Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 1-7, 2021 UCW 11 EVENTS Fayetteville celebrates namesake with concert, ribbon-cutting a STAFF REPORT Each September, e Lafayette Society and the City of Fayetteville celebrate the birthday of the Marquis de Lafayette, the city's namesake. is year, focus will be on the popular French music concert and a ribbon-cutting and dedication of the new Lafayette Plaza East. e Lafayette Society's Hank Parfitt said the an- nual celebration promotes the significance of Lafay- ette's contributions to Fayetteville while educating and entertaining the public through music and the arts. e events are made possible mostly by the ef- forts of volunteers. "I am proud of our board, as well as our general membership, for their time, energy and enduring support of our mission as a civic as well as an his- torical organization," Parfitt said. On Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Dr. Gail Morfesis and Friends will present "L'ensemble de la Famille: Mu- sical Families and their Historical Significance" at Hay Street United Methodist Church in downtown Fayetteville. Morfesis has been organizing and performing in concerts as part of Lafayette celebrations since 2014. She organized this year's concert with a grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council awarded to help promote music in the community. "e concert is basically performed in French," she said, "we try to educate the audience about Lafayette and French musical traditions." ere will be translations and notes in the program. is year, Morfesis wanted to recall an era before electronic devices to highlight the tradition of fami- lies entertaining themselves with music — singing and playing instruments and "making music in their homes." "I want to point out that during COVID, because families were at home together, we saw a resurgence of a tradition — families creating and entertaining themselves with music" Morfesis said. e concert will showcase the talents of profes- sional musical artists from eastern North Carolina and will include married couples, a father-daughter duo, and two groups who are "just like family." is lively, fast-paced concert will appeal to a broad audience, Morfesis said. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and can be purchased at City Center Gallery & Books on Hay Street or online at www.lafayettesociety.org/events. CDC precau- tions will be observed with safe distancing in the sanctuary but attendees are asked to wear masks. On Sept. 12 at 2 p.m., the Lafayette Society will be joined by the Mayor and members of the City Coun- cil and County Board of Commissioners to dedicate the new Lafayette Plaza East. e existing brick plaza and stage with seating walls on the west side of the Lafayette statue was funded by the Society and dedicated in 2013. is past year, the Society's Park and Statue Com- mittee worked with the City to develop a perform- ing stage on the east side of the statue with new landscaping. is created an outdoor amphitheater downtown suitable for concerts and other perfor- mances. It also made the entire park more attractive as a place for recreation and gathering. e Camp Flintlock Fife and Drum will be there to help Mayor Mitch Colvin, Commissioner Glenn Adams, and District 2 Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram with the ribbon cutting. Lafayette himself will also make an appearance, thanks to re-enactor Stanley Seay. City officials will help e Lafayette Society dedicate the new Lafayette Plaza East on Sept. 12. (Photo by Dylan Hooker). e music concert will be Sept. 9 at Hay Street United Methodist Church. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender The Credit Union OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Branch Now Open Call (910) 222-1500 or Visit BraggMutual.org LOCATION: THE NORTH TOWER, 1ST FLOOR 1630 OWENS DRIVE, FAYETTEVILLE, NC