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Fourth of July 2018 Roundup: Your guide to explosive celebrations around the Panhandle

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chip chandler
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Area Independence Day celebrations will explode for a week.
Adam Carter / Flickr
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By Chip Chandler — Producer

Like that neighbor who keeps popping Black Cats at all hours, Independence Day celebrations will explode for a week throughout the area.

 

Amarillo

Like last year, Amarillo's Fourth of July celebrations will actually take place the Saturday before the holiday.

The day-long affair will begin with Amarillo Community Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, which will be stretched along Polk Street between Fifth and Eighth avenues (instead of surrounding the chamber office, as it does every other week.)

From there, the party will move to the Route 66 Heart of Amarillo Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, featuring live music, '50s and '60s costume contest, car show, bike show and more on Sixth Avenue between Georgia and Western streets.

Following that, the Amarillo's Route 66 Celebration kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Amarillo.

A food truck alley will be located on Seventh Avenue between Polk and Fillmore streets. The Joe's Hospitality Center, provided by Joe Daddy's and Joe Taco, will feature adult beverages and food at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Taylor Street.

The Amarillo National Bank Stage between Sixth and Seventh avenues on Polk Street will feature The DustJackets at 5 p.m., Andy Chase at 6:10 p.m., Rock Bottom at 7:20 p.m. and Insufficient Funds at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Happy State Bank Stage at Sixth Avenue and Taylor Street will feature DJ Tommy the Hacker.

A fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:45 p.m. Saturday from the construction site for the future multi-purpose event center on Buchanan Street.

"It's so people can still go to other July 4th events," said Susie Self, former Amarillo Globe-News events planner, who helped organize the paper's festival for many years and is now working with the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce on this stand-alone event. "When we did it at the Globe-News, it was hard to get volunteers and vendors on the holiday."

Check here for more information.

Elsewhere in Amarillo, check out these Independence Day-related activities:

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Elsewhere around the area:

Cactus

Holiday activities begin around noon July 7 with a parade starting at Cactus Elementary School, 100 South Drive.

Activities then shift to Cactus Park, where vendors, live music, food, bounce houses and more will be available. Fireworks will explode at dusk.

Parking is available at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 501 S. Cherry Ave.

Call 806-421-1283.

 

Canadian

Canadian's four-day-long Independence Day Celebrations kick off July 4 with an arts and crafts fair, the "Salute to Freedom: Texas Style" parade at 10 a.m., art exhibitions and demonstrations, a hot dog lunch, croquet at The Citadelle, a ranch rodeo, watermelon feast and fireworks. Activities will take place all over town and are mostly free, other than $10 entry fee for croquet and $5 admission for the ranch rodeo.

Call 806-323-6234.

Performances of the 130th Canadian Rodeo, one of the Panhandle's oldest rodeos, are set for 7 p.m. July 5 to 7 at Canadian Rodeo Arena, Texas Highways 83 and 60. Admission is $5 for ages 3 and older.

Call 806-255-034.

 

Canyon

The metro area's now-default biggest celebration on July 4 is in Canyon, opening with the Kickin' It in Canyon concert featuring Lubbock's red-hot Josh Abbott Band.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. July 3 in the First United Bank Center on the West Texas A&M University campus. 

Tickets are $10 advance (click for locations) or $15 at the gate.

Call 806-655-7815.

The town's July Fourth celebrations will include a pancake breakfast at Cole Community Center, Third Avenue and 16th Street; the Fair on the Square from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Canyon; the parade at 10 a.m. along Fourth Avenue; and fireworks at dusk.

Activities are mostly free.

Call 806-655-7815.

 

Clarendon

Clarendon's 141st annual Saint's Roost Celebration will open with a junior rodeo at 7:30 p.m. July 4  at the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association rodeo arena, one block north of U.S. Highway 287 east of town.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Festivities will kick into full gear two days later with the opening of the ranch rodeo at 7:30 p.m. July 6, followed by a dance featuring Giovannie & The Hired Guns. Tickets are $10.

Then, the full celebration will begin July 7 with an arts & crafts fair at 9 a.m., a parade at 10 am., the Shriners' Barbecue lunch at 11 a.m., Henson's Turtle Race at 2 p.m., a ranch rodeo at 7:30 p.m. and a dance featuring Luke Koepke & The Indian Creek Band at 9 p.m.

Daytime activities will take place at the Donley County Courthouse, 300 S. Sully St.​, with the parade along Kearney, Third and Sully streets;

Lunch tickets are $12.

Call 806-874-2421.

 

Dalhart

The community Fourth of July celebration will include fireworks at dark at Lake Rita Blanca State Park south of town, as well as a four-person golf scramble at 10 a.m. at Twisted Elms Golf Club.

Call 806-244-5646.

 

Dumas

Watch (or enter) the world championship mud volleyball tournament at 8 a.m. as part of Dumas' Fourth of July, then enjoy fireworks inside Dumas Demon Stadium at 9:30 p.m.

