Celebrate Simpsonville entertains thousands

Event honors veterans, future soldiers

Simpsonville, SC — About 8,000 people attended Celebrate Simpsonville on Saturday, June 30th at the Heritage Park Amphitheater, an event sponsored by the City of Simpsonville in observance of Independence Day.

The high attendance for the free event was in no doubt due to headlining country rock group The Charlie Daniels Band, a chance to see Simpsonville Mayor Janice Curtis skydive and a professional fireworks show as an exciting finale.

After the nationally recognized Eric Church Band opened the show, Mayor Curtis skydived 10,000 feet in tandem with the Special Forces Jump Team. The skydive was an effort to raise awareness for three charities benefiting kids and veterans.

JUMP for Charity raised money for Children’s Miracle Network, Honor Flight of the Upstate and Quilts of Valor. Community relations specialist Justin Lee Campbell said the City was proud of the spotlight that JUMP for Charity put on three important causes.

“Mayor Curtis skydived to bring awareness to charities that comfort children and veterans, two groups of people that deserve any amount of support we can give,” Campbell said. “The money raised by JUMP for Charity will touch people’s lives.”

Quilts of Valor presented handmade quilts to three veterans on Saturday in recognition of their sacrifices to the country.

After honoring those past sacrifices, the sacrifices that four future soldiers plan to make were honored in a formal swearing-in ceremony, a sign of their commitment to serve in the military.

An Independence Day celebration would not be complete without a good-old-fashioned-fireworks show, and that’s what Simpsonville got to close out the event.

“Celebrate Simpsonville could not have gone better,” Campbell said. “We had a music legend, recognized past and future soldiers, saw the Mayor of Simpsonville skydive and watched a spectacular fireworks show. The City of Simpsonville thanks all who were involved and extends its utmost appreciation to all those who have served in the military.”

For questions, please contact Justin Campbell, Community Relations Specialist, at 864-838-8051 or email jcampbell@simpsonville.com.