Panhandle area hosting Fourth of July fun for the whole family to enjoy

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·9 min read

Editor's note: Events listed below are subject to weather.

For those seeking the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day this upcoming weekend, here are just a few Fourth of July related events happening throughout the Texas Panhandle that everyone can enjoy. The public has the opportunity to enjoy fireworks shows at three different nearby locations this year: Hodgetown, Canyon and Lake Meredith.

Hodgetown stadium

The Amarillo Sod Poodles began the second half of the Texas League schedule this week at Hodgetown with a visit from the Tulsa Drillers (Double-A, Los Angeles Dodgers). The six-game series began Wednesday, June 28, and runs through Monday, July 3, which includes their Independence Weekend Celebration.

Three fireworks shows will light up the night sky after the games, starting on Friday, June 30, then Saturday, July 1, and Monday, July 3.

Amarillo celebrates the 4th of July with the help of the Hodgetown Stadium fireworks displays at the end of a baseball game in 2022.
Amarillo celebrates the 4th of July with the help of the Hodgetown Stadium fireworks displays at the end of a baseball game in 2022.

The team will wear patriotic-themed jerseys for the final three games of the series, and all jerseys will be auctioned online, starting at 3 p.m. Monday.

The 8th St. Block Party, which was postponed due to weather on June 2, will now take place before the final game of the series on Monday, July 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to show up early to the game, and enjoy live music, drink specials, and food trucks along 8th Street, located on the south side of Hodgetown.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.sodpoodles.com, call the Hodgetown Box Office at (806) 803-9547, or email tickets@SodPoodles.com.

Lake Meredith area events, fireworks

Two daytime celebrations will lead up to the big lake fireworks show on Saturday evening.

Freedom on Main will be held on Main Street in Borger on Saturday, July 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A bike parade starts at 11 a.m. and travels from the parking lot to the Borger Fitness Club. "Family friendly event. Great Saturday afternoon activity before heading to the lake to check out the firework show!" a promotional post reads on Facebook. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/cityofborger .

The public is also invited to swing by the Farmers + Makers Market in Borger, which kicks off its season with music, kids' activities, a foam party, vendors, food trucks and more.

Over in Fritch, the Lake Meredith Aquatic & Wildlife Museum will present its 2nd annual Independence Day Celebration on Saturday with a parade, live music, fish fry, boat show and more, to be held in the 100 block of North Robey Avenue. For more, visit https://www.facebook.com/LMAWM .

Then Saturday evening, Friends of Lake Meredith and Alibates will present its fireworks show over Lake Meredith at dark, followed by a movie showing of "Top Gun: Maverick" at the Fritch Fortress Amphitheater. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/friendsoflakemeredithandalibates .

Accoring to the Visit Amarillo website, the National Park Service told media they're preparing for 30,000 to 50,000 people to watch the fireworks, so the public is asked to come early to secure a good viewing spot.

Center City pet parade

Center City of Amarillo will kick off the Independence Day festivities on Saturday, July 1 with their annual Patriotic Pet Parade at the downtown Amarillo Community Market.

The Community Market and annual parade will be held at 1000 S. Polk St., on the grounds of the historic Bivins Mansion. Registration for parade entry is free and begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. Pets will line up for the parade at 9:30 a.m. Attendees and participants are encouraged to stay after the parade and shop at the Community Market, open from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Sponsored by Center City, the parade will feature local pets in their most patriotic attire and accessories as they compete for prizes.

The events are free and open to the public. For more information about Center City, follow them on Facebook or visit them online at https://centercity.org/ .

Evie Granado leads the dynamic duo of Momo (brown Labrador) escorted by Stephanie Granado and Duke (black Labrador) escorted by Kara Kennedy during the patriotic pet parade Saturday morning at the Amarillo Community Market in downtown Amarillo.
Evie Granado leads the dynamic duo of Momo (brown Labrador) escorted by Stephanie Granado and Duke (black Labrador) escorted by Kara Kennedy during the patriotic pet parade Saturday morning at the Amarillo Community Market in downtown Amarillo.
Shona Rose and Donna Burton look to give their dog Joy a leg up on the competition during the patriotic pet parade Saturday morning at the Amarillo Community Market in downtown Amarillo.
Shona Rose and Donna Burton look to give their dog Joy a leg up on the competition during the patriotic pet parade Saturday morning at the Amarillo Community Market in downtown Amarillo.

City of Canyon celebration, fireworks

The City of Canyon hosts two days of events beginning July 3 through the Fourth of July, full of fun.

Beginning Monday, July 3, the Canyon Chamber of Commerce is hosting their Kickin' it in the Canyon with a William Clark Green concert event, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and performances beginning at 7 p.m. Admission to the event is $15 in advance and $20 at the gate.

Fireworks lit up the skies Saturday Night as thousands gather in the Canyon City Square for the lighting of the tree in Canyon, Texas.
Fireworks lit up the skies Saturday Night as thousands gather in the Canyon City Square for the lighting of the tree in Canyon, Texas.

On Tuesday, July 4 enjoy a festive morning and a big breakfast with their Lions Club Pancake Breakfast at the Cole Community Center in Canyon from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. with plates sold at $5.

At 9:30 a.m., the 4th Avenue Firecracker Mile will begin, starting on 4th Avenue from the Hampton Inn to the Downtown Square. The run will start at 28th Street and end at 16th Street. Immediately following the mile run will be the Independence Day Parade at 10 a.m., traveling along 4th Avenue from First United Bank Center to the Downtown Square.

