After a sizzling couple of weeks of summer, expect July to start off with a bang during Independence Day celebrations in Greenville and surrounding communities.
One of the area’s biggest celebrations gets underway at 3 p.m. on First Street in downtown Greenville and at the Town Common. Hosted by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department, the event will feature food trucks and a car show, live music including a performance by The Switch, a beer garden and, of course, fireworks.
The Cruise In car show runs from 3-6 p.m. and is open to all cars with trophies for Best of Cruise in modern and classic categories. Dash plaques go to first 100 vehicles. The event is cohosted by Recreation & Parks, Hastings Ford and the Coastal Plains Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America. Enter from Greene Street on First Street. No tents or large umbrellas.
Food trucks, bounce houses and a game truck open at 3 p.m. as well, with a beer and wine garden hosted by the Greenville Jaycees open from 4:30-8:30 p.m., according to the city’s schedule.
Live musical performances continue through the day with The Switch performing the national anthem at 9:15 just prior to fireworks.
Street closures will start in the area at 9 a.m. on Thursday, including First Street between Greene Street and Holly Street and Washington, Evans and Cotanche streets and Reade Circle between Third and First streets.
The Greene Street Bridge will be closed to all vehicles and pedestrians at 9 p.m., the city said. Vehicles will not be allowed to travel north until the conclusion of the fireworks. The show will not begin until the bridge is cleared of all pedestrians and vehicles.
The city offered the following parking advice:
Try to park near Greene Street if you need to leave to the north (across the river).Try to park near Evans Street, Cotanche Street, or Washington Street if you need to leave to the south.Limited handicap parking is available in the Willis Building parking lot off of First Street and Reade Street and in the Trillium parking lot off of First Street and Greene Street.ECU will allow public parking in the parking lots along Reade Circle south of Third Street, starting at noon.Parking areas near the Town Common will fill early. Many areas will be blocked off for event activities.
Police will be out en force during the event, the city said. To help visitors exit after the show is over, traffic officers will be positioned along the main routes at intersections and traffic patterns will be altered to expedite the flow of traffic.
The city said when leaving the event, visitors should be patient and expect delays. Based on the estimated attendance, it could take an hour for event traffic to clear.
“Go with the flow,” the city said. “Stay with the flow of traffic as directed by officers and signals. Traffic patterns are designed to maximize traffic leaving the event. Don’t try to turn across or travel against the traffic flow.”
The city said that sometimes driving a little out of the way to exit will be a lot faster:
Greene Street will be one of the quickest ways away from the event. Travel north on Greene Street to Mumford Road. Then turn either right to go to Greenville Boulevard or left to go to Memorial Drive. Avoid turning back onto Pitt Street as that will take you back into the heaviest congestion.If you are parked near Cotanche Street, go south on Cotanche to 10th Street. Avoid traveling east on Fifth Street due to extended delays and congestion.If you are parked near Evans Street, go south on Evans to 10th Street and Greenville Boulevard.All traffic traveling south on Reade Circle will be diverted right onto southbound Evans. Continue out Evans to 10th Street and beyond.
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