Erath County will be seeing red, white and blue with the return of the annual 4th of July Celebration to Stephenville, with most festivities set for July 3 at Stephenville City Park.
Saturday’s festivities kick off with the All-American Parade, beginning at the south entrance of the park at 9 a.m. Parade entries including floats, vintage vehicles, horse riders and much more will turn north on Graham and west on Washington, with the route ending at Harbin and Washington.
Spectators can expect some Dublin entries and a special appearance by Bubbles, a supersized Lego EMT who will be at the Frontline Heroes Museum (136 E. Blackjack in Dublin) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This appearance is sponsored by AccelHealth, BrickEMS and The National Health and Public Safety History Museum.
The Stephenville Elks Lodge are partnering with Stephenville Parks and Recreation to sponsor two events for the July 4th festivities as a way of raising awareness and donations for its many programs that assist in drug awareness, helping veterans, assisting children with special needs or who are less fortunate and scholarship programs.
The first is a BBQ Cook-Off, with teams competing in cooking chicken, ribs, pork and brisket. Cost for entry is $200 with an 80/20 payout for those boasting the best BBQ. There will be $50 jackpots in each category and contests in cooks choice and sanctioned beans.
Teams are able to check in starting at noon on July 2 with a head cooks meeting at 7 p.m. that night. Judging will start at 10 a.m. on July 3 with a new category at every hour starting with cooks choice at 10 a.m., followed by chicken, ribs, pork, brisket, sanctioned beans and the awards at 4 p.m.
The Elks Lodge is also hosting a classic car show, benefitting the Elks’ Drug Awareness Program. Awards will be presented to first place and runners-up in Best in Show, Best Muscle Car and Best Truck. The show will be held from noon to 3 p.m. with awards from 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For more info on the Elks Lodge events or the work they do in the community, email stephenvilleareelks@ yahoo.com
At 2 p.m., the park will also be host to a mini train ride, mini golf and the Great American Petting Farm.
Lawnmower races will begin at the park at 3 p.m.
The Fourth festivities will also feature fresh eats in the park’s grub zone.
As the park cools off and the sun goes down, The Tejas Brothers and Larry Joe Taylor will grace the Birdsong Amphitheater stage for a Texstar Summer Concert at 7 p.m.
This all leads to the big fireworks show at 10 p.m.