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Volume 138 • Issue 24
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
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KM gears up for Revolutionary 4th Celebration and region’s largest fireworks show
CRYSTAL ARIA
Crystal Aria to headline KM’s Revolutionary Fourth Celebration The City of Kings Mountain is preparing for another memorable Independence Day celebration as the annual Revolutionary Fourth festivities return on Friday, July 4, featuring an evening of live music, community spirit, and patriotic pride. Headlining this year’s entertainment lineup is Crystal Aria, a dynamic live music act that will take the stage from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The performance is presented by Albemarle, whose sponsorship helps bring free, family-friendly entertainment to the community. Revolutionary Fourth
is one of Kings Mountain’s signature events, honoring both the nation’s independence and Kings Mountain’s unique place in American history. Attendees can expect an evening filled with great music, patriotic festivities, and a welcoming atmosphere for all ages. Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, gather with friends and neighbors, and enjoy the holiday celebration in the heart of Kings Mountain. The event is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to promote tourism and
showcase local attractions through the Discover Kings Mountain initiative. Organizers say the Revolutionary Fourth celebration continues to grow each year, drawing visitors from across the region to experience the community’s hospitality and historic charm. For additional event information and updates, visit KingsMountainEvents.com or DiscoverK-ingsMountain.com, or follow the City of Kings Mountain Tourism and Events social media channels.
Families from across the Carolinas are invited to celebrate Independence Day in spectacular fashion as the City of Kings Mountain hosts its annual Revolutionary Fourth Celebration on Friday, July 4, at the Deal Park Walking Track, located at 211 N. Cleveland Avenue. The event, presented by Albemarle, will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and promises an evening packed with live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and what organizers proudly call “the largest fireworks show between Charlotte and Asheville.” This year’s Revolutionary Fourth celebration is also part of Kings Mountain’s participation in the America 250 commemoration, honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary and the city’s historic role in the American Revolution. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of attractions throughout the evening, including live music, entertainment from DJ Drew Fulton, and a patriotic ceremony celebrating America’s heritage. The event will also feature numerous activities designed for children and families, including inflatable slides, bounce houses, face painting, balloon twisting, and a caricature artist. Food vendors will be on site offering a variety of festival favorites, giving attendees the opportunity to enjoy dinner and treats while taking in the festivities. As night falls, the celebration will culminate with the area’s premier fireworks display, lighting up the Kings Mountain skyline in a dazzling tribute to Independence Day. The Revolutionary Fourth celebration has
The City of Kings Mountain will host its annual Revolutionary Fourth Celebration on Friday, July 4, at the Deal Park Walking Track. (Photo provided) become one of the region’s signature summer events, drawing thousands of residents and visitors each year. Organizers encourage guests to arrive early, bring lawn chairs or blankets, and enjoy an evening of community, entertainment, and patriotic pride. For event updates and additional information, visit KingsMountainEvents.com or DiscoverKingsMountain.com, or follow the City of Kings Mountain Tourism and Events social media channels.
Kings Mountain group working to restore old Goforth Cemetery By Alan Hodge A small cemetery in Kings Mountain with a unique Revolutionary War twist is getting some badly needed freshening up- and hoping for more. The tiny Goforth graveyard is located in a shadowy patch of woods and underbrush on Afton Dr., just off Shelby Rd. There are just over twenty graves there dating back to the late 1700s. Some of the graves are unmarked. Some have broken tombstones. A few of the original stones have been veneered with modern reproductions. The whole scene is one from a time long-forgotten. Maybe not. A group of local history buffs called “Hampton’s Brigade” and headed by Margaret Ledford and Don Jenkins is working towards getting the cemetery ready for our nation’s 250 anniversary this July 4th. They’ve been aided by Boy Scouts from Troop
Don Jenkins talks to Boy Scouts of Troop 92 about the Goforth Cemetery’s history. (Photo provided) Boy Scout Troop 92 leader John Kaiser (left), DAR member Margaret Ledford, and local historian Don Jenkins stand at the grave of Revolutionary War soldier Preston Goforth, Jr. at the Goforth Cemetery on Afton Dr. (Photo by Alan Hodge) 92 based at Central United Methodist Church led by Scoutmaster John Kaiser and including Eagle Scout Dennis Bolin. A recent day saw the scouts raking leaves, picking up fallen branches, clearing weeds, and in general tidying up the plot. “We plan on the boys attending the 250th anni-
versary ceremony here,” said Kaiser. The event at the cemetery is tentatively set for July 3rd. “We would like to have someone blow “Taps” at the event,” said Jenkins. “Perhaps a Marine.” The hope is one day the cemetery can get additional attention to its ap-
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pearance. “We would like to get a flagpole and some benches,” said Ledford. “We need to plant grass too. An historical marker would be a dream.” All the grave markers at the cemetery are intriguing, including one that’s placed in memoriam to Isaac West Goforth who was a member of the 49th NC CSA and killed at the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, Maryland. However, it’s the stone at the grave of Preston
Goforth, Jr., and the story behind his interment, that marks one of the most compelling and intriguing of local Revolutionary War tales. Ledford, a descendant of Goforth, explained. “The story is that during the Battle of Kings Mountain on Oct. 7, 1780, Preston, who was a Patriot, and his brother John Preston, who was a Tory, somehow shot and killed each other. After the fight, Preston’s wife Nancy Potts Goforth went to the battlefield with
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