Dateline: June 21, 2007

Fireworks kick off annual Saints' Roost Celebration

The 130th Annual Saints’ Roost Celebration will start off with a bang this year.

The first ever “Light up the Lake” community fireworks display will get things started Tuesday, July 3, at 9:30 p.m. at Greenbelt Lake.

The community is invited to bring their own fireworks to the south boat ramp parking lot and get free admission into the lake for the event.  An area will be marked off for setting off fireworks.  Get there early to get a good spot.

The arts and crafts fair will kick off the events on the square on Wednesday, July 4, at 10 a.m. with the Old Settlers’ Reunion starting at 10:30 a.m.  The Shriners’ barbecue will start at 11 a.m. with proceeds from the meal going to fund area children’s transportation to Shriners’ Hospitals.

The kid’s parade will be at 1:30 p.m. starting at the Post Office with the parade starting at 2 p.m. at City Park.

COEA will hold an Open Ranch Bronc Ride on Wednesday night, July 4, with a Jr. Ranch Rodeo for cowboys and cowgirls ages 16 and under on Thursday night, July 5.

COEA will hold its annual ranch rodeo Friday and Saturday, July 6 and 7.  There will be music on the slab July 4-6 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Twister Cain will be performing on July 7 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the rodeo grounds.

Boy Scout Troop 433 will provide concessions for all four nights of rodeo activities.

Other activities will be a blood drive at Stanley Chevrolet-Clarendon on Friday, June 29; the Baptist Church’s Depression Lunch on Friday, July 6, at 11 a.m. downtown; and the annual Henson’s Turtle Race has been moved to Saturday, July 7, at 3 p.m., which will draw a typically large crowd on its own. 

New activities this year include a Turtle Art Contest sponsored by Henson’s and a Street Fair and Sidewalk Sale organized by the Downtown Merchants Association. Entries for the turtle art contest will be taken from June 29 until 10 a.m. on July 7.  Winners will be announced on Saturday, July 7.  The Street Fair will be held downtown all day Friday, July 6, and all day Saturday, July 7.  Drawings for door prizes will be held each day at noon and at 4 p.m.  You must be present to win.