CARRBORO, N.C. -- Join us from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 4th for a day of fun activities and celebrations. The 12th Annual Community Reading of the Frederick Douglass Essay "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" will be held rain or shine and occur at the Carrboro Century Center from 2 to 4 p.m. Come early to get a good seat!
Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. at Weaver Street Market, followed by The People’s Parade from Weaver Street to Town Hall at 10:50 a.m. led by the Bulltown Strutters. The event continues at Carrboro Town Commons from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and then concludes at the Century Center for the Community reading at 2 - 4 p.m.
Bring non-perishable items to help support PORCH. Donation bins available at Weaver Street Market and Carrboro Town Commons.
Event Parking
It’s easy to find free two-hour public parking in Carrboro, where you can access convenient parking at 10 public lots all over town.
Please remember that Carr Mill Mall is for mall customers and is not a public parking lot. Leaving the mall premises after parking risks towing. This means that if you plan to start your day at Weaver Street Market and join the People's Parade to Town Hall, you should not park at any Carr Mill Mall lot (including the Weaver Street lot and the Harris Teeter lot).
When in doubt, always park in public lots, and enjoy a hassle-free and relaxed shopping and dining experience in downtown Carrboro.
Learn more about our July 4th Celebration.
Activities at Weaver Street Market
Join us on the Weaver Street Market Lawn from 9:30 to 10:50 a.m. for July 4th activities! There will be a Bike/Wagon Decorating Contest along with a Costume Contest for kids!
- 9:30 a.m. – July 4th Activities Begin
- 9:45 a.m. – Designing & Decorating Booths (Patriotic Tattoos, Hat Making & Decorating, Patriotic Flag Coloring, Bike & Wagon Decorating)
- 10 -10:15 a.m. – Registration for Costume Contest
Categories: Ages 1-5; Ages 6-10; Ages 11-15; Family/Group; Bike/Trike; Wagon/Scooter/Other
- 10:30 a.m. – Costume Contest Winners Announced
- 10:40 a.m. – Parade Assembly on E. Weaver Street
- 10:50 a.m. – The People’s Parade from Weaver Street Market to Carrboro Town Hall led by The Bulltown Strutters
Please remember that Carr Mill Mall is for mall customers and is not a public parking lot. Leaving the mall premises after parking risks towing. This means that if you plan to start your day at Weaver Street Market and join the People's Parade to Town Hall, you should not park at any Carr Mill Mall lot (including the Weaver Street lot and the Harris Teeter lot).
The People's Parade
At about 10:50 a.m., the People's Parade will begin and travel from Weaver Street Market to Carrboro Town Commons! Dress up, bring your bikes and wagons, and join your fellow community members with a July 4th themed parade down Weaver!
Please remember that Carr Mill Mall is for mall customers and is not a public parking lot. Leaving the mall premises after parking risks towing. This means that if you plan to start your day at Weaver Street Market and join the People's Parade to Town Hall, you should not park at any Carr Mill Mall lot (including the Weaver Street lot and the Harris Teeter lot).
Live Music at Town Hall
Our emcee will be Aaron Keck of 97.9's The Hill.
- 11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Liquid Pleasure featuring Kenny Mann
Annual Reading of Frederick Douglass' Essay
Mayor Barbara Foushee will host our annual gathering of community members for the annual Community Reading of Frederick Douglass' essay, "The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro." The reading will occur in the Carrboro Century Center's Century Hall at 2 - 4 p.m.
Introductory remarks will be provided by Mayor Foushee with the keynote address given by Mike Wiley, a North Carolina-based actor, playwright, and director of multiple works in documentary theatre. Wiley is an M.F.A. graduate and Distinguished Alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a former Lehman-Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professor at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. Wiley’s overriding goal is expanding cultural awareness for audiences of all ages through dynamic portrayals based on pivotal moments in African-American history. The Town of Carrboro would like to thank the Chapel Hill-Carrboro branch of the NAACP and the Town of Chapel Hill for their support of this community program.
Events and Activities at Town Hall
Join us for the following during the main event from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Town Hall:
- Senior Bingo (Town Council Chambers, Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
- Seth The Wacky Wizard (Magic Show) in the Fun Zone (11:00am )
- Baby Crawl Contest (12 p.m.)
- Pie-Eating Contest (12:30 - 1:30 p.m.)
- 12:30 p.m. – Ages 6-8
- 12:45 p.m. – Ages 9-12
- 1 p.m. – Ages 13-17
- 1:15 p.m. – Ages 18 & Up
Note: Registration for the pie-eating contest is on-site at the Information Booth from 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Registration is first-come, first-served and a maximum of eight participants will be accepted. There is no registration fee, but a waiver must be signed by a parent or guardian.
- Town of Carrboro Fire Department Interactive Smoke House
- Face Painting w/ Paint Savvy
- Carnival Games
- Free Expression Chalk Boards
- Toddler Square
- Family Fun Photo Booth Experience
- Bubble Artist
- Stilt Walker
- Food/Drink Vendors
- Non-Profit Booths
Fireworks
For information on the local fireworks display coordinated by the Town of Chapel Hill, please check their website at: https://www.chapelhillarts.org/calendar/fireworks/
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