Sparks fly in the Park this Saturday
Sparks in the Park brings family fun and fireworks to the Four States Fairgrounds Saturday for another annual celebration of Independence Day.
Presented by Townsquare Media, the City of Texarkana, Ark., Southwest Arkansas Electric REA and Bowie Cass Electric, Sparks in the Park brings summertime fun with a bevy of activities starting at 4 p.m. and going until dark, including kid’s activities, The Punisher Monster Truck rides, live music with The Dusty Rose Band, Darby Games, a junior firefighter challenge, tanks and trucks from Red River Army Depot, fun contests and much more.
In addition to the fireworks that kick off around 9:30 p.m., there’s plenty more to see and do for this annual treat that, apart from food and drinks and the monster truck ride, is free for all.
“New this year we have the Punisher Monster Truck. It’s going to be giving rides at a nominal charge,” said Townsquare Media’s Andi Darby. Last year, that truck saw plenty of people sitting on it and checking it out, so this year organizers found an area where rides can be done.
“We have two new contests: Oreo stacking and seed spitting,” Darby said. Prizes for kids and adults await the skillful winners of such competitions.
The patriotic costume contest is open to kids, families and groups. Special prizes also await these victors, including a Hurricane Harbor water park visit for the kids winner, a trip to Six Flags for the family winner and, for the group winner, El Chico gift certificates, said Darby.
”We’ll have the Strollers & Rollers contest, and that is for people to decorate their strollers, wagons or wheelchairs,” Darby said of another fun contest in the spirit of the festive vibes.
To unleash some energy, check out the rock climbing wall and the bounce houses. A Junior Firefighters Challenge runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. “It’s like an obstacle course, getting to feel what it’s like,” Darby said.
There’s a giant sandbox, kiddie train, patriotic tattoos, cooling misters, bean bag toss and then cornhole, washerboards and horseshoes.
The Hot Wheels/Cool Rides Cruise-In brings extreme trucks from Lead Foot Mud Drags and other neat vehicles riding in from across the area. Check out everything from Mustangs to Jeep Junkies. Darby estimates about 200 cars, Jeeps and more will participate.
“Red River Army Depot will be out there with five or six tanks and trucks,” she said.
The Ag Learning Center holds a tasty competition: ice cream eating several times through the afternoon. Finley’s Barnyard will also open with all sorts of farm critters to visit: rabbits, chickens, goats, miniature horses and such.
Then there are the infamous Darby Games with sack races, three-legged races, hula hoops, bubble gum blowing, water balloon toss, egg run and more.
“We’ll do the ball run where they have to run with the ball between your knees. That’s difficult to do, if you know what I mean,” Darby said, noting that everybody wins when they participate in the Darby Games. Then the victors win even more with special prizes.
The opening ceremonies start at 6 p.m. with the color guard and a bagpipe performance of “God Bless America.” Right before the fireworks, the winner of the Gazette’s Oh Say, Can You Sing contest will perform the national anthem. Other contest winners are announced in between sets by The Dusty Rose Band.
“They put so much heart and soul into it. They have a great time,” Darby said about the band, encouraging folks to also bring lawn chairs to set up and watch the fireworks show.
(More info: Check out the Sparks in the Park Texarkana page on Facebook.)