On Saturday, May 4th, Roseboro's town park will be bustling with activity as the town holds its first "May Day Affair." Hoping that the event becomes an annual tradition, the town is lining up a variety of attractions including numerous vendors, a fresh market, arts and crafts, art displays, and a 5K run. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)

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As a part of its participation in the North Carolina Small Towns Economic Prosperity (NC STEP) program, the town of Roseboro is planning a fun-filled, action-packed community day, hoping to increase citizen participation from its already engaged residents and to promote economic growth for the town.

Roseboro’s “May Day Affair” will be held all day Saturday, May 4, 2013 in and around the town park, according to Mike Reid, a member of Roseboro’s Main Street Committee and the Student Advocate at Lakewood High School.

Various members of the community are coming together to make this day possible with Lakewood High playing numerous, and very instrumental, roles.

Reid shared that Lakewood’s JROTC will be handling traffic control while the agriculture department is planning to sell flowers and other bedding plants including vegetables.

Lakewood’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club will also be involved, painting a mural on the side a downtown building. “It’s a way to help spruce up the town,” noted Reid.

Five seniors will be presenting their senior projects during the “May Day Affair,” said Reid. One senior is planning to set up a basketball camp for children while another is hoping to use her project to increase local awareness about childhood cancer.

Lakewood’s alternative school will also have a booth set up, selling snacks and beverages, Reid added.

Monty Strickland, Lakewood High principal, expressed his thanks for Reid’s efforts and shared his excitement about the upcoming event. “I think it’s great that Mr. Reid has worked so hard with our students and has gotten them involved. That’s been one of our main goals this year — to be community oriented. It’s been great to see how through our PTC and various clubs, like our student government, we’ve been able to help the community. We’re really excited and proud to help the community, and we hope to continue to do so in the future.”

And Lakewood High is not the only school to get involved. Roseboro Elementary School is organizing a 5K run for the morning of the “May Day Affair,” beginning at 9 a.m. The run, inspired by Roseboro Elementary’s Team P.R.I.D.E. after-school program, will raise money for all of Roseboro Elementary’s after-school programs and for the improvement of the school’s playground.

Like the rest of the “May Day Affair” activities, “the race will start and finish at the park,” noted Reid, adding that “it will also be professionally timed.”

Many community members are also contributing to Roseboro’s community day, including several area farmers. “They will be bringing some of their produce and setting up a fresh market,” shared Reid.

Many other activities are still in the works but Reid hints that there will be a display of students’ artwork, Cinco de Mayo festivities for Roseboro’s Hispanic population, and a designated arts and crafts area.

“We’re going to put Roseboro on the map with this,” attested Reid. “We’re hoping that this becomes an annual event.”

As he looks forward to this exciting new community event, Roseboro Mayor David Alexander recalled local May Day celebrations of days gone by. “If you were born and raised in Roseboro, or Sampson County, you know that May Day used to be a very special day. Years ago, Roseboro would have a May Day parade, all the towns did, and the kids would get out of school to go to the parade then they’d go back to school; you didn’t get out the whole day but it was fun. That’s what we want to bring back to our community — a fun day for everybody. It’s going to be really special.”

If you are interested in being a vendor or helping with Roseboro’s community day, please contact Mike Reid at 910-964-3998 or Bobbie Alexander at 910-305-3818. The cost for private vendors is set at $25. Vendor applications are available at Roseboro’s town hall, and the deadline for applications to be turned in is Wednesday, March 20.

If you are interested in participating in the 5K run, either as a participant or as a sponsor, please contact Jessica Eason, guidance counselor at Roseboro Elementary, at 910-525-4538.

Lauren Williams can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 117 or via email at lwilliams@civitasmedia.com.