summer months, two children's playgrounds, and an outdoor fireplace. Rock Springs Nature Preserve - This newer park in Denver includes a picnic shelter, a large children's playground area, a partially paved .4 mile trail with a newly carved extended trail through the woods, the trail includes an outdoor classroom and amphitheater. Rescue Squad Park - Another newer park includes several playing fields, large picnic shelter, modern children's playground, Hilly Trail with 9 Basket Disc Golf Course and is home to Denver's Farmer's Market on Saturdays 8am-12pm (during warmer months). Education Rock Springs Academy, one of the original schools in the community, evolved into Rock Springs School, which was a comprehensive 1–12 school until nearby East Lincoln High School was built in 1967. At that time, Rock Springs became an elementary school. The original mascot for Rocks Springs was "The Warriors", and the school colors were black and gold; in the 1990s, this was changed to "sailors". The mascot for East Lincoln High School is "The Mustangs", and the school colors are orange and green with the hues changing slightly over the years. The spring for which the academy was named lies near the Rock Springs Campground on Campground Road. High schools East Lincoln High School North Lincoln High School (in Lincolnton) Middle schools East Lincoln Middle School (in Iron Station) North Lincoln Middle School Elementary schools Catawba Springs Elementary School Rock Springs Elementary School St. James Elementary School Charter schools Lincoln Charter School West Lake Preparatory Academy Closed schools include: Triangle Elementary School – also known as Rock Springs 2 Elementary School (property sold to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in 1988) Events Town festivals have included the annual Strawberry Festival held in May and the Denver Days festival held every September. Each year, Denver hosts its annual Camp Meeting at the Rock Springs Campground in the summer, and has done so since 1794. A Farmers' market is held on Saturdays from mid-April through September at Rock Springs Elementary School. The East Lincoln Betterment Association hosts its annual Christmas Parade in Denver every first Saturday of December. The parade route is generally north along NC Business 16 from Haggers Ferry Rd. and ends just before the intersection of Unity Church Rd. and NC Business 16. Notable people Tony Cloninger, former MLB pitcher and long-time pitching coach for the New York Yankees William Alexander Graham, former U.S. senator, governor of North