‘America the beautiful’ celebrated in Yadkin

Veterans ride on a float in the annual East Bend God and Country Parade held Saturday.

It was a day of celebration throughout Yadkin County with both East Bend and Yadkinville hosted parades and festivities in honor of Independence Day.

The much-beloved God and Country Parade in East Bend resumed its usual date the Saturday before the Fourth of July after a two-year hiatus and date change due to the pandemic. The sidewalks and along Main Street were filled will folks watching the parade go by and plenty of children eager to catch candy thrown from floats. The parade was followed by a day-long celebration with music, vendors and more on the grounds at East Bend Elementary School. An evening fireworks display behind the East Bend Senior Center concluded the day’s celebration.

Yadkinville’s festivities kicked off late in the afternoon with live music and food trucks. The sidewalks in downtown quickly filled up just before the evening parade at 7 p.m. Church and sports team floats, firetrucks, motorcycles and more paraded down the street with flags waving and candy thrown to children. Just after dark the fireworks began to close out the day of celebration for the nation’s birthday.