‘It was a great night’: Large crowd attends Granite Quarry-Faith National Night Out 

 

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Karen Kistler

karen.kistler@salisburypost.com

FAITH — The crowd filled the streets and the Legion Park Bandstand area in Faith as the annual National Night Out, sponsored by Fun in Faith Summer Concert Series and More was held Aug. 9.

The event, which was held to honor first responders, featured a display of vehicles, tools and equipment of the Rowan County Sheriff’s department on display, along with a variety of firetrucks, some of them antiques.

Todd Taylor, chief of the Granite Quarry-Faith Police Authority, said they didn’t have a display at the event; however, they did participate by providing crowd and traffic control along with community engagement.

“It was a great night,” said Taylor, “and it will probably be bigger next year.”

Rowan County Sheriff Travis Allen said they enjoyed “partnering with Granite Quarry, helping with the town of Faith and the town of Granite. They are in Rowan County, and we help serve them as well. It’s a great partnership.”

He said he didn’t think they had expected such a large crowd, but that it was exciting and the evening was perfect with great weather.

New to the event line up this year was a cruise-in, with rows and rows of cars on display.

Dale Peeler, organizer of the evening’s celebration, said they counted at one point during the evening and there were 153 cars of all varieties, including old, new and classics.

He said that Wesley Lee and Scott Anderson, who have collectibles cars, volunteered with this part of the event and helped spread the word.

“It’s awesome,” he said, adding that he “was surprised because when you put something like this on for the first time you’re thinking, I hope 30 show up, and wanted it to be a success because we knew we had Darrell Harwood who’s known throughout the county and he brings people everywhere he plays.”

The cruise-in began at 5 p.m. and people strolled looking at the cars, and checked out the food trucks and vendors, which were selling their products, some of which included wood work, tie-dyed T-shirts, jewelry and handsewn kitchen towels.

Speaking of the crowd, Peeler said, “It’s been great because I’ve seen people in every tent.”

Lisa Jackson, who was responsible for organizing the vendors, said that getting them “actually did itself,” noting that she put the word out on Facebook and Instagram and people started calling to be a part of the event. 

All she had to do, she said, was keep up with those who were coming so there were not competing vendors, with placement being on a first come, first served basis.

Happy with the crowd that was visiting the vendors, Jackson said, “and I think they are, too.”

The cheerleaders of Jesse C. Carson High School had a booth selling drinks as a fundraiser to help support the squad and said they had done well so far.

They anticipate being set up at upcoming football games to raise funds as well.

A bounce house and water slide were set up for the children to play and it was a popular attraction for the young ones with the adults sitting at the covered picnic area nearby either watching them or enjoying the food.

The event concluded with a 7:30 p.m. concert with the Darrell Harwood band performing.

The stands and green space around them were filled waiting for the concert to begin.

Following comments by Peeler and Mayor Randall Barger, Harwood shouted out to the crowd, “Faith, you ready for a party?”

As the concert continued, people could be heard singing  and others gathered at the front near the band and danced. Harwood encouraged others to come and join them, telling them, “you always make it fun here.”

Prior to the concert, Harwood of China Grove, said it is “an honor to be invited to come play here” and that it’s always a pleasure to come and help out his home county.

He noted that he plans to return to Faith for the Veterans Day parade.

“Darrell is very sincere to the veterans and he donates his time to the veterans,” said Peeler, to which Harwood said, “I’m looking forward to that.”

Giving thanks for their first responders and veterans, Peeler said, of one of the firetrucks on display, “when you ride by and see the flag held high on the firetruck, that’s what Faith’s about. We honor our first responders. We honor our veterans, and we’re so thankful that they do everything they do to give back to us.”