On April 13 at Centennial Park on Roanoke Avenue, Hope for Hardy will present a free concert featuring the local band, EXODUS.

The evening is planned from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

It is an evening in which Hope for Hardy will emphasize the importance of organ donation and recognize those who have received organ transplants as well as those families who made the decision to help others by donating the organs of their loved ones.

“Hope for Hardy will be welcoming guests from Alabama, Ohio, and all throughout North Carolina and Virginia to Twilight Festival 2019. We are encouraged to see organ donation awareness being promoted far and wide,” the group said. “After all, awareness is one of H4Hs missions.”

EXODUS will take the stage at 5 p.m. on April 13 at Centennial Park. They will be performing two sets of music. They describe their genre as Contemporary Christian.

You can also plan to hear music from First Christian Church, Lauren Greenhill Hinnant, and Donna Fender.

More than 30 vendors will be participating offering barbecue sandwiches, nachos, popcorn, cotton candy, peanuts, fudge, hotdogs, and beverages.

In addition to food and concession vendors, you can plan to meet local businesses and direct marketing representatives from all over the Roanoke Valley.  Visit Twilight Festival’s Facebook Event page for a complete listing and description of all vendors.

Visitors to Vendor Alley will also be eligible to win several prizes such as:  

• A Google Home Mini donated by Today’s Electronics on Becker Drive
• An authentic, autographed picture of Roy Williams
• 3 hours of home cleaning services donated by Diamond Shine of Lake Gaston
• A mini photo session donated by Kelly Parnell
• Wire art creation by Caswell Felts

Charlotte and Emmitt Ray from the Jason Ray Foundation will be visiting.

Their son, Jason, died after being stuck by a car in New Jersey. Jason was the animation behind the beloved Tarheel mascot, Ramses, and had been traveling with the basketball team during the NCAA tournament.

Because of their love and generosity, four men received life saving organs and 114 more people received parts of Jason’s tissue and bone fragments. Those gifts helped their recipients to see, or to walk. Jason’s story, according to UNC Hospitals, inspired 46,000 people in the United States to sign up as organ donors. Those who did created the potential to save the lives of 165,000 people in need of a transplant.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray will also be attending church with Hope for Hardy at First Christian Church in Roanoke Rapids on Sunday, April 14.

During the Sunday school hour, they will be sharing Jason's story and how their faith sustained them then and still sustains them more than 12 years later.

“H4H appreciates and are grateful to all families who have thought of others on their very worst day and we pray for the donor families as much and as often and those needing and receiving transplants.”

No admission will be charged, however Hope for Hardy will accept donations during this event.

For more information, email Kimberly S Graybeal at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.