When Guilford County government publicizes a fireworks extravaganza with a performance by the Chairmen of the Board, it sounds at first like Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston will be singing before the fireworks go off.
However, not to worry. This year, Guilford County’s biggest fireworks display will also have music performed by the legendary group Chairman of the Board – not Alston.
The group is the big addition to the 15th annual Fireworks Extravaganza that Guilford County Parks is hosting at Northeast Park. Set your GPS to 3441 Northeast Park Dr. and be there on Sunday, July 3 starting at 4 p.m. for the music and the explosions in the sky.
The nation’s Independence Day is actually July 4 rather than July 3 – so the party at Northeast Park will really be an Independence Day Eve celebration.
The press release from the county notes, “Guests should arrive at the park no later than 7 p.m. and plan to stay until after the fireworks finale.”
The same release also dramatically undersells the fantastic music of the group that dominated North Carolina in the 1970s and 1980s. The release states, “New this year, a live performance by Chairmen of the Board, a smooth and soulful Detroit vocal group.”
But it should probably mention instead that this is the newest version of the band that electrified the beach music scene with hits like “Give Me Just A Little More Time,” “Everything’s Tuesday,” and “Carolina Girls.”
Former group leader General Norman Johnson passed away over a decade ago, however, anyone who’s heard the new version of the group in recent years knows they can electrify a crowd and that shagging will always break out.
The music will start at 6 p.m., followed by the fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
There will also be food trucks, mini-golf and carnival rides – though those looking for kiddie train rides will need to find another celebration.
The county has found some lifeguards finally and the aquatic center at the park will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission to the park is $10 per car, $1 per walk-up. It’s cash only and exact change is “strongly encouraged.”
Ride tickets are $2 each or 14 tickets for $20; rides are 1 to 2 tickets each.
Tim Brown, Northeast Park supervisor, said that last year thousands of people from around the state came out for the celebration and he expects “another successful evening,” this time around.
For more information about the event, visit www.guilfordparks.com or follow Facebook@GuilfordCountyParks.
