July 4th celebration options available close to home

With the rising cost of gasoline, area residents can still celebrate our nation's birth without putting too many miles on the car. Here are a few Fourth of July events within a reasonable driving distance of Lampasas County.

The Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site July 4th Celebration (Today): The 718-acre park is located between Fredericksburg and Johnson City.

This year's events are dedicated to Lyndon B. Johnson in the 100th year of his birth.

Celebrate our nation's birthday as a German family and their friends would have done in the early 1900s at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. Take part in activities such as horseshoe and washer pitching, stick-horse races, watermelon seed spitting and other games from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 830-644- 2252.

Fireworks on the Brazos (Today): Celebrate our nation's birth at the birthplace of Texas.

Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site consists of 231 acres in Washington County, the site of the 1836 General Convention which would decide the fate of Texas.

Spend the day touring Barrington Farm, Independence Hall and the Star of the Republic Museum. Old-fashioned children's games, complimentary Blue Bell Ice Cream and Coca-Cola are scheduled for 6 p.m.

Enjoy a free concert with patriotic video followed by an extravagant fireworks display choreographed to patriotic music at dark. Events will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 936-878-2214.

Inks Lake State Park Happy Birthday U.S.A. Bicycle Parade (Saturday): Inks Lake State Park is 1,201 acres of recreational facilities adjacent to Inks Lake on the Colorado River in Burnet County.

Kids can bring their bikes to the playground near the Park Store to decorate them for the parade. The parade will run along park roads from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

For more information, call 512- 793-2223.