By Martha J. Henderson

Design Editor

While the smell of barbecuing pork might not be wafting through the air Friday, May 7, the 22nd annual Carthage Buggy Festival will still be kicked off in style with a fun-filled evening.

After six years, the Arc of Moore County will not be -holding its annual barbecue cook-off fundraiser. However, Nancy Kiser Park will be bustling with activity as the Carthage Firefighters Association hosts an antique firetruck show.

The evening will also include food, musical performances and a cruise-in of classic cars.

Line-up for the antique fire-trucks and classic cars begins at 4 p.m. with the evening's fun getting under way at 5 p.m. From then until 9 p.m., there will be lots for the public to enjoy.

The Carthage Firefighters Association has invited departments from all over to bring their antique firetrucks to be part of the show.

"There are a lot of neat local antique trucks around," says Chad Thomason, a volunteer firefighter with the Carthage Fire Department who is co-chairing the event with Jason Love. "We are hoping to have eight to 10 firetrucks, as well as a cruise-in for classic cars, many of which will be part of the car show on Saturday.

"We are just getting our feet wet with this show," Thomason says, "but we plan to make it an annual event."

Thomason says the group hopes to get most, if not all, of the area's antique firetrucks to the show. It all depends on which ones will run when it's time to fire them up and drive them to Carthage for the event.

"These are antiques," Thomason says, "so you never know until you turn the key whether or not they'll start. But we're hopeful."

Thomason expects several firetrucks from the county and a few from out of the county, but he guarantees that there will be two antique firetrucks from Carthage. These include a 1945 Seagrave fire engine and a 1932 Chevrolet fire engine.

During the evening, trophies will be awarded to antique fire truck show participants for -oldest firetruck and farthest traveled. The public will have an opportunity to vote on their choice for Best of Show, which also will be awarded during Friday night's -festivities.

Members of the Carthage Firefight-ers Association will be selling hot dogs and hamburgers throughout the evening.

The public is invited to come out and enjoy live musical -performances by the Temple Teens at the park's Stephen F. Lapping Amphitheater.

The Temple Teens are a group of young people who perform a high-energy show featuring songs from Temple Theatre's current season.

Classic car buffs can get a -preview of Saturday's car show as members of the Sandhills Classic Street Rod Association display their vehicles at the park and Carthage Museum on Friday evening.

The Buggy Festival Committee also will be sponsoring a dunking booth. Locals who are slated to be dunked include Town Manager Carol Sparks, Police Chief Chris McKenzie and other town officials and local dignitaries

Thomason invites everyone to "come out and have a good time."

Nancy Kiser Park is at 312 Rockingham St., next to Carthage Elementary School. There is trailer parking on-site.