For Steve Lane, it's the community appeal. And for Pam Stallings, it's all about the fireworks. Anne Cutter and her husband John love the beach music.

All agree, however, that the Chowan-Edenton Optimist Club's Fabulous Fourth of July celebration is something special.

"I think it's great," Lane said, "because it brings people downtown. And, it helps bring the county together."

Stallings said that she and her husband Jimmy enjoy everything about the festivities, but they come especially to see the fireworks.

"It's the fireworks for me," she said. "I just love the fireworks, and my husband does too."

Evidently, they're not alone.

Last year there were over 2,000 people who gathered on the waterfront to enjoy the food, crafts and a fireworks show considered by many to be the finest in the area.

Optimist Frank White said, "There were people there from all over the region, and even people from Virginia came" to celebrate Independence Day.

White said the spectacular fireworks show hosted by the club cost $20,000 in 2007.

Returning this year will be Steve Hardy's Original Beach Party featuring the very best in beach music.

Hardy, who grew up in eastern North Carolina, has a huge following among those who love beach music thanks to his long-running radio show broadcast on WNCT FM 107.9.

The afternoon's activities will get underway at 4 p.m. in the park along the Edenton waterfront. The fireworks show starts at 9 p.m.

Anyone interested in making a donation to help with the expense may mail a check made payable to the Chowan-Edenton Optimist Club to 160 Cowpen Neck Road, Edenton, N.C. 27932.

Write the word "fireworks" on the subject line of the check. An IRS Tax Exempt ID number will be made available upon request.

Declaration party

The Edenton Tea Party Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution will sponsor a ceremony honoring Joseph Hewes at 10 a.m.

The program, which will take place at the foot of the old Chowan County Courthouse Green, includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Fred Browne.

A short biographical sketch of Hewes read by Harvey Binns, a prayer and wreath-laying by the NSDAR are planned. American Legion Post 40 Color Guard will present the colors.

Joseph Hewes, a native of the colony of New Jersey, resided in Edenton for most of his adult life. He represented North Carolina at the Continental Congress in 1776 and signed the Declaration of Independence for the state of North Carolina.