FOURTH OF JULY ACTIVITIES PLANNED ALL ACROSS THE REGION

  

People will not have to look far to celebrate the Fourth of July, as Independence Day activities are happening all across Washington County and area counties.

Here are some of the events taking place for the holiday:

THURSDAY

• The Giddings Freedom Fest will offer live music from the Lost Cause Band and Texas Unlimited Band from 6 to 10 p.m. at Veterans Park.  Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and coolers. 
• Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Caldwell will have fireworks, live entertainment, kids’ games, food trucks and cold treats during its 3^rd of July celebration from 6 to 11 p.m. 
• Harmonie Hall in Shelby will host the Risky Liver Band for a dance from 8 p.m. to midnight.  Doors open at 7 p.m., and tickets are $12 cash at the door.  The kitchen will be open for hamburgers, candy, chips and popcorn.  A cash bar and set-ups are available, but no outside drinks are allowed.

FRIDAY

• Chappell Hill will host the “Biggest Small-Town Parade in America” in downtown, beginning at 10 a.m.  The theme for the parade is “America the Beautiful”.  The World-Famous Marching Kazoo Band will march through the parade playing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” with their kazoos.  Rob Moorman & Company will provide pre- and post-parade entertainment.
• Round Top’s 175^th Fourth of July Parade and Celebration gets underway on the town square at 10 a.m.  The parade will start with the firing of the Round Top Cannon at 10:30 a.m.  After the parade, barbecue meals will be served at the Round Top Rifle Association Hall for $16 per plate.  The Round Top Brass Band, Round Top Jam Session and Cool Freddie and the Crew will perform throughout the afternoon, and there will be a prize drawing.
• Welch Park at Lake Somerville begins its celebration at noon with water slides, volleyball, camping, fishing, and music from Sweet Baby Mayhem.  Food vendors will be available, and fireworks will be provided by the City of Somerville at 9 p.m.
• Independence will have Fourth of July festivities beginning with a parade at 5 p.m. in downtown.  The Risky Liver Band will perform at the schoolhouse after the parade, and a display of fireworks will start at 9 p.m.
• Navasota’s Freedom Festival in downtown opens with a parade at 6 p.m.  Afterwards, the Texas Eagles Tribute Band will play outside of Navasota City Hall at 7 p.m., and there will be a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.  Additionally, food vendors will be on-site, and kids’ activities will be available.
• Fury on the Fourth will be held at the Lee County Sheriff’s Posse Covered Arena in Giddings, with professional bull riding and freestyle bull fighting.  Gates open at 5 p.m., and the event begins at 6 p.m.  There will also be kids’ mutton bustin’, a shark cage and bull poker, as well as entertainment by the South Paw Band.  Tickets at the gate are $20, but entry is $5 for children 7-14 and free for kids 6 and under.
• Bellville’s 4^th Annual Red, White and Free Fireworks Show will take place at the Austin County Fairgrounds, with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
• Burton American Legion Post #242, the Ladies Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion will host their annual Fourth of July Picnic at the Burton Community Center.  Barbecue meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $18 per plate, but children 12 and under can eat for half price.  There will also be live and silent auctions, games, a cake walk and a prize drawing.
• The Kenney Agricultural Society Hall’s Barbecue Celebration will have activities starting at 10:30 a.m. with a cake walk.  Barbecue will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a live auction begins at 12:30 p.m.  There will also be a silent auction, a prize drawing, and music from DJ Sandman.
• Buckin Burger in Brenham will have entertainment from the Logan Ryan Band at 8 p.m., along with food and drinks.  Doors open at 7 p.m.  General admission is $20 plus tax, with tickets available at www.eventbrite.com.

KWHI and KTEX-106 will be traveling across the area for the festivities, with appearances in Giddings, Caldwell, Chappell Hill, Round Top, Burton, Lake Somerville, Independence, Navasota and Bellville.