SPRING HO!
37th version of summer staple promises to be 'fabulous'
By LISA CARNLEY Staff Writer

Residents are preparing for an onslaught of visitors when the 37th annual Spring Ho Festival kicks off Monday with some new events and lots of old favorites.

This year's version promises a week's worth of events to keep everyone busy.

The festival runs July 7-13. Theme is "Lampasas -- The Fabulous Spring Ho."

A breakdown of events scheduled each day follows.

MONDAY

The Cow Country Cloggers will initiate Spring Ho festivities with a performance at 6:45 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 7:15 p.m. Both events take place at the Ruth Eakin Outdoor Theatre.

Those who attend will have a chance to meet Spring Ho Committee members and this year's parade grand marshal, Clementine Walker.

The Spring Ho Beauty Pageant to crown Miss Spring Ho and Little Miss will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the W.M. Brook Park amphitheater. Admission is $3 for those without a Spring Ho badge and free for those with a badge. Those who attend should bring a lawn chair.

Nine Lampasas High School girls are vying for the Miss Spring Ho crown, while 28 young girls are participating in the Little Miss contest.

PHOTO BY PATSY STONEHAM Members of the Spring Ho Committee include, front row from left, Marci Tomme, Sheila Brooks,Kristen Montgomery, Janna Hammett, Alecia Collins and Celeste Johnson; back row from left, Michael Kuehne, Jason Wykes, Shane Hall, chairman Asa Langford, Casey Corbin and John Greenwood.

TUESDAY

At 7 p.m., the KCYL Hayloft Party/Colgate Country Showdown Talent Contest is scheduled at the Ruth Eakin Outdoor Theatre. Winners of the event find the Lampasas competition a stepping stone to the state contest.

Cost is $3 for those with a badge and $4 for those without a badge.

WEDNESDAY

The Kiddie Fishing Derby will provide fun for youths ages 5 through 12 from 8-10 a.m. at Sulphur Creek. Cane poles and bait will be provided. Youngsters will fish to earn prizes.

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., county residents may register for the Spring Ho County Fair at the First Texas Bank Community Room. Senior citizens may register early at 10 a.m. Judging will take place after registration.

At 7 p.m., Gospel Night will commence at W.M. Brook Park. The event features performances by area churches and musical groups.

At 9:15 p.m., the annual H-E-B-sponsored fireworks display will light up the skies over W.M. Brook Park. Hundreds of residents and visitors will watch the show, which is accompanied by themed music.

THURSDAY

County Fair exhibits will be open to the public from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and again Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

And tonight, the Spring Ho Carnival begins at 6 p.m. Participants can purchase a bracelet that allows them to experience all rides throughout the night for one price. The carnival also will be open Friday beginning at 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to closing, and again Sunday from noon to the close of the festival.

Games of chance, plus plenty of food and drink concessions, also are available.

The Spring Ho Dance Contest will be hosted at the AMVETS Post 80 home at 7 p.m. Admission is free for those with a badge and $3 for those without a badge.

FRIDAY Keystone Square Museum will offer "Salute to Clementine Walker" and "Our public servants, firemen and policemen throughout Lampasas history." The museum is at 303 S. Western and will be open from 1-4 p.m. July 11-13.

The arts and crafts fair and concessions will open bright and early today. Vendors also will be open Saturday and Sunday until the close of the festival. Hundreds of booths will line W.M. Brook Park, featuring everything from clothing to woodworking and antiques to jewelry.

Concessions will offer roasted ears of corn, sno cones, lemonade, soft drinks, popcorn, fajitas, hamburgers and a multitude of other goodies.

Registration for the Pet Parade and Show will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the corner of Second and Live Oak streets, followed by judging. The parade will head to the bandstand on Courtyard Square at 9:30 a.m.

The Diaper Derby will begin at 8:30 a.m. by the downtown bandstand.

The Spring Ho BBQ Cookoff kicks off from noon to 10 p.m. behind the Lampasas County Office Building.

Cookers will fire up their grills, and the area will be open for visitors Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. No admission fee is charged for visitors.

Kids' Day Activities for those ages 3 to 10 commence at noon Friday at Gavin Garrett Soccer Park. Face painting will be offered by the LTP spirit club, and XFX spirit club will have balloon figures. Activities include sack races, three-legged races, balloon races, a bubble gum-blowing contest and other events.

The Lampasas County Farm Bureau-sponsored Corn-Shucking Contest begins at 2 p.m. for kids ages 2 to 7.

The Lampasas Fire Department again will set up its water polo game from noon to 2 p.m. at the soccer park. It's a great way for kids to have fun pretending to be firemen, while they try to beat the summer heat.

To close out the day's events, Bleu Edmondson and Johnny Cooper will provide country and western music on the Courtyard Square bandstand from 8 p.m. until midnight. Tickets are $15 at the gate. The Spring Ho badge will not apply.

SATURDAY

Arts and crafts fair and concessions will continue throughout the day at W.M. Brook Park.

Registration for the 28th annual 10K and One-Mile runs is 6-7:30 a.m. at the Hancock Park pavilion. Races begin at 8 a.m.

The Spring Ho Grand Parade will kick off, with parade marshal Clementine Walker at the lead.

Numerous floats, bands, clowns, miniature vehicles, horses and military personnel are scheduled to participate. Attenders can view the parade from numerous vantage points in the city.

Washer pitching will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the soccer park, and horseshoe pitching will start at 12:30 p.m. at Hancock Park.

New to Saturday's lineup is the Lampasas Association for the Arts' picnic set from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Hanna Springs Sculpture Garden in Campbell Park.

From 1:30-3:30 p.m., Preservation Lampasas will hold a class reunion at the Lampasas Colored School.

Water Sports Competition for youngsters will take place at 3 p.m. at Hanna Springs Swimming Pool with all manner of contests.

Troop 100 Boy Scouts will offer its Great Duck Race at 4 p.m. at W.M. Brook Park as a fund-raiser for the local troop, and a number of prizes will be given away.

The Kiwanis Club Street Dance will finish the day's activities at 8 p.m. at the courthouse bandstand. Jarrett Schaub will entertain. The Lampasas musician plays at various events in the community.

Admission is $8 in advance or $10 at the gate.

SUNDAY

Arts and crafts will continue through the close of the festival.

OTHER EVENTS

Many Lampasas High School graduates use Spring Ho as the occasion for class reunions.

This year, former LHS students will gather from the classes of 1943, 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003, as well as several other classes.

Troop 200 Boy Scouts will offer a pull ferry across W.M. Brook Park Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Cost is 50 cents one way.

Spring Ho badges, at $5 each, are available from Beta Mu members, Cattles Pharmacy, Hodges & Sargent Pharmacy, Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce and local banks.

Local Boy Scouts will have charge of a parking concession at the AMVETS post home throughout the festival. A nominal fee will apply each day.

Members of this year's Spring Ho Committee are Asa Langford, Kristen Montgomery, John Greenwood, Sheila Brooks, Casey Corbin, Alecia Collins, Michael Kuehne, Janna Hammett, Jason Wykes, Celeste Johnson, Shane Hall and Marci Tomme.