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275th Anniversary Celebration to be held July 24

A celebration to mark the 275th anniversary of Granville County and the dedication of the Phase III expansion of the Granville Athletic Park (GAP) will be held on Saturday, July 24 at the GAP’s Sports Pavilion and Amphitheater. Hours are from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

 

Formed in 1746, Granville County was established thirty years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence and was named in honor of the second Earl of Granville, Lord John Carteret. King George II had given most of the land that is present-day Granville County to Carteret as part of the Granville Grant in the 1660s. Today’s Granville County includes five municipalities – the City of Oxford (county seat), the Town of Butner, the City of Creedmoor, the Town of Stem and the Town of Stovall – and is home to more than 60,000 residents.

 

The July 24th events celebrate both the history and progress of the county, with a dedication of the Phase III expansion of the Granville Athletic Park taking place at 9 a.m. The completed project adds tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, new playground space, a fitness station, open play areas for cornhole and other games, a sheltered pavilion area and ample parking. Plans also include nine additional holes for disc golf in the near future.

 

The expansion adds 11 acres to the already existing park, totaling 80 acres of outdoor recreation space.

 

Following the dedication will be a 10 a.m. opening ceremony for the 275th Anniversary Celebration. Food trucks, vendors, children’s activities, entertainment from the amphitheater stage, historical presentations and fun for all ages are planned throughout the day. Local author Lewis Bowling will also be on hand to sign copies of his new commemorative book “Looking Back: 275 Years of Granville County History,” which will be “hot off the press” for this celebration.

 

Both events are free and open to the public.

 

Nonprofit organizations are invited to join Granville County’s anniversary celebration and will be provided vendor space on a first-come, first served basis. There is NO registration fee.

 

Participating nonprofits will be asked to set up by 9:30 a.m. for the main event’s start time of 10 a.m. and are requested to remain at their assigned site until the 4 p.m. conclusion of the festivities.  (Tables and chairs will not be provided. It is recommended that participating vendors bring a canopy tent for protection against the summer sun.)

 

Nonprofits  interested in reserving space for this event are asked to contact the County Manager’s Office, 104 Belle Street in Oxford, for an application, which is to be completed and returned by June 30, 2021. Applications are also available for download here, with completed applications accepted by email. Please print out and send nonprofit vendor applications to Assistant County Manager Korena Weichel at korena.weichel@granvillecounty.org.

 

After July 1, participants will be contacted to confirm reservations and to provide additional day-of-event details.

 

The Granville Athletic Park is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford and is Granville County’s largest outdoor recreational area.

 

 

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