The Brackenridge Independence Day
Celebration will be held Saturday, July 2
nd 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 Contests, and Family Obstacle Course Competition! This event is FREE to
the public.
The Antique Tractor Show is from 9 a.m.
to 4 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 that range from a variety of small and large hit & miss engines
including John Deere, Farmall, International, Ford, Massey-Ferguson,
Minneapolis-Moline, Case, Allis-Chalmers, and more. 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 preregister 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. It is scheduled to
start at approximately 11:00 a.m. at the Gator Golf Course parking area and
conclude near Comfort Station #2. All participants will receive a free patriotic
item while supplies last plus we will be choosing one winner as The Best
Decorated!
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 beside the Harry Hafernick Recreation Center Parking Lot and will be
limited to 30 participants. Registration will be taken 30 minutes
prior to the start of the contest. For age group 9-14, we are planning 3 heats
of 10 participants with the winner of each heat moving on. In the final round,
the first competitor finished with their watermelon is the winner! In the adult
heat, there will be 1 heat with 10 participants. The first competitor done wins!
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 1:00 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!
Back by popular demand at 2:00 p.m. is our Family Obstacle Course Competition! The course is located inside of Brackenridge Park at the playground area between the pull thru sites and the first camping circle. There will be 8 stations set up and ready for competitors to take on the challenge! The first station will be the famous “American Ninja Warrior Steps” followed by a sack race, tire race, army crawl, wall climb, swaying steps on a wooden bridge, balance beam, and it finishes with a hay slide! Each team must consist of 5 members. Participants must be 6 years of age or older. So, round up the kids, parents, and maybe even the grandparents to build your team. On-site registration for the competition will start at 1:30 p.m. at the Obstacle Course. The top 3 teams with the fastest completion time will win medals for the entire group! If you want to show off your patriotic side… we will be giving an award to the team that we deem as most patriotic! This activity is a fan favorite, so gather up your friends and family for some good ole competitive fun!
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 definitely a sight you won't want to
miss!
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!
****NOTE: Unfortunately, LNRA has been forced to cancel this year’s fireworks show that was scheduled for Saturday, July 2nd as part of the Independence Day Celebration. Our firework’s supplier is unable to provide the necessary pyrotechnics required for the fireworks show. We are very sorry that we had cancel the show and are as disappointed as you are. All other portions of the BRC event will continue as planned. We hope you will join us to celebrate Independence Day!****