last year, Bullock estimates that 6,000 or so people turned out for the Fourth of July celebration, adding that,“This year we hope to have more.”
     The day starts at 10 a.m. with a parade. It will start at Hope Mills Middle School and will end at Hope Mills Municipal Park. From noon until the fireworks everything will take place at the park. “We try to make it a fun family atmosphere,” said Bullock.  
     {mosimage}Bullock strives to keep things interesting by bringing in new and different entertainment for each annual Fourth of July celebration.
    “We’ve got some different venues coming in,” he noted. “We’ve got Shadows of the Fire and the Kindred Spirits Student Group that will be performing, and we have a magic show for the kids at 5:30.”
     Every age group has their favorites, and the Fourth of July celebration strives to meet everyone’s expectations. “The children love the inflatables (and) the adults love the entertainment,” said Bullock. “This year we have Dakota Rain. They’ll start performing at 7. The crowd will start filling up probably around 3 with everyone wanting to get involved.”
     There will also be a horse shoe tournament, train rides, a karaoke contest, and other fun games. And don’t forget the fireworks. They start at 9:30 p.m.