The sounds of children laughing and splashing at Kool Park Pool filled the air Saturday as hundreds of friends and family members converged to celebrate America's independence.
Parents lounged in the sun or under the shade trees as their children took turns going down the concrete slide or hanging out under the waterfall.
Clay Griggs of Claremont said he'd grown up swimming at the pool and wanted to share it with his family. He said once they finished swimming they planned to make their way to watch the fireworks at LP Frans Stadium.
He wasn't the only one considering that venue.
"When we're done here, we're going to go to the Crawdads game for the fireworks," said Susan Palmaff of Hickory as she and Tracy Billington prepared to launch their boat for a day in the sun on Lake Hickory.
Personal watercraft skipped over the waves as Billington launched his boat and prepared to spend some time lounging among friends at the lake hangout known as the sandbar in what he said he hoped would become an annual tradition.
Vermerrial Bennett of Hickory said this was the second year in a row that she and her family gathered at Glenn Hilton Jr. Memorial Park.
The park was the site of several Fourth of July barbecues, but few people had as nice a spot to picnic as the one she'd picked out.
Bennett said she arrived at just after 10 a.m. Saturday in order to get a choice spot near a grill and under some trees.
As the grill heated up, she said she was looking forward to having some steaks and heading home Saturday night so she could sit outside and watch the Crawdads' fireworks display from the comfort of her own yard.
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