FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES ALL AROUND REGION

  

This weekend marks the 250^th anniversary of the United States, and there will be no shortage of activities all around the area to celebrate Independence Day.

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

THURSDAY

• Christ Lutheran Day School in Brenham will host a patriotic parade at the school at 10 a.m.  The parade will feature each of the school’s classrooms, a solo by Vicki Wehmeyer, the presentation of a large American flag by Woodmen Life, and recognition of veterans and active duty service members.  A sausage lunch will be served after the parade in the school cafeteria.
• Citizens National Bank will provide free ice cream at its Brenham branch from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

• The Giddings Freedom Fest will offer live music and street dancing with Texas Unlimited Band and the Lost Cause Band from 6 to 10 p.m. at Veterans Park.  Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and coolers.
• Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Caldwell will host its 30^th Annual July 3^rd Fireworks Show from 6 to 11 p.m., with music and dancing, food trucks, bouncy houses, a silent auction, drawings, and a fireworks display.
• Harmonie Hall in Shelby will have a dance with the Risky Liver Band starting at 8 p.m.  Doors to the hall open at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $12 cash at the door.  The kitchen and bar will be open, and set-ups are available, but no outside drinks or coolers are allowed.

SATURDAY

• Chappell Hill’s “Biggest Small Town Parade in America” in downtown begins at 10 a.m., with a theme of “America 250: Faith, Family & Freedom”.  The World Famous Marching Kazoo Band will entertain spectators, plus families can participate in a Paul Revere scavenger hunt and listen to live music from Rob Moorman & Company.
• Round Top’s 176^th Fourth of July Celebration begins on the town square at 10 a.m.  The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m., and afterwards, barbecue brisket and sausage will be served at the Round Top Rifle Hall for $20 per meal ticket.  Live music will be performed throughout the day by the Round Top Brass Band, Round Top Jam Session and Cool Freddie & The Crew.  There will be music by the Rocky King Band from 6 to 10 p.m., with tickets being $20 at the door.  A prize drawing will also be offered.
• Welch Park at Lake Somerville will have activities throughout the day, including music, food vendors, water slides and a fireworks display.  The Lake Somerville Lions Club will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage wraps and cookies.
• Stars Over Washington County will be held at the Washington County Expo in Brenham beginning at 6 p.m.  Food trucks and vendors will be open, and there will be a touch-a-truck experience for the kids.  Escape – A Tribute to Journey will perform at 8 p.m., and there will be a fireworks display at 9:20 p.m.
• The Navasota Freedom Festival gets underway with a parade at 11 a.m. in downtown, followed by kids’ activities, vendors and carnival rides beginning at noon at Navasota City Hall.  Entertainment will be provided at the city hall stage beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the 90’s country cover band, All Hat No Cadillac, then at 7:30 p.m. with the Aerosmith tribute band, Last Child.  A drone show will light up the night sky before a fireworks show rounds out the evening.
• The Red, White and Free Festival will take place at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville.  Gates open at 5 p.m. for music, food and family fun, and fireworks will start at 9:15 p.m.
• Fury on the Fourth will be held at the Lee County Sheriff’s Posse Covered Arena in Giddings, with gates opening at 5 p.m. and bull riding starting at 6 p.m.  There will also be kids’ mutton bustin’, shark cage and bull poker, as well as music at 9 p.m. by Broken Alibi at the Fireman’s Park Pavilion, with a break for fireworks.  Tickets for Fury on the Fourth are $20 at the gate and $5 for children 7-14, while entry is free for children 6 and under.
• 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 beef and pork with all the trimmings will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at $18 per plate, half-price for kids 12 and under.  Meat sales at the pit start at 10 a.m. for $18 per pound.  There will also be live and silent auctions, games, a cake walk and a prize drawing.
• The Kenney Agricultural Society Hall’s Barbecue Celebration begins at 10:30 a.m. with a cake walk.  Barbecue plates and meat by the pound will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with beef, pork and mutton available.  There will also be a live auction at 12:30 p.m., a silent auction, a prize drawing, and music from DJ Sandman.
• The Captain Jabez Deming Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will unveil an America250 bronze plaque at the Veterans Memorial Plaza Pavilion at Fireman’s Park in Brenham at 2 p.m.  The plaque honors the patriots of the American Revolutionary War. 
• Aggieland Safari in Bryan will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with food trucks, games, patriotic performances, and visits to the Adventure Zoo and through the drive-thru safari.

SUNDAY

• The Washington County Historical Commission will host a living history presentation at 3 p.m. at The Barnhill Center, featuring Blinn College Theatre Arts Director Brad Nies as Thomas Jefferson. 

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

KTEX-106 will also air patriotic music Saturday night to coincide with the Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks displays, beginning at 9 p.m.  The program is sponsored by Budweiser – Mike Hopkins Distributing.