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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OCT 14-20, 2015 UCW 11 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Hope Mills is gearing up for it s biggest f undraiser of t he year — Ole Mill Days — on Friday, Oc t . 16 and Sat urday, Oct . 17. It 's a t ime to celebrate t he tow n's herit age, make some new memories w it h f riends and family and, for some, to relive some old memories about a t ime when Hope Mills was not so busy and bust ling. A simpler t ime when t he local mills drove not just t he economy, but t he ebb and f low of life in t he area. "Ole Mills Days is a celebrat ion of Hope Mills and our histor y," said Dee Callahan, execut ive director of t he Hope Mills Chamber. "It is a t ime for t he families to get toget her and t here are all sor t s of event s for t he k ids." C a l la ha n added t hat she w a s bor n a nd r a i sed i n Hope Mi l l s a nd look s for w a r d t o t he a n nua l event . There is plent y to see and do — and much to learn, as well. The event begins on Friday w it h t he f irst st reet dance at 6 p.m. W hile t he dance last s t ill 11 p.m., it is t he perfect oppor t unit y to check out historic dow ntow n's Trade St reet . On Sat urday at 7 a.m. t he Run for Pink Race t akes place. It 's t he t hird year for t he run and it has grow n subst ant ially ever y year. The event organizers are hoping for a t urn out of 750 or more. It is a 5K route and walkers are welcome, as well. Proceeds benef it t he Cape Fear Valley Healt h Foundat ion Friends of Cancer. Find out more about t his organizat ion at w w w. capefear valley.com/foundat ion/index.ht ml. Visit w w w.act ive.com to register for t he race. The opening act iv it ies begin at 10 a.m. and include a variet y of act iv it ies. The t ractor pull, is a local favorite and always keeps t he crowd riveted. Families won't want to miss t he K id's Corner and games. It is t he perfect place to rela x and let t he lit t le ones join t he fest iv it ies. Car buf fs of ever y st ripe w ill have somet hing to t alk about at t he car show. Ot her act iv it ies include a haunted house, cheerleading compet it ion, pony rides, bounc y houses, food and craf t vendors and demonst rat ions by dance t roupes, karate st udios and local musicians. The corn hole tournament is a lot of f un, even for t hose who choose not to play. It 's compet it ive and lively and all in good f un. Regist rat ion for t he corn-hole tournament is by noon and t he games st ar t at 1 p.m. Prizes w ill be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place w inners. The cost is $25 to par t icipate in t he tournament . The Ole Mill Days reunion has been a highlight of t his event in years past . It 's a place where prev ious generat ions gat her to share stories and memories about Hope Mills and what it was like as a mill tow n. It is a chance to reconnec t w it h t he tow n's past and learn a bit of local histor y f irst hand. One especially popular event at Ole Mills Days is t he Hope Mills Chamber 's Chili Cook Of f. For years, local chefs have brought for t h of ferings of t heir favorite chili recipes to t he delight of t he at tendees and judges. The chili cook of f is Oct . 17 and it is sponsored by t he Hope Mills Chamber. " We have t he chili cook of f ever y year and it is our only f undraiser because t he Hope Mills Chamber is a nonprof it," said Callahan. " We have W K ML 95.7 as our sponsor for t he chili cook of f and a corn-hole tournament t hat is sponsored by Up & Coming Weekly." Contest ant s can enter t heir chili in t he compet it ion for $15. Cash prizes and plaques w ill be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place w inners. Chili can be dropped of f at 10 a.m. and t he announcement of t he w inners is at 3:30 p.m. There is a People's Choice Awards in which t he public can purchase small cont ainers of all t he chili to sample. They w ill have t he oppor t unit y to vote for t he chili t hat t hey like t he best . A $100 cash prize w ill be awarded. The evening concludes w it h a mov ie night in Municipal Park . Even t hough it is r ight around t he cor ner, t here is st ill t ime for vendors and sponsors to par t icipate. " We are selling tent s t hat you can purchase for $250," said Callahan. "It comes w it h a sign, one t able and eight chairs." Callahan added t hat you can adver t ise your business underneat h t he tent and give away items but you are not allowed to sell any t hing under your tent . Admission is f ree. For more informat ion, call 424-4555. If you are interested in performing at t he st reet dance, call 426-4109. It's Getting Hot at the Givens Performing Arts Center by DR. SHANESSA FENNER Banquet rooms available up to 100 guests DR. SHANESSA FENNER. Contribut- ing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200.