We Are Grateful

By Heather Chapman

Every year, we take time to reflect on our community’s highlights, happenings, and community impact. The Kernersville community was joyfully able to attend events to the fullest and come back together for some of our favorite traditions. Here is a roundup of some of our favorites we got to celebrate together this year!

Father Daughter Dance
Saturday, February 19 was a special day for many girls/ladies and their dads, as it marked our traditional Father Daughter Dance. Some may think this tradition is purely a fun way for girls to bond with their dads, dance with their friends, and eat a lot of sugar, but there is a lot more to this event than meets the eye. While the event focuses on the traditional understanding of fathers and daughters, Kernersville Parks and Recreation is an inclusive minded agency, and we welcome all individuals wanting to attend. Our staff spends months coming up with a theme, making/building our own decorations, and putting all the finishing touches on every little detail. The minute they walk in the door it is all about the experience, from the grand entrances to the lavish balloon backdrops. You know when that beat drops, everybody’s on the dance floor. This is just that feel good event, reminding you to take time to slow down. The Father Daughter Dance is one of the many volunteer opportunities presented to the community. The Summit Church has graciously allowed us to hold our event at their facility for the past few years and lends many helping hands the night of the event. Special moments and memories are made each year, and we challenge ourselves to do it even bigger for the next. Tickets sell out within the first two days of going online, so if your interested, this is your reminder! Mark your calendar, put the date in your phone, tickets go on sale January 9!

Mother Son Game Night
A glow themed mother-son night was held in April and continues to grow every year. This special Friday night, mothers and sons challenged each other to a game of neon putt-putt and other various games. This event is so important because there are many father daughter dances out there and the mom voices were heard. It is so important to strengthen the mother-son bond because raising boys is tough work! Having regular bonding activities is a great way to give both something special to look forward to. Planning and setting a special date tells your child how much you value spending time with them and listening to their thoughts. Let the countdown begin to April 28, 2023!! We cannot wait to show you what we have in store next year!

Movies and Music in the Park
Kernersville hosts FREE Movies and Music in the Park during various dates in the summer. This past year, both events were held in Harmon Park. Our movie series is generally geared toward PG rated movies that the entire family can enjoy. We had a great turn-out for all four movies that runs the third Friday of May, June, July, and September. Since its beginning, the series has grown rapidly and has become a summertime staple for our community. Why do we love it so much? It is free, you can bring your own picnic or dine with us, you get to be outside under a beautiful backdrop, it is a great way to connect with friends and family, and everyone is welcome!

We hosted our first Music in the Park since COVID this year and we brought the sounds of the beach to Kernersville! The night was a bit chilly, but many braved the weather with thoughts of the sand between their toes as the “Special Occasion Band,” reminded us of good ole’ summer nights! We are already working on securing our musical performance for September 2023!

Honeybee Festival
A long-held tradition in Kernersville during the month of August, the festival is in its 47th year! We welcomed over 150+ authentic arts and crafts vendors and thousands of spectators to Fourth of July Park. The weather was beautiful, and families strolled through the park with a tasty treat in hand. There is a camaraderie between the vendors as they embrace the bee symbol and many use it when preparing their crafts for the event. It is also an excellent event to learn more about the importance of the honeybee and its impact on the pollination process.

Of course, none of these events would be possible without the support of this community and their sponsorships. I want to personally thank all of you who contributed to a spectacular year of Kernersville events and your contribution to our community. We look forward to 2023 and bringing more family friendly events to this community. We would love to share some of these experiences with you virtually. Visit www.facebook.com/kvparks/videos for a snippet of the magic all these events hold.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *