By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
This year’s Stomp the Yard celebration — a free, five-hour youth explosion to be held at Houston Avery Park — will still be loads of fun, but it won’t be quite the same as the previous 11.
There will still be the free food, games and entertainment that are staples of the annual outdoor fun day, but this year there will be a much stronger religious overtone to the event.
“We will have the same activities and vending as in previous times,” explained Felicia Bishop, the October 6 event’s coordinator and co-pastor of Destiny Worship Center, its sponsor. “However, as part of this year’s entertainment we want to offer a time of worship in the park. We’re going to feature singing from groups and soloists locally and from special artists, along with the Destiny Worship Center Praise Team, Elements of Worship.”
Stomp the Yard will begin at noon and continue through 5 p.m. However, Bishop pointed out, the more secular aspects of the event will end three hours earlier than usual.
“Stomp the Yard is from 12 to 5 (p.m.),” Bishop said. “The worship will begin at 2 and close it out this year.”
She said the plan is to take advantage of the annual crowd (usually between 800 and 1,100 people) to help spread the Gospel.
“We want to bring worship and praise to our community through this, and having as many people as we have every year for our annual Stomp the Yard, we felt it would be great to incorporate it in the planning this year. While they’re out there, instead of regular entertainment, there’ll be a worship session.”
The event is aimed at children, but each child must be accompanied by an adult. Those who attend are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and umbrella with them.
Stomp the Yard’s main focus is to motivate and encourage the young people of the community, while letting them know they are loved and appreciated.
“The only way to do that is to show it,” said Bishop, who added that volunteers are needed for this year’s event.
For more information on Saturday’s event or to volunteer to help, those interested may call Dr. Bernard Bishop at 251-577-1430.