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The receipts are not all counted, the
numbers are still in limbo, but Wake
Forest Fourth of July chairman Rhonda
Alderman knows that last week’s
Independence Day celebration was a great
success. “Everything was GREAT and I am
VERY PLEASED!”
There was a near-disaster.
Because of the ever-present construction
at the Wake Forest-Rolesville High
School campus, there was no power in the
concession building, the press box and
down on the field in Trentini Stadium.
Alderman only learned of
this Monday before the big stadium and
fireworks show on Tuesday night when she
happened to meet Principal Andre Smith.
Once the two talked, Alderman said,
Smith acted immediately, calling the
central office and wherever else
necessary.
“They supplied us with a
generator and two employees all evening
to ensure that the festivities were not
interrupted,” Alderman said. “I would
like to express a lot of thanks to the
Wake County Public School System.”
The stadium/fireworks show
may have drawn the largest crowd ever.
“I’ve estimated around 5,000 people,”
Alderman said. “However, I’m told that’s
low. Some have estimated around 7,000.”
She believes the gate
receipts will be around $16,000, the
pre-event ticket sales were $1,840, and
there were swarms of children 6 and
younger who entered free.
The Fourth committee also
received $11,000 from local sponsors,
individuals and businesses. And the
committee receives the money from the
three concession stands.
“Everyone sold out of
everything,” Alderman said of the
concession stands.
The money from the gate, the
sponsorships and the concessions goes
toward next year’s show. Costs include
the fireworks themselves, of course, and
the rental of Trentini Stadium. Several
years ago Alderman was very upset when
the school system sharply increased the
facility rental costs across the county,
but this year she is paying the $1,545
happily.
An unannounced feature of
the stadium show was a special accolade
to Lib Bartholomew, who was a Fourth of
July volunteer for many years.
Alderman happily repeated a
remark she overheard, a woman who said
the fireworks show was better than that
in Washington, D.C.
Events continued to run
smoothly the following day, the Fourth,
for the parade and the activities in
Holding Park. Alderman estimated there
were 1,500 children who marched, rode
and skated up and down North Main Street
with parents and pets.
“I know it was a large
attendance for all activities, and I’m
so thankful and grateful for everyone
who came out and supported us
financially Tuesday.”
Alderman thanked the Wake
Forest Woman’s Club, the Wake Forest
Kiwanis Club and VFW Post 8466. |
