As the Independence Day holiday nears, City staff members are hard at working making final preparations for the 21st annual Liberty By The Lake festival. The event will be held on Wednesday, July 4, at Stewart Creek Park in The Colony.
This day-long festival has a variety of activities throughout the day designed to provide a patriotic celebration for the community.
To start the day, the 33rd annual Liberty 5K, 10K & 1 Mile Fun Run will take place starting at 7:30 a.m. at Stewart Creek Park, 3700 Sparks Road. Registration for the run is underway, and online registration is availabe on the event website at www.LibertyByTheLake.com. The run is available for all ages. The City hosts this annual run each year with the local Knights of Columbus Holy Cross Council No. 8493.
“We are excited to celebrate another year of running on July 4th in The Colony,” said Frank Ramirez, race director and a member of the Knights of Columbus. “Every year the race gets better, and after 33 years we feel confident in saying that we have the best Independence Day run in the Metroplex.”
Following the morning run, the 35th annual Independence Day Parade will take place. Lineup begins at 9:15 a.m. at Peters Colony Elementary School on Nash Drive. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and the route will proceed west on Nash Drive to Blair Oaks Drive, and then south on Blair Oaks to The Colony Five Star Complex. The parade will consist of a mix of floats, marching groups and assorted other entries representing local civic organizations and clubs.
“Everyone loves a parade, and what could be more patriotic on the Fourth of July than celebrating the red, white and blue with your friends and neighbors,” said Lindsey Stansell, Special Events Coordinator for The Colony Parks and Recreation Department. “We hope everyone comes out to watch or participate in this year’s parade, and help us celebrate the start of a great day of festivities in The Colony.”
The Grand Marshal for this year’s Independence Day Parade will be Emma Garfield, a resident of The Colony and a swimmer at The Colony High School. Garfield had a record-setting performance at this year’s UIL State Swimming Championships, breaking the state record in the 100-meter breaststroke.
The festivities pick back up at 4 p.m. at Stewart Creek Park with the start of the Liberty By The Lake festival. Although the activities don’t begin until 4 p.m., the park gates will open at 11 a.m. for those who want to arrive early and claim their spot on the shoreline. Admission for the festival is free, and on-site parking is $20 per vehicle. Off-site parking is available in the surrounding areas outside the park, and free shuttle parking is available at Lakeview Middle School, 4300 Keys Drive.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than being at the lake with so many fun activities for the family, all the great food, live music, and of course the main attraction – the fireworks,” said David Swain, Recreation Manager for the Parks and Recreation Department. “We promote that Liberty By The Lake has the best fireworks in Texas, and we truly believe that. If you haven’t see our show from right there at the park, then you are missing out. The display is right over the lake, which makes for a unique and pretty awesome viewing experience.”
Some of the notable activities planned for this year’s celebration includes:
- Dog trick-and-dive shows;
- BMX stunt shows;
- “Dangerous Edison’s” science shows;
- Live music, featuring the bands “TMT” and “Superband;”
- Watermelon eating contest;
- Homemade salsa competition;
- Festival food court, with 10 different vendor options;
- Family Fun Zone, with rides and activities for all ages; and,
- Fireworks finale, starting at 9:30 p.m.
“There is no reason to leave The Colony on the Fourth of July holiday,” Swain said. “We work really hard to ensure that Liberty By The Lake has a little something for everyone, and that it is a truly family-friendly event. Whether you spend a portion of the day or the entire day at the lake with us, we want everyone to remember two words: sunscreen and water. Stay hydrated and wear plenty of sunscreen. It is July 4 in Texas, and we want to make sure that everyone has a great time.”
For more information regarding the Liberty By The Lake festival, contact The Colony Parks and Recreation Department at 972-625-1106, via email at [email protected], or visit the event website at www.LibertyByTheLake.com.