Selma's All American Festival

Everything is set for “go” on Selma’s annual All-American Festival, which celebrates the Fourth of July and draws about 5,000 or more spectators to town each year.

The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, with vendors, children’s activities and Selma’s own DJ Jim Earp cranking up the music on main street.

Festivities will take a break at 7 p.m. when the official opening and welcome will be proclaimed by Mayor Cheryl Oliver and the Miss Railroad Days queens.

An addition to this year’s activities will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence during the opening ceremony, said Joni Hubble-Zeneberg. Marvin Rawls will sing the national anthem and the queens will lead in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Johnston County Fellowship Choir will be singing patriotic songs.

Following the welcome and official opening, activities will resume on Raiford Street with children’s activities including Tommy the Train and inflaitables. Cost for activities in the children’s area is $1 per activity or $5 for unlimited access.

Zeneberg said that as of this week eight food vendors have reserved spots along Raiford Street.

All activities will run until about 9:15 when the fireworks will be displayed.

Fireworks will be set off at the railroad crossing at Raiford and Railroad streets. Bleachers will be set up on Raiford Street midway the block bordered by Anderson and Waddell streets. Bleachers also will be set up next to Hula Girl Ice Cream and Sandwich shop. Guests may bring lawn chairs or blankets to watch the fireworks along Raiford and adjoining streets. Any area in Uptown will be a good viewing area.

Fireworks will be detonated by Hale Artificier, Inc., from Lexington. It will be the ninth year the company has been in charge of the fireworks.