How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Known simply as Lafayette on American shores, the French nobleman fought in the Revolutionary War as an enthusiastic nineteen-year-old. He would later achieve military glory in his home country — thus becoming: “The Hero of Two Worlds.”
The weekend after Labor Day, the Lafayette Society will host its 15th Annual Lafayette Birthday Celebration to honor the man, after which Fayetteville is named, in a three-day event beginning Thursday, Sept. 8 and ending Saturday, Sept. 10.
Born on September 6, 1757, in Auvergne, France, Lafayette felt unsuited to the life of a nobleman inside the palace of Versailles and hungered instead for the glory of battle.
Lafayette considered colonial efforts against the British worthy enough to purchase his own ship, voyage to the New World against the wishes of King Louis XVI, and then join the Continental Army as a major general under George Washington.
Though Lafayette proved himself a capable soldier and military leader, he was sent back home to request French military support, which he was able to secure.
Lafayette and General Washington worked closely during the war, and as the “physical embodiment of the Franco-American Alliance,” Lafayette was considered a key figure in important battles such as Rhode Island and Yorktown.
Lafayette went on to achieve political and military success in his home country and was an outspoken advocate for natural law and the rights of man.
In 1824, President James Monroe invited Lafayette to America to embark on a grand tour where his status as the Hero of Two Worlds would command crowds of up to 100,000 in some major cities.
During his historic tour, Lafayette visited Fayetteville, the first city in America named after him.
Lafayette died in 1834 and is buried in France under a sprinkle of earth from Bunker Hill. Today, over 80 cities and counties in the United States are named for him as a testament to his bravery and loyalty to the then fledgling country.
The Lafayette Birthday Celebration, instituted in 2007 for what would have been Lafayette's 250th birthday, is an event that not only honors the man's birth but a life dedicated to military service, inquiry and action. The three-day celebration is an opportunity to see Fayetteville as he would have seen it, learn about a few of his contemporaries, and experience art and music from another world.
Now back to full form after two years of COVID-19 restrictions, the celebration will kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, with a special concert at First Presbyterian Church on Ann Street. The French Music Concert, a popular staple in the Lafayette birthday tradition, is performed by Dr. Gail Morfesis and Friends.
The concert is a celebration of the strong alliance between France and America that still exists today. Tickets are $15 per person or $10 for students and can be purchased at the door, though advanced purchase is recommended.
“Our Lafayette birthday concert will be a special treat,” Morfesis told Up & Coming Weekly.
“As always, it will include members of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, but this year half of our program will be a tribute to the French contributions to American Jazz. We will highlight the works of Claude Boling,” she said.
This year’s concert is supported by the NC Arts Council and the Sandhills Guild of Organists. Three organists from the Sandhills chapter will also be featured.
“I know that classical music and jazz lovers alike will have a wonderful experience. There is a reception to follow with the artists,” Morfesis said.
Dr. Hank Parfitt of the Lafayette Society agreed. “There are six or seven different musical numbers, and it moves along quickly. It's a great chance to experience classical music in a fun environment. It's classical music for people who don't like it,” he joked.
Friday's event is a lecture hosted by Dr. Daniel Stewart and Fayetteville Technical Community College.
Dr. William Link will discuss his book on “Frank Porter Graham and the Rise of Modern North Carolina.”
A liberal Southern educator, Graham advocated for equality in education and believed, much like Lafayette, in equal rights for all humankind. Graham later became President of the University of North Carolina and worked as a consultant for President Franklin Roosevelt as he constructed the New Deal.
Dr. Link, retired Professor of History at the University of Florida, will have copies of his biography on Graham at the event. Guests may also purchase the book in advance at City Center Gallery & Books. The lecture starting at 2 p.m. is free to attend and will be held at the Tony Rand Student Center at Fayetteville Technical Community College. On Friday at 7 p.m., archives librarian Arleen Fields will showcase “The Lafayette Legacy” at Methodist University in the Davis Memorial Library.
Beginning at 6 p.m., a reception, complete with North Carolina barbecue, will take place before the presentation. Considered a “rock star” during his age, Lafayette's historic visit to the United States as “The Nation's Guest” will be viewed through artifacts, memorabilia, and merchandise generated by his tour.
Saturday at 8 a.m., guests are invited to take a trip back in time to see Fayetteville as Lafayette would have seen it in 1825. The Lafayette Trail Tour will treat guests to coffee and croissants as they embark on a journey beginning at the Museum of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (F.I.L.I.) and ending around 11 a.m. at Lafayette Plaza in Cross Creek Park. Led by city historian and F.I.L.I Commander Bruce Daws, visitors will have an opportunity to see the original carriage Lafayette rode into town during his historic visit, ride downtown's Coldwell Banker Trolley, and end the day with cake.
Tickets are $20/person and are limited to 30 participants, so advanced purchase is necessary.
The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry is the nation's second oldest independent militia, founded in 1793. President Washington encouraged cities to form militias to protect against attacks from foreign agents. When Lafayette visited Fayetteville in March 1825, the F.I.L.I. acted as his official escort.
On Saturday's Lafayette's Trail Tour, visitors will get a chance to experience Commander Dawes outfitted in the same uniform as the F.I.L.I. during that historic time.
As the crowning event of the three-day celebration, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 pm, “Camp Lafayette” will be set up for guests to take a step right into the pages of history.
In partnership with the Fayetteville Local History Museum, Camp Lafayette will be in Cross Creek Park between Green Street and Ann Street.
Both sides of “the creek” will have activities for the whole family. Musket demonstrations, tomahawk throwing, historical re-enactments and food trucks will make for a day of immersive historical fun.
The present can seem all-consuming with the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
“We’re so busy, we don't stop to think about the incredibly rich history we have here in Fayetteville,” Parfitt explained.
“This is a fun, educational opportunity for the whole family. You learn about history, and it's a chance to be with friends. The weather is usually nice this time of year — overall, it's a fun way to involve the community and the people who have a passion for history.”
Ultimately, this is a celebration for everyone. It's a way to sing a song for this country's brave formation and shine a light on an important man. Aside from being the city's namesake, Lafayette upheld beliefs long before his time and spoke to ideals still dear to this day. He opposed slavery and oppression in all forms, felt strongly about the advancement of women’s rights, and opposed capital punishment.
Parfitt, organizer of the event since its debut fifteen years ago, said, “there’s something in this celebration for everyone.”
“I hope people realize that we have more things in common than we do things that separate us — we’re all the same people. You can learn, through history, that we’ve had struggles living together on this planet, but we’ve always found a way through it. I hope this celebration is uplifting and helps build our sense of community.”
Tickets for the French Music Concert with Dr. Gail Morfesis and Friends may be purchased online at www.lafayettesociety.org/events.
Tickets for the Lafayette Trail Tour are limited to 30 participants and may be purchased online at www.lafayettesociety.org/events.
To purchase tickets in person or by phone, visit City Center Gallery & Books at 112 Hay Street or call 910-678-8899.