HAMLET — With the increased traffic expected for Epicenter Festival this weekend, public school students are getting a three-day weekend.
“After several meetings with the Richmond County Emergency Services to discuss the Epicenter Festival, we believe that this event may cause unsafe driving conditions and delays for our student drivers, buses, parents and staff members, Dr. Jeff Maples, interim superintendent of Richmond County Schools, said in an email Monday afternoon, adding that there would be no school on Friday.
“Please know that I hate for our students to miss school, but safety will always be our top priority for students and staff members,” Maples said.
While students get the day off, Friday will be an optional workday for all staff.
Epicenter, a three-day hard rock and heavy music festival organized by Danny Wimmer Presents, is expected to draw up to 100,000 people to Richmond County — essentially tripling the county’s population for Mother’s Day weekend.
The Richmond Observer will have more on the preparations for the event as the week progresses.
