By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
Celebrations of America's birthday are too explosive this year to be contained to one day: Cities around the area will observe Independence Day with activities stretching from Friday through Monday.
Of course, if you're staying indoors, we recommend watching the annual A Capitol Fourth, airing at 7 p.m. Monday on Panhandle PBS (with an 8:30 p.m. encore broadcast immediately following).
The all-star lineup will include host Tom Bergeron and performers Smokey Robinson, Kenny Loggins, Alisan Porter, Cassadee Pope, Gavin DeGraw, Amber Riley, Jackie Evancho, Sutton Foster, Christopher Jackson, Yolanda Adams, the cast of Broadway's On Your Feet!, the National Symphony Orchestra and more.
But if you're going out, here's a roundup of activities around the region:
Amarillo
City residents have a few ways to celebrate over the weekend.
Activities kick off Friday as Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive, hosts its annual Explode! event for families from 6 to 9 p.m.
Patriotic crafts and activities include water rocket launching, water gun games, sidewalk chalk art, bubbles, dart art, firework painting and scientific demonstrations of colored hydrogen balloons, soda geysers and more.
The $5 per person admission also includes entry into the center's current exhibition, Nature's Numbers, and the Space Theater, as well as food and drink from Sonic and Papa John's. Admission for veterans, active-duty military members, police and firefighters is free.
Call 806-355-9547 or visit www.dhdc.org.
Also Friday is the kickoff for the 75th anniversary Will Rogers Range Riders Rodeo.
Action begins at 6:30 p.m. nightly through Sunday with mutton bustin', followed by 7:30 p.m. rodeo performances at the Range Riders Arena, 313 Loop 335.
A Friday dance with Shotgun Rider and a Saturday dance with Caleb Allemand follow the action.
Admission is $15 or free for ages 10 and younger.
Call 806-622-2012.
And Monday, the Party in the Park will feature live music, vendor booths, children's activities and more at John Stiff Memorial Park, 45th Avenue and Bell Street.
The party, sponsored by AGN Media, will feature live music from Maggie Burt at 4 p.m., Eddie & The Eat at 5 p.m., Andy Chase at 6 p.m., Anderson Flesher & Key at 7 p.m. and Insufficient Funds at 8:30 p.m., leading into a synchronized fireworks display at dark.
Admission is free.
Borger
Celebrating Boomtown with a Bang kicks off with a celebration of veterans at 7 p.m. Monday at Huber Park, 1400 S. Main St.
The party continues with free food and a bounce house at 7:30 p.m., music from a live DJ all night and a 9:30 p.m. laser show from Laser Spectacles Inc.
Call 806-273-0902.
Cactus
The tiny north Panhandle town of Cactus has big doings planned for Sunday.
Activities begin around noon with a parade starting at Cactus Elementary School, 100 South Drive.
Activities then shift to Cactus Park, where a pettting zoo, pony rides, vendors, a magician, food, bingo and bouncy houses for all ages will be available. Parking is available at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 501 S. Cherry Ave.
Call 806-421-1283.
Canadian
One of the region's most elaborate festivities kicks off Friday in Canadian.
The 128th annual Fourth of July celebration runs through Monday in the northeast Panhandle town. Activities have a range of prices, and an all-access pass for all the rodeos and dances are $70.
Daily activities include:
Friday
- Sagebrush Artist Show from 1 to 6 p.m. at Canadian River Art Center, 312 Main St.
- Canadian Arts Alliance summer theater camp performance of Aladdin at 6 p.m. at Texas Crown Performance Hall, 404 S. Sixth St.
- Aaron Einhouse and Kaitlin Butts performing at the rodeo dance at 9 p.m. at Jones Pavilion, 1101 N. Sixth St.; tickets are $20 at the gate
Saturday
- Patriotic Paint Party from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Canadian River Art Center
- Anna Tepe Western Photo exhibition from 1 to 4 p.m. at River Valley Pioneer Museum, 118 N. Second St.
- Rodeo performance at 7 p.m. at the Canadian Rodeo Arena, Texas Highways 83 and 60; admission is $10 ages 7 and older
- Rodeo dance with Shotgun Rider at 9 p.m.; tickets are $20 at the gate
Sunday
- Open house from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Cottages at Mesa View, 1 Teas Circle
- Rodeo performance at 7 p.m. at the Canadian Rodeo Arena; admission is $10 ages 7 and older
- Rodeo dance with JW Lane & County Road X with Katilin Butts at 9 p.m.; tickets are $20 at the gate
Monday
- Face painting and more from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Canadian River Art Center
- Arts & Crafts Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Hemphill County Courthouse lawn, 400 Main St.
