Spring Grove to hold watch party for Flickinger
When Hali Flickinger swims in the Olympics on Aug. 9, she'll have her hometown supporting her from more than 4,800 miles away.
The Spring Grove Chamber of Commerce is hosting a watch party for anyone interested in watching Flickinger swim in the 200-meter butterfly in the Rio Olympics. The watch party will begin at 7 p.m. at Spring Grove Community Park, about two hours before the start of the 200-meter fly semifinals. That's dependent on Flickinger advancing out of the 200 fly heats, scheduled for noon Tuesday.
The race will be shown on a 20-feet wide, 11-feet high screen. Spring Grove Chamber of Commerce President John McLucas said he's not sure how many people will attend but he's hoping to get around 1,000.
"The park is set up to hold 3,000 (people) but we'd be really happy with 1,000," McLucas said. "We think the word will spread pretty fast. This is a great way to bring the town and community together."
McLucas added that popcorn will be sold and that organizers hoped that hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks will also be available. Anyone wearing previously sold "Team Hali" T-shirts will get popcorn for free. The watch party is being paid for by the proceeds of banners wishing Flickinger good luck that were sold in Spring Grove.
A 2012 graduate of Spring Grove High School, the 21-year-old Flickinger is the first York County swimmer to reach the Olympics since Dallastown's Whitney Metzler in 1996. She finished second in the 200-meter fly at the U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska, last month.
Hali Flickinger Olympic Watch Party
Where: Spring Grove Community Park, 205 E. Railroad St.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9. If Flickinger advances out of Tuesday afternoon's heats, she would swim in the 200-meter butterfly semifinal shortly after 9 p.m.
TV information: The Olympics will be aired on NBC.
