OUR VIEW, Good Job, Laurens.
Our County Seat, the City of Laurens, deserves a pat on the back for staging a successful Independence Weekend celebration on July 3. We also were in proximity to July 2 Lights on the Lake and July 3 Town of Ware Shoals fireworks and music festivities to celebrate the Nation’s Independence.
Laurens advertised a “first-ever” patriotic projection onto the Historic Courthouse on Monument Square and that, undoubtedly, drew some people intrigued by what it would look like. Clinton did something similar for Christmas at the MS Bailey Municipal Building.
A veterans‘ program also was conducted in conjunction with the July 3 projection and fireworks. The rockin‘ band Steel Toe Stiletto kept the crowd entertained for two hours, then the mood shifted to patriotic music for the projection. In the coming days, the city will do an evaluation of the event - it already knows that dividing the fireworks into two displays fired from Little River Park was confusing for many people who likely would have stayed for one entire show. A 10:20 p.m. finale likely is a little late for families with small children.
All this is part of an evaluation process that in no way takes away from the program’s success. Laurens Lights the Night could be seen as a true countywide celebration, which succeeded in putting Laurens County’s best foot forward for visitors and was a source of pride for citizens, too. More is coming up: Squealin‘ on the Square in Laurens and Rhythm on the Rails in Clinton both will be in October. As the capital sales tax money starts rolling in, there will be a Military Services Monument established at the Laurens Library, a perfect place for Veterans Day. The Laurens Amphitheater and The Depot in Clinton are well-established venues. Vance Park in Clinton is coming into its own, as well. And there is the wonderful Cross Hill Park that hosts Labor Day weekend Comin‘ Home festivities. All are places for connections - the binding together of our community.