Canyon will hold its annual Independence Day Parade on Tuesday, July 4, with dozens of floats and groups going through downtown to the square.
Canyon will hold its annual Independence Day Parade on Tuesday, July 4, with dozens of floats and groups going through downtown to the square.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the town will host one of the largest July 4th celebrations in the State of Texas, their Fair on the Square, located at the Canyon's Historic Downtown Square. Attendees are invited to enjoy food, fun and shopping at the fair with more than 100 vendors, where the entire downtown area of Canyon is blocked off to allow parade spectators and shoppers a chance to enjoy all that Canyon has to offer.

Then the fireworks show will begin around 10 p.m. Tuesday in Paul Lindsey Park, presented by the Canyon Chamber of Commerce. They will launch the fireworks from the empty field northeast of the park. The park will be closed at 5 p.m. to vehicles, but will remain open to the public to view the fireworks from the park. The baseball fields will also be closed.

For more information, visit the Canyon Chamber of Commerce online at https://www.canyonchamber.org/ .

Clarendon festival

Clarendon will host its annual Saint's Roost Celebration, featuring a weekend filled with Independence Day events that began Thursday evening with the Junior Rodeo, held at the COEA Arena.

Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., they will host their Depression Lunch at Crossties Ministry Center on Kearney Street downtown. The Ranch Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. at the COEA Area with kids' events, a dance and live music following the rodeo provided by Seth Ward.

On Saturday, the town will host a day's full of events with a craft fair, held at the Donley County Courthouse Square, parades, food and more. Ed Montana will provide music and serve as master of ceremonies on the square.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Liberty Electric Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade will also begin at 9 a.m., with the line up and registration at 8:30 a.m. at Third and Sully. Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m., and it sets off at 10 a.m. The theme for this year’s parade is “Adventure Awaits.” The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes.

Firework celebrations held in Hodgetown can be seen across the night sky in Amarillo.
Firework celebrations held in Hodgetown can be seen across the night sky in Amarillo.

Following the parade, at 11 a.m., attendees are invited to enjoy the Shriner's BBQ where parade winners will be announced. Tickets to attend the BBQ are $20 per individual.

Diversified Waste will sponsor a Lawnmower Barrel Race starting at 11:30 a.m., and the Chamber of Commerce is also introducing a Best of Donley County competition for the judging of jellies, jams, baked goods, and quilts. Following the race will be the Henson's Turtle Race at 1:30 p.m., with winners announced at the Best of Donley County Blue Ribbon Expo after the Turtle Race at the town square.

Saturday evening, attendees are invited to enjoy the Ranch Rodeo beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the COEA Arena, complete with kids' activities, and live music provided by The Bad Habits.

For more information or to register, visit the official website at https://www.clarendonlive.com/

Pampa

On Tuesday, July 4, the Pampa Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the day with a list full of activities including a Freedom 5k run/walk, set to begin at 8 a.m. at the Freedom Museum USA at, 600 N Hobart St. in Pampa.

At 10 a.m., the city will host its Patriotic Parade beginning at the M K Brown Civic Auditorium, located at 1100 W Coronado Dr., followed by the Recreation Park activities including food trucks, organizations, groups and vendors set to begin at 11 a.m. At noon, the Hot Dog and Pie Eating Contests will begin, followed by live music performances by Seth Ward and the Silence, Mark Patterson Band, Ghosts of Gray County, and Stealing Handshakes.

The event will also include a duck derby, where participants can find a rubber duck hidden across the town, then turn it in for a prize donated from a local business. Winners can then place their duck in the "pond" to enter onto the Duck Race, where the winning duck owner wins a free private party from PampaH2O. Turtle Races and a Fishing Derby will also be held for prizes.

To learn more, visit their website at https://pampaindependenceday.com/ .

DHDC

The Don Harrington Discovery Center is celebrating the Fourth of July early on Saturday, July 1, with family-friendly programming all day long.

From 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the DHDC will have "explosive" demonstrations each hour that guests are sure to be blown away by. The DHDC event will celebrate the USA with combustions and explosions all day, All-American treats, and patriotic crafts and activities for all ages.

Six volunteers greet the explosion at the Don Harrington Discovery Center during the annual "Explode" event featuring science experiments that explode for the family.
Six volunteers greet the explosion at the Don Harrington Discovery Center during the annual "Explode" event featuring science experiments that explode for the family.

Attendees will also have access to the DHDC's seasonal and permanent exhibits, admission to the Independence Day fun will be included in regular admission or DHDC membership.

Admission fees:● Adults - $14● Children (2-17) - $9● Children 1 and under - FREE● Seniors - $11● Museums for All - $2/person with valid EBT card● Military- FREE through September 4th

And more

A member of the Will Rogers Range Riders Drill Team carries the American Flag to open the 78th Annual Will Rogers Range Riders Rodeo Thursday evening.
A member of the Will Rogers Range Riders Drill Team carries the American Flag to open the 78th Annual Will Rogers Range Riders Rodeo Thursday evening.

Also coinciding with the Fourth of July weekend, the annual Will Rogers Range Riders Rodeo features three days of events, which started Thursday and continues through Saturday, July 1, at 8829 Farm-to-Market Road 1541.

Mutton Bustin’ takes place nightly, followed by the United Professional Rodeo Association Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. and live music. For more information, visit https://wrrangeriders.com/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Enjoy Fourth of July celebrations from across the Texas Panhandle