Parade kicks off July 4 celebrations in Round Rock

Fernanda Figueroa, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
A spectator waves an American flag at the annual Sertoma Independence Day Parade in Round Rock last year.
A spectator waves an American flag at the annual Sertoma Independence Day Parade in Round Rock last year.

This year's Round Rock Fourth of July celebrations will include parades, a festival with carnival rides, music and fireworks.

The events will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday with the city's annual Sertoma Independence Day Parade, a 1.5-mile route down Mays Street between Mays Crossing and U.S. 79. The parade will feature giant helium and cold air inflatables and community groups, according to the city's website.

Following the parade, celebrations will continue at noon with the Frontier Days festival at Old Settlers Park, featuring carnival rides, music, pig races and food eating contests. Swifty Swine pig races will take place at 1:45, 2:45, 3:45, 4:45, 5:45 and 6:45 p.m.

Reenactments of Sam Bass shootout will take place at 12:30, 4 and 6 p.m. Bass was a Western outlaw who died in a shootout with law enforcement officials in Round Rock in 1878.

The festivities also will include a performance from a ballet folkloric at 4 p.m. and by the Austin Symphonic Band at 8:30 p.m. and live music from Uptown Drive following the fireworks show, which will begin at dusk,

At 7 p.m., City Council members will be serving free ice cream.

BURN BANS: Bastrop County enacts burn ban, prohibits certain fireworks as July 4th holiday approaches

The public is encouraged to attend firework shows instead of firing off their own in the midst of a widespread drought. In Round Rock, the sale and use of any fireworks are prohibited.

Vendors in Williamson and Travis counties are voluntarily not selling stick rockets or missiles with rudders or fins.

"Williamson County is urging everyone to use extreme caution this Independence Day so that everyone has a safe holiday," County Judge Bill Gravell said last week.

The use or possession of fireworks is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, according to the city. People who have illegal fireworks may turn them in to the Round Rock Fire Department's Inspection Division without penalty by contacting 512-218-5590.

FIREWORKS: Why you can't buy certain fireworks at Central Texas stands

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Fourth of July celebrations in Round Rock kick off with parade