- "The Grand Old Flag" parade at 10 a.m. from Wildcat Stadium, Seventh and Cedar Streets, to Hemphill County Courthouse
- Turtle race following the parade in the courthouse parking lot
- Hot dog lunch at Lowe's Market, 404 S. Second St.
- Anna Tepe Western Photo exhibition from 1 to 4 p.m. at River Valley Pioneer Museum
- Art & Croquet on the Lawn from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Citadelle, 520 Nelson Ave.; also includes a viewing of the exhibition David Hockney: Grimm's Fairy Tales and a live storytelling event at 2:30 p.m.
- Rodeo performance at 4 p.m. at the Canadian Rodeo Arena; admission is $10 ages 7 and older
- Watermelon feast at the Hemphill County Duck Ponds by the arena
- 22nd annual Duck Race at 6 p.m.
- Fireworks display at dusk
Call 806-323-6234 or visit www.canadiantx.com.
Canyon
The party lasts all day long Monday with Canyon's traditional Fourth of July festivities.
Activities begin at 7 a.m. with the Canyon Lions Club pancake breakfast at Cole Community Center, Third Avenue and 16th Street, followed by the Hometown Fair on the Square from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Canyon.
The Independence Day Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. along Fourth Avenue.
The party then moves to Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, where Amarillo band Next to Kin will open for platinum recording band Little Texas. Tickets are $5.
Call 806-655-7815.
Clarendon
The region's oldest continuing July 4 party the Saints' Roost Celebration in Clarendon, marks its 139th year this year with activities Friday, Saturday and Monday.
The fun kicks off with ranch rodeo performances at the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association rodeo arena, one block north of U.S. Highway 287 east of Clarendon. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; tickets are $10 or $5 for ages 6 to 12.
Texas country singer Parker McCollum will perform at a dance following the Friday rodeo, and Flatland Cavalry, a hot Lubbock band, will perform following Saturday's rodeo.
Saturday's activities include an arts and crafts fair at 8 a.m. on the square at the Donley County Courthouse, 300 S. Sully St., followed by a parade at 10 a.m. and a Shriners' barbecue lunch at 11 a.m.; tickets for the lunch are $10. Amarillo cowboy singer Ed Montana will perform during the day, and a turtle race kicks off at 3 p.m.
Holiday activities conclude Monday with a 2 p.m. washer pitching tournament and a jnior rodeo at 7:30 p.m., both at the COEA arena.
Call 806-874-2421.
Dalhart
The town's fireworks display will take place at dark Sunday at Lake Rita Blanca State Park south of town.
Festivities continue Monday with the Celebrate Freedom community party from 6 to 9 p.m. at the park. Activities include a bouncy house, food and drinks, a pie-eating contest, a bike parade and more.
Call 806-244-5646.
Dumas
The city will forego fireworks this year, but the messy fun of the 15th annual World Championship Mud Volleyball Tournament will still draw in the crowds.
Action begins at 8 a.m. Saturday in McDade Park, 16th Street and Maddox Avenue.
Entry fees are $10, but watching is free.
Call 806-935-2123.
Friona
Holiday festivities Monday begin with a 7 a.m. 5K walk and run, then a 9 a.m. neighborhood parade down 10th Street. They pick up again at 4 p.m. with a parade from Prairie Acres, 201 E. 15th St., to Reeve Lake. That's where a party with booths, a flag ceremony and more begins at 5 p.m., with fireworks at dark.
Call 806-350-3491.
Gruver
The town's activities are set for Saturday, beginning with bike races at 9 a.m. and a prade down Broadway at 9:30 a.m.
Festivities continue in Gruver City Park, 401 King St., with lawnmower races, games, turtle races, a zip line, a dog show and more. Also featured are the Lions Club barbecue lunch and basketball and volleyball tournaments.
Call 806-570-7452.
Hereford
The Knights of Columbus will host a city celebration at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Hereford Aquatic Center, 400 E. 15th St.
The evening concludes with a patriotic concert at 8:30 p.m., followed by fireworks at dark.
Call 806-364-3333.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Holiday activities take place Saturday around the lake, including vendors and refreshments at the amphitheater at 7 p.m., a concert by Jackie Haney (who toured with Bill Haley's Original Comets) at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at dark.
The park's Gigi Amerman suggested watching from the Fritch Fortress without a boat or launching from Sanford Yake.
