From Staff Reports 

WEAVERVILLE, N.C. — For the nation’s 250th anniversary, Buncombe County is celebrating Independence Day with fireworks and more — but at a new location this year.

To that end, this year’s Fourth of July celebration will be held at North Buncombe Fields in Weaverville, according to the Buncombe County government.

For years, the county’s Independence Day event was held at Arden’s Lake Julian Park, but it will not be held there this year due to construction in the area, which is causing access issues, county officials said.

The event in Weaverville will start at 5 p.m. July 4 with live music from the Fuzzy Peppers and Mission Accomplished, food trucks and face-painting. The fireworks show will start around 9:15 p.m., just after dark. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and/or blankets. 

Buncombe County officials said the fireworks will launch from the northwest end of North Buncombe Fields.

Parking will be available at North Buncombe High School, located at 890 Clarks Chapel Road in Weaverville.

The county added that Lake Julian Park will be open with normal hours, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 4. Buncombe County Sports Park will close at 6 p.m. that day.

News 13’s “Comment Bubble” that followed its story included the following assertions:

• Bobbyjoebob — “Good thing the fourth is on a Saturday or they might have to have the fireworks on a different day. Just like people celebrating their birthdays when it’s convenient, instead of on the actual day.”

• RetiredEduc8r — “Where are “the fields of Weaverville?” If you post a change of venue, uh, wouldn’t a GOOD JOURNALIST / REPORTER post the address??”

• NoOne23 — “I would think it should be fairly easy to find with this information in case you skipped it.

“‘Parking will be available at North Buncombe High School, located at 890 Clarks Chapel Road in Weaverville.’”

“Also a quick Google search of the fields of north Buncombe give the address, which is pretty much right next to the high school where the parking is.”

• Normal — “Just look for the fireworks — drive that direction.”_

• Straightup1 — “Stop excusing the illiterate reporters, yanked from the bottom of the class.”

• Normal — “Just look for the fireworks, drive that direction.”

• Cheriemorris1 — “What about the fireworks on the South Slope? I thought that was the location of the Asheville celebration. Or has that been moved to Old Fort?”

• liberalcritic — “July 4 celebration? Oh, you must mean Trump’s Rally to ‘Kick Off’ 250th Anniversary Celebrations”

• curious333 — “Didn’t he waste enough of our tax money on this/his celebration already? Leave his stink off this one.”

• liberalcritic — “He got a loan from Tim Waltz and Omar.”

• curious333= — “*loan.”

• Bobbyjoebob — “Waa waa. I hate the president so much, I can’t think straight.”

• DomBostich9 — “Will your kids be with their ‘unruly teen’ friends at this celebration, as well?”