Leaders take the plunge at today’s festival

You can drench your high school principal, soak the mayor or submerge an athletic league president this afternoon — for a small fee, of course.

The Havelock Kiwanis and People Assisting Recreation for Kids to Seniors Foundation are bringing a dunking booth to today’s Havelock Freedom Festival, and a dozen local leaders have agreed to take turns on the hot seat above the dunking tank.

George Lewis, coach coordinator for Havelock Little League, will be in the booth from 5 to 5:15 p.m., followed by Parks and Recreation Director Dave Smith from 5:15 to 5:30 and William Winstead, parks and rec programmer, from 5:30 to 5:45. Little League President Bob LaPenta will take his turn from 5:45 to 6:05, and Jeff Murphy, Havelock High principal, will face the music from 6:05 to 6:35.

Bob Sabdo, president of Havelock Pop Warner, is due in the dunking booth at 6:35, and Christie Montayne, T-ball president, will follow at 6:55. Her husband and PARKS Foundation Chairman Matt Montayne will be in the booth from 7:15 to 7:35.

Havelock’s city leaders will do their dunking booth duty beginning with City Manager Jim Freeman at 7:35. Commissioner Will Lewis will follow at 7:55, and Mayor Jimmy Sanders will take the plunge from 8:15 to 8:45. The dunking booth’s final victim will be Deana Day, PARKS Foundation treasurer, from 8:45 to 9.

The Freedom Festival runs from 5 to 9:30 tonight at Havelock City Park and features live music, picnic games, a pie-eating contest and a pyrotechnics display set to begin at 9.

Havelock Parks and Recreation estimates at least 2,000 people will be on hand for the annual Independence Day festival and as many as 10,000 sprinkled throughout Havelock will see the fireworks.

WANT TO GO?

Havelock Freedom Festival

• 5 to 9:30 p.m. today

• Havelock City Park

• Games, contests, live music, food vendors

• Fireworks show begins at 9 p.m.