Call 806-857-3151.
Memphis
The town fireworks display will take place at dusk Monday at Cyclone Stadium, 1501 High St., following a party that opens at 6 p.m. with hamburgers, ice cream and more.
Call 806-359-3144.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
The Texas outdoor musical drama will offer an extended version of its fireworks and dancing water finale at performances from Friday through Monday.
Performances begin at 8:30 p.m. nightly, with dinner service beginning at 6 p.m. at Pioneer Amphitheatre in the park.
Tickets are $16.95 to $30.95 for adults and $12.95 to $26.95 for children. Meals are an additional $16 for adults and $9 for children.
Call 806-655-2181 or visit www.texas-show.com.
Pampa
The Pampa Fire Department will oversee the annual fireworks show at Recreation Park, east of town on Texas Highway 60.
Call 806-669-5800.
Perryton
Monday's activities in the northeast corner of the Panhandle will take place at Lake Fryer and Wolf Creek County Park.
"Everything is green and lush and verdant out there," said Perryton Chamber of Commerce's Kiki Shaw.
Call 806-435-6575.
Plainview
The Red, White & Moo Milk Fest, a joint celebration of National Dairy Month in June and the July 4 holiday, is set for Saturday on the Hale County Courthouse lawn, 500 Broadway St. in Plainview.
Activities begin with a parade at 10 a.m.; and the festival from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring the Plainview Symphony, a petting zoo, free ice cream, milk and cheese, and more.
An outdoor picnic begins after the festival at Millennium Park, Eighth and Broadway. The Fair Theater, 717 Broadway St., will screen Captain America: The First Avenger at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $2.
The day ends with a firework show at dark at RunningWater Draw Park, 3400 W. Fourth St.
Call Main Street Plainview at 806-296-1119.
Shamrock
A fireworks display will begin at dusk Monday from the Shamrock Rodeo Arena, west of town on Interstate 40.
Call 806-256-2501.
Tulia
The annual Fourth of July celebrations run from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Monday in McKenzie Park, west of softball fields on South Austin Avenue.
Activities include a horseshoe tournament, a car and bike show, a washer pitch tournament, bounce houses for the kids and more.
The night culminates in a fireworks display and a concert by Amarillo band Shotgun Rider.
Vega / Adrian
Two Oldham County towns have activities planned for Monday.
At 9 a.m., Vega residents will head to the town's Interstate 40 overpass to wave American flags for oncoming traffic.
Then, at 6 p.m., the celebration moves to nearby Adrian, where activities, music, games and more will take place at Adrian City Park. A fireworks show begins at dark.
Call 806-267-2828.
Wellington
The 14th annual Fourth of July Rodeo action runs Thursday through Saturday in Wellington.
Action begins at 7:30 p.m. nightly at the city rodeo grounds, First Street and Texas Highway 83.
Events in the Kansas Pro Rodeo Association-sanctioned event include mutton busting, bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf scramble and more.
The Read Southall Band will perform for a dance at 9:45 p.m. Saturday.
Rodeo admission is $10 or $5 for ages 17 and younger.
Call 806-447-5848.
Wheeler
Three days of Fourth of July activities are on tap in Wheeler.
Activities begin Saturday with co-ed softball at 9 a.m. at Tom Britt Field, 518 S. Osage St.; goat roping at 10 a.m. at Wheeler City Park, Seventh and Stanley streets; a clay target shoot at the rodeo grounds, 3/4 mile east of the intersection of Texas Highways 152 and 83; and a barbecue cookoff at 6 p.m. and dance with the Texas Pearl Snaps at 9 p.m. on the courthouse square, 401 Main Street.
Sunday's lineup includes goat roping at 10 a.m. at City Park, the Mr. and Miss Firecracker Pageant at 3 p.m. Wheeler ISD, 1 Mustang Drive; a soccer tournament at 6 p.m. on the Wheeler football field; and a 8 p.m. horseshoe tournament at City Park.
And finally, Monday's activities include breakfast burritos at 7 a.m. at the courthouse, the Ben Britt Fun Run at 7:35 a.m. at the courthouse; the parade at 9 a.m. down Main Street to City Park; turtle races, bounce houses, dunk tanks food and more from 10 a.m. on at City Park; the high dive competition at 4 p.m.; the Moore FMX Stunt Show at 7 p.m.; Chamber of Commerce presentations at 8 p.m; and fireworks at dark.
Call 806-826-3408.
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and at www.facebook.com/chipchandlerwriter on Facebook.
