LAURINBURG — The sounds of the band Hip Pocket will help kick off SpringFest 2018 tonight.

The band — known to play hit songs ranging from country to pop — will perform at 6 p.m. at near the Art Garden on Main Street. Eight-member band has played in Laurinburg several times. Hip Pocket has been compared to the Band of OZ from the 1980’s and Bill Deal & The Rhondels from the 70’s.

Tonight’s performance is free. It is also part of the Laurinburg/Scotland County Chamber of Commerce Laurinburg After Five series. The rest of the concerts will be held at the James Morgan Recreation Park.

“It’s something new, being downtown it’s a new venue and atmosphere, we’re hoping it will get people who don’t usually come out to be a part of it,” said chamber Director Chris English. “We’re hoping to bring people downtown for the weekend in order to show off all the progress that is going on and it’s a fun event.”

English said that working with the groups really helped create more of a community effect.

“We see a lot of these people every day but we’ve never done events together,” said English. “We’ve turned separate events into a fun weekend downtown.”

After the concert, there will be a movie screening organized by Scotland County Parks and Recreation.

After Laurinburg After Five will be the first part of the spring three-part movie series being put on by Scotland County Parks and Recreation.

The film, “A Dog’s Purpose” will be projected onto the wall of the A.B. Gibson Education Center.

“It’s always exciting for us to collaborate with different agencies in the community,” said Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Graham. “Getting the different agencies involved invites all of Scotland County to be involved in the activities. It’s also a great way to bring people to downtown Laurinburg.”

Graham is hoping for a good turn out to the event and believes that there will be since he’s heard some excitement from members of the community.

“It’s a first-time event and it’s free,” Graham said. “It’s 2018 you don’t get many things for free so we’re hoping that encourages people to come out. We’re also hoping the event will have a positive impact on the promoting a sense of community.”

The next movie in the series “The Sting” in May. “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” planned for June, is the final film to be shown.

“We’re looking forward to seeing faces and getting people out of their houses for a fun community event,” Graham said.

There will be parking at First United Methodist Church, BB&T, by Romper Street, and near Biggs Street.

Saturday’s events will start with the FUN’d Run sponsored by the Scotland Memorial Foundation at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Arts Council’s Spring Art Festival, which will go until 5 p.m.

Saturday events include unveiling of the new art sculptures in the art garden around 11 a.m. The 16 sculptures, created by students at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, were installed Thursday.

At 1 p.m. there will be an awards ceremony by the chamber presenting four Governor’s Volunteer Awards.

Main Street will be closed from Church Street to Railroad Street starting at 3 p.m. today and will re-open around 7 p.m. Saturday after the festivities have died down, according to city officials.

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Courtesy photo Hip Pocket performs in Scotland County at a previous Laurinburg After Five.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_1538716_459638557473172_250253857308652635_n.jpgCourtesy photo Hip Pocket performs in Scotland County at a previous Laurinburg After Five.

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https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_hip-pocket.jpg

By Katelin Gandee

Staff reporter

Reach Katelin Gandee at 910-506-3171