03/29/2024
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A Unity in the Community weekend is planned for January 13 through January 16 at Big Show Auto Finishes located at 2900 West Broad Street in Elizabethtown. When asked about the event, Fletcher “Big Show” Collins said Unity in the Community Weekend is designed to bring the community together as one. He said the idea formed after he attended the Unity Forum which was held earlier in the year at Bladen Community College. He said while attending the forum, he heard many different opinions and learned about people’s expeirneces and thoughts about racism in the county.

Collins said as he was assisting Arthur Bullock in the planning and preparation for the Martin Luther King Jr. parade which will take at 11 a.m. Monday in Elizabethtown, he began talking with James “No Show” Herring who serves as Vice-President of the Confederate Riders Motorcycle Club.

Herring said he heard about the event and asked someone the name of the person putting it on. When he heard the name Big Show, Herring laughed. He sent his business card to Big Show and asked him to call.

“When we talked, he explained what he wanted to do, I said ‘I’m in’,” said Herring.

Collins said it wasn’t long before both men realized they had some of the same goals in mind. Collins said the idea behind the Unity in the Community event is to build better communities and break the cycle of racism and/or misleading information or ideas that leads to fear and misunderstandings.

“We are here to make a change,” said Collins.

He that they are expecting people from all over the United States for the event. Collins said that people who attend the event and the parade on Monday will see there are white, black, Latino all riding together. He said they are expecting about 3,000 people this year for the event.

“He said folks on both sides (of the racism debate) will see we are all together,” said Collins.

The event will kick off with a Meet and Greet and Friday. Fletcher “Big Show” Collins said the event will include vendors that will be offering such things as leather goods, jewelry and food vendors are welcomed.

Collins said the gates will open beginning at noon on Friday and a DJ will play music and everyone is encouraged to come out and enjoy an evening socializing with friends and neighbors. Collins said that there will be a bonfire and socializing around the bonfire on Friday evening.

On Saturday there will be a Unification Bike Ride and a Block Party Social in Saturday evening. The Unification Ride will begin registering at 11 a.m. with quick stands up at noon, said Collins. The route for the ride will travel NC 87 South to the NC 87 Bypass to NC Highway 11.  Riders will turn onto NC 11 and travel to US 74/76. Riders will then follow US 74/76 to NC 211 to US 701. The riders will take US 701 North to Elizabethtown and eventually ending at Big Show Auto Finishes.

On Sunday, there will be a camp fire, seafood festival including crab legs and the trimmings, and plenty of time for socializing, said Collins. There will be plenty of food and good fellowship throughout the event, he added.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event and camping is available. Collins said the young as well as senior adults are welcomed during the event. He said there are plenty of event staff to help those that may need it.

For more information or to learn how to becoem a sponsor or vendor, call Big Show Auto Finishes at 910-391-6009.

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