Call 806-935-2123.

 

Gruver

The Gruver Fourth of July festivities include the Vroom Vroom bike races at 9 a.m., the Stars & Stripes Parade at 9:30 a.m., games for all ages at 10 a.m., the All-American Backyard BBQ at 11:30 a.m. and more.

Activities will take place in and around Gruver City Park and are mostly free.

Call 806-733-2424.

 

Hereford

The Deaf Smith County Chamber of Commerce's annual fireworks show will light up the night beginning around 9:40 p.m. July 3 at Aquatic Center Park, 400 E. 15th St. in Hereford.

Call 806-364-3333.

 

Lake Meredith

The third-annual Lake Meredith Fireworks at the Lake will be followed by a screening of faith-based drama I Can Only Imagine. Foods and snacks will be available from several vendors.

Activities begin at 9:30 p.m. July 3 at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, 50 miles northeast of Amarillo near Fritch.

Admission is free. 

Call 806-857-3151.

 

Memphis

Memphis' fireworks display will take place at dusk July 4 at George Berry Memorial Stadium, 1501 High St., following a party that opens at 7 p.m. with hamburgers, ice cream, kids activities and more.

Call 806-681-1281.

 

Palo Duro Canyon

Look for an extended patriotic finale at all performances of outdoor musical drama Texas from July 1 to 7 as the show continues its 53rd season.

Performances begin at 8:30 p.m. nightly with dinner at 6 p.m. in Pioneer Amphitheatre at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Tickets are $16.95 to $30.95, plus fees, for adults, and $12.95 to $26.95, plus fees, for children. Dinner is $15.95 for adults and $8.49 for children.

Call 806-655-2181.

Park rangers also will lead an Independence Day Night Hike from the Givens, Spicer, Lowry Trail parking lot. Bring water to drink, hiking shoes and a flashlight.

The hike will begin at 9:30 p.m. July 4 and is free with park admission of $5.

Call 806-488-2227.

 

Pampa

The Pampa Fire Department will oversee the annual fireworks show July 4 at Recreation Park, east of town on Texas Highway 60.

Fireworks will begin at dusk. 

Call 806-669-5800.

 

Panhandle

The annual David Phillips Memorial 5K and One-Mile Fun Run will begin at 7:30 a.m. July 4 with a path through west Panhandle.

The run is held in memory of the late bank officer and avid runner.

Entry fee is $20.

Call 806-683-2411.

 

Perryton

A fireworks show will begin at dark July 4 at Lake Fryer near the northeast Panhandle town.

Call 806-435-6575.

 

Plainview

Plainview's annual Red White & Moo Milk Fest celebrations on July 4 will include a parade dairy tours, bounce houses, a petting zoo, a mobile dairy classroom, face paintings, hot dog lunch (free for military, teachers, first responders and nurses), food trucks and more.

The party will run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 4 around the Hale County Courthouse lawn, 500 Broadway St.

Admission is free.

Call 806-296-1119.

 

Shamrock

A fireworks display will begin at dusk July 4 from the Shamrock Rodeo Arena, west of town on Interstate 40.

Call 806-256-2501.

 

Tulia

A fireworks display will fire from Tulia's McKenzie Park, west of softball fields on South Austin Avenue, at dusk July 4. Earlier, a four-person golf scramble at Tule Lake Golf Course will begin at 10 a.m., with a drawing for cash prizes and a hole-in-one contest.

Call 806-995-2296.

 

Vega / Adrian

Residents in the Oldham County towns of Vega and Adrian will join forces again for holiday celebrations.

Vega residents will head to the town's Interstate 40 overpass to wave American flags for oncoming traffic at 9 a.m. July 4, followed by a Fourth of July Celebration at 6 p.m. in Adrian City Park, with fireworks at dusk.

Activities are free.

Call 806-267-2828.

 

Wellington

The 16th annual Wellington Fourth of July Rodeo will actually open July 5 for three days of action.

Rodeo performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. July 5, 6 and 7 at the Wellington Fairgrounds, First Street and U.S. Highway 83.

Admission is $10 for adults and $1 for ages 17 and younger.

Call 806-205-2264.

 

Wheeler

Two days of holiday fun are planned for the 33rd annual Wheeler Fourth of July celebrations. 

Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. July 3 with the Mr. and Miss Firecracker Pageant at Rogue Theatre, 406 S. Main St., and a street dance featuring Mitchell Ford & The Volunteers, Texas Pearl Snaps, Tyler Wilhelm & A Few Dollars More and JW Lane & County Road X. 

The party will continue July 4 with a breakfast at 6:30 a.m., the 1st Lt. Ben Britt Memorial Color Fun Run/Walk at 7 a.m., a parade at 9 a.m., park festivities all day, an Elvis tribute performer at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Activities are free.

Call 806-826-3408.

 

 

Stevi Breshears contributed to this report. 

 

Chip Chandler is a producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.