Good morning, Hickory.

A memorial ride honoring a 19-year-old from Valdese (known for uniting neighbors) will start in Hickory and finish at Brown Mountain; organizers said the event reflects his mission to bring people together.

The Visit Hickory 2026 Visitor’s Guild is now available as a travel guide with insider recommendations for getaways, sporting events, business trips and local exploration.

The guide aims to help visitors plan trips in the area — a valuable resource for discovering local attractions.

Law enforcement agencies will boost patrols today under the Operation Firecracker Booze It + Lose It campaign to reduce impaired driving during the busy Fourth of July weekend, and NCDOT will suspend most highway construction requiring lane closures from July 2 to July 7 to ease traffic.

Frye Regional Medical Center earned national distinction for its excellence in evidence-based cardiovascular care quality improvement and patient-centered outcomes, securing the honor for the sixth consecutive year.

Lenoir-Rhyne and Hickory FC are set to host a US Men's National Team World Cup watch party on Wednesday, July 1 at Helen & Leonard Moretz Stadium with free admission and available concessions.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and kids are allowed to play soccer on the field before the 8:00 p.m. game.

The Hickory Crawdads defeated Hill City 12-4 at LP Frans Stadium on Saturday night after erasing a 3-0 deficit with five consecutive scoring frames — earning their eighth win in a row.

Six players contributed key base hits in a balanced offense that powered the comeback.

Hickory FC ended its four-match winning streak Saturday night after a 2-0 loss to Charlotte Independence at Moretz Stadium — the team remains in contention and will face Charlotte Eagles on Tuesday.

4th of July Music Festival and Fireworks

5:30-11:30 p.m. — L. P. Frans Stadium — $25-$30 — Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a vibrant concert and a spectacular fireworks show.