Dateline: July 5, 2007

Fireworks mark start of annual celebration

Clarendon will be where all the action is as the 130th Annual Saints’ Roost Celebration gets underway this week.

This year’s activities will start off with a bang this year as the first ever “Light up the Lake” community fireworks display explodes 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, and Howardwick officials are bringing that city’s new fire truck to provide an extra measure of safety. 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.; and the Old Settlers’ Reunion will begin 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. Help a Shriner help a crippled child by buying your tickets in advance at either Henson’s or The Clarendon Enterprise.

The kid’s parade will be at 1:30 p.m. starting at the Post Office, and the full parade starts at 2 p.m. with line up at City Park.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association 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.

A calf scramble, donkey ride, and calf ride will be held every night for young cowboys and cowgirls. 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 Clarendon 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.