Knightdale makes a splash with Independence Day fest

Knightdale held a daytime Independence Day festival this year with oodles of games and activities but no fireworks — and the event was a big hit with younger children and their families.

Sam Kushner was at Knightdale Station Park Thursday morning with his 5-year-old and 2-year-old children, and he said his family was having a good time.

“I was pleasantly surprised with how many different things they have,” Kushner said.

He said the variety of inflatables appealed to his kids.

“And that’s what we’re looking for,” Kushner said.

The Knightdale resident said his family has lived in the community about five years and often has had its own plans that have kept them away from the town celebrations on July 4th, but this year they decided to come over to the park and check it out.

The event featured a bicycle parade for children, numerous food trucks, axe throwing, football kicking, a gaming truck,. mini-golf, a climbing wall, inflatable slides — and of course, the splash pad to help people cool off from the effects of the sun’s relentless rays.

Knightdale Mayor pro tem Latatious Morris, who spoke from the stage during an intermission at the concert by 1980s and 90s cover band Love Trive, told the audience she was headed to the splash pad herself to cool off.

Mayor Jessica Day gave brief remarks in which she welcomed everyone to the park and celebrated the variety of good and fun at the event.

In an interview after leaving the stage and briefly taking part in a line dance in front of the stage with other festival-goers, Day responded to a question about the absence of fireworks this year by stressing what she called the “family-friendly” focus of this year’s festival.

“We’re having a good time this year,” Day said. “Everybody is having a good time.”

People especially love the splash pad, she said.

“The kids are having a good time with the inflatables,” Day said. “Our goal is to make this a family-friendly event. This is a slightly different event that we’re doing this year. There are a lot of different activities and we want people to enjoy the different activities. That’s the hope, and it’s happening.”

Day said Knightdale Station Park is a great space for bringing the community together. She said she believes this year’s Indepedence Day event made good use of that space.

“In Knightdale we’re all about connection and community,” Day said. “The park gives us a great venue to do that.”

A made who identified himself only as “Sammy”  said he was unhappy when he first heard there would not be fireworks this year. But what the town put together without fireworks turned out great, he said.

“I like it,” he said. “I was really upset that they weren’t going to do fireworks. But if they had to spend the money on something different, I’m glad that they spent it on so many other activities. There are about 20 things out here. My son is 7 and this is what he loves.”

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