For those searching for tickets for the fifth annual Williams Lake Reunion, you may just be out of luck.
“Tickets have sold out,” said Robert Honeycutt, who managed Williams Lake from 1965-69 and has organized each of the past four successful events. “There are a very limited few left, and I am holding them in my hands. So, if someone needs to get some, I have just a few left.”
The event will take place at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center Saturday, Aug. 18, and Honeycutt promises it is going to be the biggest one yet.
“You know, every year people come up to me and tell me how it was better than the previous year,” he said with a laugh, “which is a great thing, but I try my best to continue to top the previous year’s event. It is getting harder, but with this one, I feel like it is the best one yet.”
Individual seats and shared table seating tickets sold out at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center box office in just a scant five days.
“The important thing for me is to keep entertaining the people,” Honeycutt stressed. “To me, every year has got to be better than before. It makes me feel good to know that over half the people who showed up last year are returning to celebrate with us again this year.”
Williams Lake was opened from 1932 to 1970 and owned by the late Clayton and Lillian Williams, who lived across the highway from the lake. The property, which sits just off of U.S. 13 in the Mingo Township, has now been overtaken with weeds, tree and leaves as far as the eye can see. However, in the time it stood, Williams Lake was the place to be thanks to the incredible list of entertainers who played there, including Pieces of Eight, Buddy Skipper and The Jetty Jumpers, The O’Kaysions, The Majestics, The Tams, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Jackie Wilson and many, many others.
Out of his love for the site, which has been closed for over 40 years now, Honeycutt began bringing the reunion shows to Clinton as a way to fellowship with old friends and raise money for local causes. He does not collect a dime from the shows, all the proceeds from the event will go to fund scholarships for Sampson County students and other charities.
“It was a special place for all of us who went there,” Honeycutt acknowledgd. “We have people coming from all over the United States this year, and there are at least 600 tickets that were sold in just five days, that says something about how people loved Williams Lake.”
Like previous years, Honeycutt will again have an afternoon social and free pig-picking that will begin at 3 p.m. and will end at 6:30 p.m.
“The Ginger Thompson Band will be playing the afternoon show,” he said. “She is just fantastic and I think people are really going to enjoy her show.”
The main event, featuring The Legends of the Beach with Jackie Gore and Kent Helser; Angel Rissoff from New York; and Harry’s Band from Dunn, will begin at 7:30 p.m.
“This is the first time that Harry’s Band has played together in about eight years,” Honeycutt said. “The last time they played at Triton High School and they sold that auditorium out. It was an incredible show. The Legends of the Beach are great, as well as Angel Rissoff. People are in for a wonderful night of entertainment.”
Honeycutt said his non-profit shows will continue as long as the crowds keep supporting it. “I put on a show that I feel will keep people entertained,” he said. “I want to keep doing that and I am so proud that people keep coming out. It makes me feel really good.”
For the few individual tickets that are left, contact Honeycutt at 910-214-2858 during regular business hours.
To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.
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