With Hope for Hardy’s Twilight Festival set Friday, Roanoke Rapids City Council Tuesday marked the event with a proclamation declaring the day of the festivities as Hope for Hardy Day.
Hope for Hardy is a non-profit organization in honor of the late Doug Hardy, who was in need of a liver transplant but died before he could receive one.
The non-profit foundation promotes organ donations and helps other patients who are specifically waiting for a liver transplant or those who have received one.
In the proclamation passed by the city council, the document notes that more than 100,000 people are waiting for lifesaving transplants across the nation.
“ … Another person is added to the transplant waiting list every 10 minutes … and 20 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time,” according to the proclamation.
The document says that one organ, eye and tissue donor can save and heal more than 75 lives.
The festival will be set up from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the 900 and 1000 blocks of Roanoke Avenue where there will be food vendors. Non-food vendors will be set up in the housing authority parking lot.
Around 8 p.m. or soon thereafter the festival moves to Centennial Park for a concert by the Feature Attraction Band.
Highlights of the festival include:
Food vendors will be offering hotdogs, hamburgers, hibachi cuisine, ice cream, funnel cakes, baked goods, beverages, snow cones, nachos, popcorn, and more from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Outside the 1026 Roanoke Avenue Urban Green Space DJ Joey Landen will be playing his Old School Party Mix to complement the food, dancing, and socializing.
Over 30 non-food vendors will participate, showcasing their crafts, jewelry, services, and direct sale merchandise.
At 7:30 p.m. on the avenue 1,200 ping-pong balls will be dropped out of the bed of a pickup — and one of them will be a $1,000 winner.
After the balls are collected, those attending will be directed to Centennial Park for a free concert by Feature Attraction Band where the winning ball will be drawn.
Other matters
Council approved closing Roanoke Avenue on December 5 for the annual Christmas parade. The road will be closed from 1:30 to 4 p.m. between 14th street and First Street for the parade.
In addition to the parade, Centennial Park and the Urban Greenspace at 1026 Roanoke Avenue will also be holding events.
Council also began discussions on appointing a committee to begin examining 2020 Census data to determine whether there will be a need for redistricting in any of the city’s three voting districts.
The data shows the city’s population at 15,229 — down from the 2010 Census figure of 15,754. The 2000 Census showed the city’s population was 16,957.
Each council member will select a person for the committee.
