Chamber Chatter: Celebrate Independence Day with a parade, freedom run, fireworks in Smithville

April Daniels
·4 min read
Celebrate Independence Day in Smithville with a freedom run, parade, hot dog lunch at the VFW, family-friendly games and tournaments, kid’s water park and petting zoo, live music, food and merchandise vendors, beer booth, and don’t forget the 20-minutes professional fireworks show at 9 p.m. at Riverbend Park.
Celebrate Independence Day in Smithville with a freedom run, parade, hot dog lunch at the VFW, family-friendly games and tournaments, kid’s water park and petting zoo, live music, food and merchandise vendors, beer booth, and don’t forget the 20-minutes professional fireworks show at 9 p.m. at Riverbend Park.

Are you ready for the first annual Smithville July 4th Celebration? I know we are! This event, sponsored by the city of Smithville, has been organized by the chamber of commerce, First Baptist Church of Smithville, Partners of the Smithville Veteran’s Memorial Park, and VFW.

Check out the schedule below and head out with the family for the freedom run, parade, hot dog lunch at the VFW, family-friendly games and tournaments, kid’s water park and petting zoo, live music, food and merchandise vendors, beer booth, and don’t forget the 20 minutes of professional fireworks at 9 p.m.

For those of you wondering about the fireworks, Big Dog Fireworks is bringing a wide array of awe-inspiring pyrotechnics that are flung hundreds of feet in the air and dissipate high in the sky. That means you can see the fireworks from all over Riverbend Park and all seats are going to be perfect for this awesome display.

We are anticipating limited parking so you might want to take the shuttles at the tennis courts on Wilkes Street (by Smithville Elementary) or at the Smithville Recreation Center.  Shuttles will run every 15 minutes from 3 to 11 p.m. We need volunteers (two-hour shifts) so please call 512-237-2313 to sign up and help us make this day one to remember!

Festivities schedule

9 a.m.: 5K freedom run (hosted by Smithville Parks & Rec.)

11 a.m.: Patriotic parade - downtown Smithville

Noon: Free hotdog meal at VFW Post 1309 (Sponsor: Calbri Road & Bridge)

1 p.m.: Riverbend Park opens to public

1-5 p.m.: Tournaments and contests at Riverbend Park

  • Cornhole tournament ($20 team entry fee)

  • Horseshoe tournament ($20 team entry fee)

  • Washer tournament ($20 team entry fee)

  • Patriotic cake baking contest ($5 to enter)

  • Pie baking contest ($5 to enter)

  • Uncle Sam look-a-like contest (free to enter)

  • Hot dog eating contest ($10 entry fee per person)

1-5 p.m.: Petting zoo

1-7 p.m.: Kid’s water fun park

1-9 p.m.: Beer booth (main beer booth and second booth by pavilion)

1-9 p.m.: Food and merchandise vendors

3-11 p.m.: Parking shuttles at Smithville Elementary School and Smithville Recreation Center.

3-9 p.m.: Live music

  • 1-3 p.m.: Down South Band (at Beer Stage)

  • 3-6 p.m.: The Johnny Rockit Band (Pavilion Stage 1)

  • 6-9 p.m.: Shop Dawgz (Pavilion Stage 2)

5 p.m.: Tournament and contest winners announced (main pavilion)

5:15 p.m.: Salute to veterans sponsored by the VFW (main pavilion)

9 p.m.: 20-minute fireworks display (subject to cancelation by Smithville city fire marshall pending weather conditions)

Many thanks to our title sponsor: LCRA.

Announcements

The chamber board welcomed Joe Newman, former director of the Bastrop and Elgin economic development corporations at our June board meeting. Newman spoke to the board and answered questions regarding economic development tools available in our region and the importance of economic development planning.

The Smithville Workforce Training Center is more than halfway through its EMT class. Over the weekend, students learned to extricate passengers from a collision. The center has just begun enrolling for plumbing classes and will begin offering welding classes in the fall. It will continue to offer certified nursing assistant classes and phlebotomy courses in August. Visit www.smithvilleworkforcetrainingcenter.org for more information.

What an amazing chamber mixer we had at The Front Room Wine Bar this month.  The bar was packed with members enjoying food, drinks and conversation. The Front Room Wine Bar donated door prizes and the live music was wonderful. Join us at our June mixer on July 21 at the VFW, 557 NW Loop 230, in Smithville.  Food and beverages will be served.

The Smithville, Bastrop and Elgin chambers celebrated the ribbon cutting of Worthy & Worthy Creations on June 17. Kimberly and Javon Worthy specialize in personalized items and clothing. Visit them online at https://www.worthyworthycreations.com/ or call 737-220-1143.

Ribbon cutting: Join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony of Van Zandt Properties on June 29 at 4:30 p.m. at 304 Main St. in Smithville. We’ll be celebrating its expansion that nearly doubles its office size as well as congratulating the new owner of Van Zandt Properties. Come out and help us celebrate!

Mark your calendar: The 25th annual Casino Night is coming July 30! We’ll be celebrating our popular casino night with professional gaming tables and dealers from Casino Connection. We’ll also have food by John Chabot, live music by Bucksnort Boogie Boys and a raffle prize drawing at the end of the evening. Head out for a fun-filled evening that helps the chamber fund fall community events, including Wingfest, Halloween Spooktacular, Airing of the Quilts and Garden Club Home Tour, and Festival of Lights and Lighted Parade.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Chamber: Celebrate July 4 in Smithville, Texas, with parade, fireworks