Although the planned fireworks show was canceled because of rain, this year’s Stars & Stripes festival flourished Thursday night after a two-year absence.
For one thing, there was plenty of food.
Amber Burrough and Travett Whitehall, who own A&T’s Seafood and More on Carrollton Avenue, served traditional fair food from their truck, including nachos, tacos, wings and Italian ices.
“This is our first time operating the food trailer,” Burrough said. “We are very excited to be here and even more excited to be a vendor,” Whitehall added.
When asked about potential loss of customers because of the weather, the ladies’ good spirit shone through. “I’m going to make it a turnout! I’ll shoot fireworks myself!” Burrough declared.
The crew running A&T’s on Wheels on Thursday at Stars & Stripes included, front row from left, Amber Burrough and Travett Whitehall, who also own A&T’s Seafood and More restaurant, and, back from left, Gabe Johnson of Atlanta and Jerome House and Janerious Whitehall of Greenwood. (By Katherine Parker)
Others enjoyed the food, too.
“I look forward to the vendors,” said Shameika Dixon of Schlater.
“I’m most excited for this,” said her daughter, Jaycee, holding a cup of strawberry shortcake rolled ice cream.
Kyler Summerville of Greenwood said early on that she was excited mostly about the fireworks. After checking Facebook all day, she and her friend Kamryn Sanders decided to bring Sanders’ son, Parker, who is almost 2, to his first Stars & Stripes.
The previous two festivals were canceled — because of the river flooding in 2021 and because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Although rain threatened this year’s festival, people still showed up.
“I was hoping it wouldn’t rain because it’s been a while,” says Greenwood native Vera Tompkins, who brought her grandchildren to the festival.
Some of those attending were not so optimistic, however.
“It’s too wet and too cold,” declared 7-year-old Allison Nix, who added. “Y’all are excited, but y’all weren’t out in the rain.”
Regardless, spectators traveled from other towns including Eupora, Winona and Schlater, and Tompkins’ grandchildren were visiting from Michigan.
Other scheduled events included a tribute to veterans and a boat parade.
The Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event, announced that High Tech Special Effects would return at a later date to shoot off fireworks.
- Contact Katherine Parker at 581-7239 or kparker@gwcommonwealth.com.
