Special to the Journal
The Belton Area Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for the 4th of July Parade. The annual parade is a treasured family event with generations of central Texans lining the streets of Belton to celebrate the birth of our country.
The theme for the 4th of July Parade this year is “Celebrating 100 Years of Rodeo” in conjunction with the significant milestone for our rodeo.
The parade will be held on Thursday, July 4 beginning at 9 a.m. and will follow the traditional route south on Main Street starting at UMHB, turning east on Central Avenue at the Courthouse, and continuing north on Birdwell, ending at the Belton Police Memorial.
Parade registration applications are available online at BeltonChamber.com. The parade features Belton Area Chamber of Commerce members, and includes categories of for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, clubs, teams, equestrian, and car groups.
The Chamber Parade Committee has been planning for several months to ensure that this year’s parade is the best ever. Dozens of volunteers work alongside City of Belton Police, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation staff to take care of the logistics for this massive event, bringing more than 30,000 spectators to the community to celebrate.
“We are excited about continuing this cherished tradition for our community,” stated Randy Pittenger, Belton Area Chamber President/CEO. “We are a community that values tradition, so honoring the generations of families who have participated in the rodeo and parade as participants and spectators over the past 100 years will be especially meaningful.”
“The parade has been such an important part of our community for generations, and the many wonderful family traditions that are celebrated make this something we can all look forward to,” added Pittenger. “This is a great opportunity for us to celebrate our community and history together while also bringing huge crowds of people to Belton to enjoy what we have to offer. It also serves as a great opportunity for our sponsors to get their message out to thousands of people.”
The annual parade serves as the centerpiece of a weeklong celebration in Belton that includes a kick-off Downtown Street Party on the Courthouse Square Saturday, June 29, Carnival in Liberty Park July 2-6, and the 100th annual three-day PRCA Rodeo at the Bell County Expo July 4-6.
On Thursday, July 4 in addition to the Parade, we will celebrate with the Annual Patriotic Program at the Bell County Historic Courthouse, Festival on Nolan Creek in Liberty Polk Park featuring the High5 Hot Dog Eating Contest and the Rev, White & Blue Car Show, and the Backyard Party Concert and Fireworks at Schoepf’s.
For more information about these events, sponsorship opportunities, or membership in the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce, visit the website at www.beltonchamber.com, call 254-939-3551, or email info@beltonchamber.com
