Wendell celebrates Independence Day early

For a third consecutive year, people in and around Wendell got an early start on the celebration of Independence Day with a community festival and fireworks show July 2.

The event drew thousands of people for children’s activities, food trucks, and of course fireworks — and many said they liked getting an early start on the holiday.

“It’s good,” said Mariano McDonald, who works with the Raleigh Police Department. “If you make it on the Fourth it’s even more crowded — too crowded.”

He said the weather was great for the event.

“It’s turned out to be a beautiful day,” he said.

Mariano said he and his wife Rita, who have been married 35 years, moved to Wendell about two months ago and were attending the town’s fireworks show for the first time. He said in the past they have been to Independence Day fireworks in Raleigh and Clayton.

“We moved from Clayton over here,” he said. “(Wendell) is quieter. Clayton is starting to be like Raleigh now.”

He said he thinks Wendell’s park is an ideal venue for an Independence Day celebration with fireworks.

“We have five grandchildren,” he said. “They have a big park for the kids.”

“The kids look like they’re having fun,” Rita McDonald observed.

Roman Smith was at the event with his wife Amber and their kids. He said they live in Zebulon but have attended the Wendell fireworks every year since it started.

But in previous years they have watched them from a spot closer to downtown, he said.

This year, however, they came to the park that serves as party central for fireworks show.

“I wanted to see what this whole area was about,” he said.

He said the setup looked good.

“They’ve got activities for the little kids, and food trucks,” he said.

The family was planning to go to fireworks in the Cleveland community July 4.

Smith said he thinks having fireworks on July 2 was a way to avoid severe heat in the forecast for later in the week.

“I don’t mind it,” he said of the early celebration. “We’re going to beat the heat.”

Amber Smith said she likes attending more than one celebration.

“I like as a family that we get to watch multiple fireworks shows,” she said.

Festivities at Wendell Community Park began at 6 p.m. The fireworks started just after 9 p.m.

People watched from lawn chairs and blankets in the park and from various other choice viewing spots around town.

Wendell Mayor Virginia Gray expressed excitement about the event.

“I’m very excited for us to celebrate Independence Day together as a community,” she said in a statement released by the town.

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