Spring Ho festival kicks off Tuesday in Lampasas
Fri, 2016-07-01 05:00
News Staff
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Neighbors to the west in Lampasas County have pulled out the stops and put community and local business support behind their annual festival, Spring Ho.
In its 44th year, the week-long summer celebration begins on Tuesday, July 5 and runs through Sunday, July 10.
The festival kicks off Tuesday night with live music by Jordan Cummings at the Ruth Eakin Outdoor Theater, followed by the opening ceremonies at 7:15 p.m.
The annual Spring Ho beauty pageant follows at 7:30 p.m., sponsored by Lampasas County Farm Bureau and Sanford Electric. Admission to the pageant is free with a Spring Ho badge, or $4 without a badge.
On Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. is the kiddie fishing derby for children ages 5-12, with poles and worms provided and prizes. The derby is sponsored by Lone Star Ag Credit and helpers from Colorado Bend State Park will be on hand.
The Ruth Eakin theater will be the site of Gospel Night on Wednesday at 7 p.m., which is sponsored bythe Lampasas Ministerial Alliance. To cap off the evening at 9:15 p.m. is a fireworks display at W.M. Brooks Park, sponsored by H-E-B.
Thursday kicks off the Lampasas County Fair, with judging going on at the Lampasas County office building at 409 S. Pecan from 9:45 a.m. until noon, with displays open to the public from 3-6 p.m.
All day Thursday at W.M. Brooks Park there will be an arts and crafts fair, along with concessions, pony rides and a petting zoo, sponsored by Ajinomot Windsor and Paceline Collision Centers. The carnival with rides runs from 6 p.m. until closing at the park, with a “pay one price—all you can ride” available.
Thursday night concludes with a dance contest at Toupsie’s, located at 904 N. Key Ave. Admission is free with a Spring Ho badge, otherwise $3.
Friday begins with a diaper derby at the Couryard Square Bandstand at 8:30 a.m., and Pet Parade reigstration at the corner of 2nd Street and Live Oak. Parade judging starts at 9 a.m., with the parade following at 9:30 a.m. Kids Day activities will be held at the Gavin Garrett Soccer Field at noon, with activities held by the Boys & Girls Club for children ages 3-10, as well as face painting by the LTP Spirit Club and the XFX Spirit Club.
Friday and Saturday is the “Hotter Than Hell” BBQ cook-off from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Hackberry and Avenue A.
The carnival is also open all day Friday from 10 a.m. until closing at W.M. Brook Park. There will also be live entertainment at the park from 4-7 p.m.
The annual Spring Ho Dance takes place Friday from 8 p.m. until midnight on the courtyard square. The cost is $10 at the gate and no badge admission.
On Saturday morning, the Spring Ho Grand Parade begins at 11 a.m., with Burke and Janice Brown serving as this year’s parade marshals.
In the afternoon, washer pitching and horseshoe pitching tournaments will take place at the Gavin Garrett Soccer Field.
Saturday evening will feature the Kiwanis Club Dance. Sam Riggs and William Clark Green will perform for the downtown dance on the square. The cost for the dance is $20 at the gate.
The Spring Ho Carnival will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday at W.M. Brook Park, with wrist bands on sale each day for unlimited rides.
A printable brochure and a full schedule of events and performers, as well as event admission prices can be found at www.springho.com, or call (512) 556-5301 for more information about the events.