Members of the 2010 Spring Ho Committee are gearing up for the start-up of this year’s events which begin Monday at W.M. Brook Park. PHOTO BY MICAHEL KUEHNE Residents are preparing for an onslaught of visitors when the 39th annual Spring Ho Festival kicks off Monday with an abundance of events and activities.

This year’s version promises a week’s worth of activities to keep everyone busy.

The festival runs July 5-11, and the theme is “Wild About the Springs.”

A breakdown of events scheduled each day follows.

MONDAY

Maci Holcomb, Little Miss Spring Ho 2005, will kick off 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 marshal, Wanda Meyers.

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 local high school girls are vying for the Miss Spring Ho crown, while 26 4- and 5-yearolds 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 HEBsponsored 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

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 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 the courthouse square at 9:30 a.m.

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

Keystone Square Museum will be open Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for “Our Parade of the Spring Ho Grand Marshals.”

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.

Hanna Springs Sculpture Garden will be open for a selfdirected walking tour all day.

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, sponsored by the Lampasas Boys & Girls Club.

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

The Lampasas Fire Department 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.

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

To close out the day’s events, Kyle Park will be the featured performer at the street dance on Courtyard Square from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Opening act is Joe Manuel & Friends, featuring steel guitar Hall of Famer Randy Reinhard.

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 30th 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 Wanda Meyers 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.

The parade has a new route this year. It kicks off at South Street and Key Avenue, proceeding north up Key Avenue to First Street.

There, the parade turns east for one block to Chestnut, then will head south on Chestnut Street.

From there, the Spring Ho parade will travel to Third Street, turn east and circle the courthouse square, and will end by turning south on Western Avenue.

Western will remain closed until parade participants have disbanded.

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 culminate the day’s activities at 8 p.m. at the courthouse bandstand. Lampasas musician Jarrett Schaub will entertain.

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 have planned gatherings for the classes of 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005.

Boy Scout Troop 200 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.

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

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

Festival T-shirts are on sale at Hodges & Sargent, Rutland’s and the Spring Ho office at 101 E. Eighth St. for $15 for adult sizes and $12 for youth sizes.

Members of this year’s Spring Ho Committee are Jason Wykes, Celeste Johnson, Dean Tomme, Marci Tomme, David Brooks, Cathy Kuehne, Julie Williamson, Shane Hall, Casey Smart, Judith Ann McGhee, Bobby Liverman and Jody Cummings.