Members of the 2009 Spring Ho Committee include, seated from left, Judith Ann McGhee, Marci Tomme, Celeste Johnson, Janna Hammett, Casey Smart and Alecia Collins; back row from left, Jason Wykes, Casey Corbin, Shane Hall, Tom Terry and Bobby Liverman. Not pictured: Mike Kuehne. Residents are preparing for an onslaught of visitors when the 38th 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 activities to keep everyone busy.

The festival runs July 6-12. Theme is "Fiesta at the Springs."

A breakdown of events scheduled each day follows.

MONDAY

Mariachi Unico will initiate Spring Ho festivities with a performance at 6:30 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, George Herrmann.

Events are free for those with a Spring Ho badge and $3 for those without a badge.

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.

Twelve local high school girls are vying for the Miss Spring Ho crown, while 31 young girls are participating in the Little Miss contest.

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-Bsponsored 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.

Keystone Square Museum will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday for "Fiesta with Class: Celebrating the Class Reunions of the 1940s Through the Present."

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

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, lemonade, soft drinks, popcorn, fajitas, hamburgers and a multitude of other goodies.

Registration for the Pet Parade 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 visi- tors 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 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 sum- mer heat.

At the gazebo in the park, entertainment will run from 3-7 p.m. featuring Cheyenne Maples from 3-4 p.m., Angie Helgesson from 4- 5 p.m., Allison Hendrick from 5-6 p.m., and Jordan Cummings from 6-7 p.m.

To close out the day's events, Charlie Robison and the Garrett Heinrichs Band will provide country and western music on the Courtyard Square bandstand from 8 p.m. until midnight. Tickets are $10 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 29th 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 at 11 a.m., with parade marshal George Herrmann at the lead.

Numerous floats, bands, clowns, miniature vehicles, horses and military personnel are scheduled to participate. Attenders can view the parade from sundry 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.

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

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 $10 at the gate. A Spring Ho badge will not apply.

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 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004, 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 Town & Country Study Club members, Cattles Pharmacy, Hodges & Sargent Pharmacy, Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce and local banks.

Festival T-shirts are on sale at Hodges & Sargent Pharmacy, Rutland's, Badger Tracks or at the Spring Ho office.

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 Janna Hammett, Casey Corbin, Alecia Collins, Michael Kuehne, Jason Wykes, Celeste Johnson, Shane Hall, Marci Tomme, Casey Smart, Judith Ann McGhee, Bobby Liverman and Tom Terry.