Seaboard Festival

   The county’s largest celebration is the Annual Seaboard Festival . The festival which celebrates Hamlet’s heritage as a railroad town, is held on the last Saturday in October. The festival has its beginning in 1982, as a display railroad memorabilia on Main Street, sponsored by the Richmond Technical College as part of a study on “Railroad History and Its Impact on Southern Culture.” It’s popularity prompted a group of civic minded citizens to make it an annual event. Today this group of citizens who operate under the Charter of the Seaboard Festival Day Board, Inc is involved in many of the activities of the city.

Currently over 20,000 visitors attend this event each year. The festival is held on Main Street, where vendors of hand-crafts line both side of the street. Side streets are used for commercial vendors. Each year the festival attracts more vendors and larger crowds. It is a day, which offers something for everyone, where you can sit at a picnic table and enjoy your lunch of a variety of foods while you watch the people and visit with your neighbor. There is music, dance, children’s activities, and festival runs.

From its small beginning, it has grown to a first class festival with over 200 vendors. All of this is done by a group of volunteers working together to promote Hamlet.

The Robert L. and Elizabeth S. Cole Auditorium began as an idea in Richmond County. As the result of a Community College bond issue in 1993, money was alotted to Richmond Community College that would be used to address a priority set by the community - an auditorium. The college immediately began fund raising to supplement the money alotted by the bond issue, and the hard work is finally coming to fruition.

After years of hard work, by all involved, construction began on the Robert L. and Elizabeth S. Cole Auditorium and Community Center in November of 1997. The total expenditure for the state-of-the-art facility is estimated at 8 million dollars. The auditorium provides seating for over 900 guests and will bring to Richmond County such performances as Hello, Dolly!, A Christmas Carol, The North Carolina Dance Theater and The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

 

Hamlet celebrates Christmas tree lighting and carol singing is held at the park on Main Street and brings together the people of the town for the beginning of the Christmas season. Hamlet also hosts the only Christmas parade in Richmond County.

 

 

 

4th of July Activities

The City of Hamlet hosts the Annual Fireworks Display Show for the citizens of Hamlet as well as others. The fireworks are shot from the Hamlet Fairgrounds and may be viewed at a number of locations. A few prime viewing locations are: Main Street; Hamlet Avenue; Front Street; Hamlet City Lake, and Raleigh Street.The Hamlet Lions and Lioness Clubs sponsor the Richmond County Agricultural Fair the first full week in October each year at the Hamlet Fairgrounds. This draws citizens from a large area who come to display their livestock, crafts, and produce. The Hamlet Fairgrounds is also the site of the annual horse show. Riders and their mounts participate in over 40 different events judged by professional judges.

The City of Hamlet hosts an Annual “Meet Me at The Lake” community clean-up day during the month of June or July as a way to help to give back to the community and an effort to help make Hamlet an attractive place for the citizens and visitors.

2011 Photos of city staff, council and citizens participating.