AUSTIN - Austin celebrated Independence Day in small town style on Thursday, July 4, from sunrise until well after sunset. The festivities kicked off with a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast hosted by the Lions Club, followed by the short but sweet parade down Highway 50, food and games at Bert T. Gandolfo Park, and ended after 10 p.m. with a beautiful fireworks display.
Dee Helming, fearless head of Austin's Chamber and Commerce, said, "It was fabulous! We had a better turnout this year than ever!"
A huge crowd lined Main Street to cheer parade contestants, featuring decorated floats, horseback riders, veterans, Austin's brand new fire truck, antique cars, and the parade's winner, Kevin White, driving his 1932 John Deere tractor.
Following the parade, revelers gathered at the park for a free barbecue, including Aggie Dory's famous peach ice cream.
Adults participated in a softball tournament, horseshoes, with Joe and Theresa Dory as victors, and an egg toss, which Bronte Shelton, and her mom, Amanda, won. Children's games and races came next, with plenty of laughter and joy and all around cuteness.
A highlight of the day was the music stylings of Kevin Brady, Dennis Bill and Austin White, who strummed guitars and banjos and belted out one song after another for the entire afternoon.
Mother Nature even kicked in some help, with a refreshing afternoon shower that cooled the crowd and doused the hillsides for the awesome fireworks display put on by the Austin Volunteer Fire Department.
Austin native Ray (Bubby) Williams said, "My family had a good time at the park. Yup, it was pretty good." That's cowboy-speak for an amazing day!
Special thanks to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Toiyabe Cafe, Lions Club, Union Street Lodging, Cozy Mountain Motel and Jason's Art Gallery for sponsoring a most successful and absolutely quintessentially perfect 4th of July!
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