Opportunities for entertainment and shopping, as well as an unseasonably crisp June day, drew more than 12,000 people to the annual Celebrate Fuquay Varina festival on Main Street on June 2.
The festival featured many family-friendly activities, including a magician, local bands, a car show and fair rides.
Local businesses also used the festival to display their wares, which included artwork, photography and jewelry.
Music, bikes and cars
Festival goers could hear music coming from the Bob Barker Entertainment Tent for most of the day. Lexington, NC band Lauren Light performed contemporary pop hits like Adele’s “Someone Like You,” and Willow Spring band The Rusted Rails played swing music and the blues.
Local musicians Tim White and Amanda Higgins, who is a Fuquay-Varina native, also sang at the festival. Michael Creech performed magic tricks and emceed the entertainment tent. He also poked fun at the tent’s detention-supplier sponsor.
“You kids ever been to detention?” Creech repeatedly asked children in the audience.
In a separate tent, the Kimley Horn Community Showcase featured shows from the Rhythm in My Soles Dancers and STARS Theater, among other performers.
Competing for guests’ attention throughout the day were riders from Durham-based King BMX. Johnny Deadwyler, Austin Hardee and Jared Ward performed flips, spins and other stunts on quarter pipes set up in the middle of Main Street.
King BMX founder Keith King skipped the air stunts and performed balancing acts with his bike on the ground.
The Fuquay Cruisers displayed some of their vintage cars, including a 1962 Ford Thunderbird, 1948 Mercury Eight and 1928 Ford Model A.
Local shopping
Downtown businesses set up booths on Main Street in the hopes of attracting customers.
Four Oaks Bank celebrated its 100th year by offering cornhole games with pencils and T-shirts as prizes. Sandhills Suds offered handmade soaps and other bath products, and Laurent Lavender Farm sold lotions and other items made from its homegrown lavender.
Young entrepreneur Rachel Lovin sold handmade pens, pencils and jewelry made with colored duct tape.
Recycled Guitar String Jewelry offered earrings and necklaces made from guitar picks and strings.
Law firm Hardison and Cochran gave out bumper stickers urging drivers to watch out for motorcycles on the road.
Other businesses, like Century 21, The Vine and the newly-opened Realo Discount Drug offered festival goers pens, magnets, brochures and other promotional materials.
Turn to page 6B for photos from Saturday’s event.
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