The Brackenridge Independence
Day Celebration & Fireworks Show will be held Saturday, July 1
st at
Brackenridge Park & Campground and is sponsored by the Lavaca-Navidad River
Authority. This year’s event will include an Antique Tractor Show and Parade, a
Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull, the Ride’em-Push’em-Pull’em Parade, Watermelon
Eating Contest, Family Watermelon Carving Contest, Red, White, and Blue Dessert
Family Bake-Off, and much more! This event is FREE to the public.
The Antique
Tractor Show is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tractors on display are brought in by
a proud group of individuals and families, all of whom have a
common interest in collecting and restoring vintage agricultural equipment. This
event gives today's generation a view of the machinery that once tilled the
fields of America.
The Kiddie Tractor Pull starts at 10 a.m. Kids from 3 to 8 are welcome to compete
in the action packed, pedal tractor pull. Each tractor has been
modified for heavy pulling and is attached to a weight transfer sled. The
sled is filled with a certain amount of weight which is determined by the age
of each participant. As kids pedal down the path, the weight in the bucket
transfers up the sled and makes it harder to pedal. All participants are asked
to pre-register at 9:30 a.m. Age Groups include 3 year olds, 4-5 year olds, 6-7
year olds, and 8 year olds.
At the conclusion
of the Kiddie Tractor Pull we will gather everyone for the Ride’em-Push’em-Pull’em
Parade! Children and adults are encouraged to dress up and decorate their
bicycles, strollers and wagons in patriotic colors and participate in this fun parade.
We will be choosing one lucky person as our Best Decorative Winner.
NEW
this year is the Best Decorative Patriotic Pooch Award! Bring your fur baby and
dress them in their best red, white, and blue attire and have them participate
in the parade. The Parade is scheduled to start at approximately 11:00 a.m. at the
Gator Golf Course parking area and conclude near Comfort Station #2.
At 12:00 p.m. we
are hosting not one but two Watermelon Eating Contests! One round will be children
ages 9-14 and the other is ADULTS ONLY! The contest will be held in the same
area where the Ride’em-Push’em-Pull’em Parade ends and will be limited to 30
participants. Registration will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the
contest. For age group 9-14, there will be 3 heats of 10 participants with the
winner of each heat moving on. In the final round, the first competitor who
finished with their watermelon is the winner! In the adult heat, there will be
1 heat with 10 participants.
We are thrilled
to be bringing two
NEW events to the 2023 Independence Day
Celebration! First up is our Family Watermelon Carving Contest! Families will
need to bring their already carved Watermelons to the Harry Hafernick
Recreation Center Auditorium by 2:00 p.m. on event day to be judged. There will
be 3 categories to choose from: Funniest Carving, Most Patriotic, and Most
Elegant! Prizes will be awarded to the 1st – 3rd place winners in each
category. The Family Watermelon Carving Contest is open to the public and FREE
to enter! Registration forms and more event details to come!
Our next NEW and
exciting event we are adding to this year’s festivities is the Red, White, and
Blue Family Dessert Competition! There will be 2 competition categories: Bake
and No-Bake. Families will need to bring their already prepared Red, White, and
Blue
Baked and/or None Baked Dessert item to the Harry Hafernick
Recreation Center Auditorium by 2:00 p.m. on event day to be judged. There will
be 2 categories in the Baked and No-Baked Desserts Competitions: Presentation
and Taste. The Red, White, and Blue Family Dessert Competition is open to the
public and FREE to enter! Prizes will be awarded to the 1
st – 3rd
place winners in each category. Keep an eye out for the registration forms and more
event details to come!
While judging is
underway for the Watermelon and Dessert Competitions, cool off inside and join
us in the Harry Hafernick Recreation Center Auditorium for Red, White, and Blue
Bingo! Participants will be playing for Patriotic Swag! This activity is FREE
and open to the public!
Bring an extra
set of clothes because there will be 3 water slides available for all kiddos to
enjoy from 12:00 - 5:00 pm by the Harry Hafernick Recreation Center parking
lot!
The other contest
is for our camping guests only…it is the Best Decorated Campsite or Cabin
Contest! Guests are encouraged to decorate their site in patriotic colors with
judging to take place at 2:00 p.m. One winner from each park will be chosen. Results
will be communicated with the winners as soon as judging is complete. We are
looking forward to lots of festively decorated sites!
At 3:00 p.m. the
Antique Tractor Parade will wind thru Brackenridge Park and is a delight to all
with the vast array of historic tractors. Spectators are encouraged to bring
lawn chairs and to line the parade route thru the park. Many of the tractors
are festively decorated for the Independence Day holiday and a sight you won't
want to miss!
Bring the family out and prepare to bust
a move because from 7:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. DJ Kevin Stancik
will be set up on the main stage playing a mix of great tunes!
The FREE Fireworks Show at
Brackenridge Park & Campground has taken on a life of its own over the
years. It is scheduled to start just after 9 p.m. The beautiful fireworks
display utilizes a wide variety of fireworks effects for maximum impact and
audience appeal. Visitors can best view the event by parking in the grassy field
across from the Harry Hafernick Recreation Center. The fireworks can be heard echoing
throughout the surrounding area to celebrate all our nation has accomplished
and continues to stand for. We invite you to bring your family and come enjoy a
full day of fun at the Brackenridge Park & Campground!
Brackenridge Park
& Campground is located about 6 miles south of Edna on State Highway
111. For more information, please call
(361) 782-5456 or visit
www.brackenridgepark.com.