Many organizations and businesses are well under way in their planning for the 125th Tryon birthday celebration over Labor Day weekend. The Town of Tryon is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the 1885 chartering of Tryon by the State of North Carolina.

The weekend begins with a golf tournament at the historic Tryon Country Club. Friday evening is the end-of-season Summer Tracks concert in Rogers Park, featuring the Firecracker Jazz Band. Shops, galleries and pubs in downtown Tryon will be open late on Friday evening.

Saturday morning The Big Heritage Parade comes through downtown Tryon at 11 a.m. Once the parade ends folks can begin the day at the information station in downtown and choose from a myriad of historic events and sites.

Poet Sidney Lanier and the Le Duc sisters will be at the Lanier Library. Several galleries will be hosting local and regional artists. There will be special exhibits of African-American Tryon, Tryon memorabilia, handcrafted Tryon Dolls, an open house at the Nina Simone Birthplace, and tours of historic Tryon Cemetery during the day.

There will also be hand crafts at White Oak Manor and stained glass tours at Holy Cross Episcopal Church. The Book Shelf will be celebrating Tryons literary history. Carriage rides will be offered through Godshaw Hill and Melrose Avenue and the fire department will be holding an open house.

Up on Melrose Avenue, you can hear music at Greene Corner, hear poetry readings at the Lanier Library and participate in kids crafts at The Art Palette. One of the big events of this celebration is the grand opening of the Tryon Toymakers house/museum.

Celebration organizers are encouraging all local non-profits to participate, particularly in the parade. Parade registration forms are available online at the Town of Tryon website: www.tryon-nc.com.

The 125th birthday celebration committee will be meeting each Thursday between now and Labor Day to put the final touches on this celebration. Contact Wanda K. May for more information at wkm1970@aol.com.