Plans for Tryons 125th birthday celebration got under way last Thursday.

The celebration is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, so planners have just eight weeks to put together a parade, concerts and other attractions.

Organizer Wanda May said she understands they have a tight schedule, but she is counting on involvement from local organizations and businesses to make the event a success.

The word is just now beginning to circulate, said May. Tryon always pulls together and is able to pull it off.

There is no charge for businesses and organizations to be involved in the parade or for their involvement in other displays and projects for the weekend.

What we are trying to do is keep it simple and not labor intensive so businesses and organizations can take the ball and run with it and do what they want to do, May said.

May said she wants to highlight Tryons 125-year history through displays and tributes to former residents such as iconic jazz performance artist Nina Simone and a poetry workshop conducted by Poet Laureate of North Carolina and current resident Cathy Bowers Smith.

A parade is scheduled to begin in the late morning on Sept. 4. It will be followed by live music on the streets of Tryon.

Though still in the planning stages, May said she is in talks with carriage companies about conducting carriage tours and with regional car clubs about bringing their classics to town for a car show.

Theres a lot of history to highlight in Tryon, so were very excited, said May. I think we can turn this into a fun weekend for people to enjoy.