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 7 - 13, 2022 UCW 17 COVER STORY It's classical music for people who don't like it," he joked. Friday's event is a lecture hosted by Dr. Daniel Stewart and Fayetteville Technical Community College. Dr. William Link will discuss his book on "Frank Porter Graham and the Rise of Modern North Carolina." A liberal Southern educator, Graham advocated for equality in education and believed, much like Lafayette, in equal rights for all humankind. Graham later became President of the University of North Carolina and worked as a consultant for President Franklin Roosevelt as he constructed the New Deal. Dr. Link, retired Professor of His- tory at the University of Florida, will have copies of his biography on Graham at the event. Guests may also purchase the book in advance at City Center Gallery & Books. e lecture starting at 2 p.m. is free to attend and will be held at the Tony Rand Student Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College. On Friday at 7 p.m., archives librarian Arleen Fields will show- case "e Lafayette Legacy" at Methodist University in the Davis Memorial Library. Beginning at 6 p.m., a recep- tion, complete with North Carolina barbecue, will take place before the presentation. Considered a "rock star" during his age, Lafayette's historic visit to the United States as "e Nation's Guest" will be viewed through arti- facts, memorabilia, and merchan- dise generated by his tour. Saturday at 8 a.m., guests are invited to take a trip back in time to see Fayetteville as Lafayette would have seen it in 1825. e Lafayette Trail Tour will treat guests to coffee and croissants as they embark on a journey beginning at the Museum of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (F.I.L.I.) and ending around 11 a.m. at Lafayette Plaza in Cross Creek Park. Led by city histo- rian and F.I.L.I Commander Bruce Daws, visitors will have an oppor- tunity to see the original carriage Lafayette rode into town during his historic visit, ride downtown's Coldwell Banker Trolley, and end the day with cake. Tickets are $20/person and are limited to 30 participants, so ad- vanced purchase is necessary. e Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry is the nation's second oldest independent militia, found- ed in 1793. President Washington encouraged cities to form militias to protect against attacks from for- eign agents. When Lafayette visited Fayetteville in March 1825, the F.I.L.I. acted as his official escort. On Saturday's Lafayette's Trail Tour, visitors will get a chance to experience Commander Dawes outfitted in the same uniform as the F.I.L.I. during that historic time. As the crowning event of the three-day celebration, on Satur- day from 10 a.m. to 2 pm, "Camp Lafayette" will be set up for guests to take a step right into the pages of history. In partnership with the Fayetteville Local History Museum, Camp Lafayette will be in Cross Creek Park between Green Street and Ann Street. Both sides of "the creek" will have activities for the whole family. Musket demonstrations, tomahawk throwing, historical re-enactments and food trucks will make for a day of immersive historical fun. e present can seem all-con- suming with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. "We're so busy, we don't stop to think about the incredibly rich his- tory we have here in Fayetteville," Parfitt explained. "is is a fun, educational op- portunity for the whole family. You learn about history, and it's a chance to be with friends. e weather is usually nice this time of year — overall, it's a fun way to involve the community and the people who have a passion for history." Ultimately, this is a celebration for everyone. It's a way to sing a song for this country's brave forma- tion and shine a light on an im- portant man. Aside from being the city's namesake, Lafayette upheld beliefs long before his time and spoke to ideals still dear to this day. He opposed slavery and oppression in all forms, felt strongly about the advancement of women's rights, and opposed capital punishment. Parfitt, organizer of the event since its debut fifteen years ago, said, "there's something in this celebration for everyone." "I hope people realize that we have more things in common than we do things that separate us — we're all the same people. You can learn, through history, that we've had struggles living together on this planet, but we've always found a way through it. I hope this celebra- tion is uplifting and helps build our sense of community." Tickets for the French Music Concert with Dr. Gail Morfesis and Friends may be purchased online at www.lafayettesociety.org/events. Tickets for the Lafayette Trail Tour are limited to 30 participants and may be purchased online at www.lafayettesociety.org/events. To purchase tickets in person or by phone, visit City Center Gallery & Books at 112 Hay Street or call 910-678-8899. A historical marker was placed in March 2021 on the edge of Cross Creek Linear Park designating Fayetteville as a stop on the Marquis de Lafayette's tour of the United States nearly 200 years ago. ages. For more information about the Lafayette Trail visit https://thelafayettetrail.org/#map. (All photos this page courtesy of the Lafayette Society) ASHLEY SHIRLEY, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.