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Matthew and 3-year-old Paris Owens had a blast participating in the Fishing Derby during the 2023 Hometown Celebration at Konehete Veterans Park in Murphy.
Andrews and Murphy are planning to bring out all of the stops to celebrate the Fourth of July.
In Murphy, the much-anticipated Hometown Celebration at Konehete Veterans Park is set to take place Thursday, July 4, sponsored by the Cherokee County Recreation Department. This annual event promises a day filled with family friendly activities, games, food and drink, arts and crafts, information and services, and a spectacular fireworks display to cap off the festivities.
The celebration will kick off at 10 a.m. with a variety of attractions and events throughout the day. Highlights include a Fishing Derby for children ages 12 and under from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. behind Field 2, with bait provided. Young anglers are reminded to bring their own poles.
For those looking to showcase their competitive edge, a Horseshoe Tournament will begin at 10 a.m. at Pavilion 3, featuring singles and doubles competitions. The classic Peanut Drop will take place on Field 1 at noon, followed by a series of exciting field events starting at 1 p.m., including sack races, egg toss, and water balloon toss.
Attendees can enjoy a range of games such as ring toss and live fish games, with 15 rings available for $5. Inflatables will be on site with unlimited use for $10 each, ensuring endless fun for kids and adults alike. Adding to the thrill, tethered hot air balloon rides will be available from 6 p.m. until dark, weather permitting, for just $5 per ride.
Vendor spots are still open for those interested in participating in the event. Vendors must call 828-360-4398 for an application, with a no-duplicates policy in place to ensure a diverse array of offerings.
The day will conclude with a fireworks display after dark, lighting up the night sky and bringing the community together in celebration. The fireworks show is sponsored by Town of Murphy and Cherokee County Tourist Development Authority.
On Independence Day in Andrews, the town’s annual Fourth of July ceremony will be filled with fun activities from 10 a.m. until well after dark. Field activities at Andrews Recreation Park hit a high point at noon with the Peanut Drop.
There will a horseshoe competition for ages 12 and up starting at 1 p.m., an egg toss (adult and child divisions) at 1:45 p.m., a balloon toss at 2:30 p.m.., individual sack races (adult and child divisions) at 3:15 p.m., three-legged sack races (adult and child divisions) at 4 p.m., a cornhole competition at 4:45 p.m., a three-point shootout for ages 12 and up at 5 p.m. and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile the Andrews Pool will host activities starting at 1 p.m. for biggest splash, 1:30 p.m. for smallest splash, 2 p.m. for most creative dive, 2:30 p.m. for best belly-flop, 3:15 p.m. for most patriotic swimwear (adult and child divisions), 4 p.m. for duck pickup (ages 4-6 in the kiddie pool) and 5 p.m. for duck pickup (with divisions in ages 10 and under, 11-12 and 13-16).
That all leads up to 7:30 p.m., when The Steve Jordan Band will perform right up until the fireworks are launched at dark. All events are free to enjoy.