The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau

Event: South Montgomery County 4th of July Parade

Date: 7/4/2009

Location: Market Street

Detail:

9:00 am

South County 4th of July Parade
Theme: Traveling the USA
When: Saturday – July 4th
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Where: The Woodlands Town Center

The parade dates back to the 1980’s when it was originally organized by The Woodlands Lions Club. The South County 4th of July Committee was organized in the early 1990’s. The committee is a volunteer-based organization and is designated as a 501(c)(3) corporation. Last year, the parade had approximately 145 entries and 2,000 to 3,000 participants. This year the committee anticipates 20,000 to 25,000 in attendance. The parade route is approximately 1.3 miles and will begin and end at The Woodlands United Methodist Church. Roads will be closed during the parade.

Parade Entry Forms are now available online on the 4th of July Committee’s website: www.4thofjuly.org

PRE-PARADE ENTERTAINMENT: Before the parade starts, meet Darrel the Fire Juggler, Uncle Sam, Clowns, Spiderman, Scooby Doo, Sponge Bob, stilt walker, balloonist, magician and many more interesting characters mingling with the crowd. Also, The Woodlands Concert Band will perform from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. in Market Street’s Central Park. They will play the National Anthem to signify the start of the parade.

JUDGING AREA:
The judges’ stand will be located on the balcony in Market Street across from Central Park, along with the announcers, Nick Wolda, VP Marketing and Public Affairs for The Woodlands Township and Ramon Torres. Two DJ Booths will be located along the route.

EVERY ENTRY HAS A CHANCE TO WIN! There will still be nine award categories for non-marching band entries, including five categories with cash prizes of $250, three categories with cash prizes of $100 plus trophy and the trophy for the Best Professionally Built Commercial Float. Awards will be presented at 7:05 p.m. on the main stage of the Red, Hot & Blue Festival on July 4th

$250 and Trophy for:
The Most Beautiful Entry
The Most Patriotic Entry
The Float with the Best Use of Theme
The Best Musical Entry
The Best Military Entry
The President's Award

$100 and Trophy for:
Community Entry Award
Youth Entry Award
Participation Award

Trophy Only:
Best Professionally Built Commercial Float

GRAND MARSHAL:
We’re honored to have Dr. Don Stockton, CISD Superintendent, as this year’s 4th of July Parade Grand Marshal.

DIGNATARIES
A number of dignitaries will be in the parade, with new dignitaries confirming daily.

Judges
Patricia Hrabina, Vice President of Human Resources, Fox Sports
Steve Sanders, CEO Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital
Dr. Ann Snyder, President and CEO Interfaith of The Woodlands
Richard Colunga, President Employee Activities Committee US Oncology
Karen Hoylman, President South County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce
Paul Lazzaro, Retired Vice President of Marketing and Public affairs for The Woodlands Land Development Company
Peggy Hausman –The Woodlands Township Board Member
Ray Biggerstaff - Publisher of The Villager HCN Newspaper
John Nguyen - Director Physician Relations St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital

Dignitaries
Dr. Don Stockton - Grand Marshal
Congressman Kevin Brady
Senator Tommy Williams
State Representative Rob Eissler
Edie Connelly, Justice of the Peace
Judge Mary Ann Turner, County Court at Law 4
Craig Doyal, County Commissioner Precinct 2
Mayor Garry Watts, City of Shenandoah
Council Member Ken Smith, City of Shenandoah
Council member Leah Gray, City of Oak Ridge North
Don Norrell, President The Woodlands Township
John Powers, Co-Interim General Manager Community Associations of The Woodlands
Jeff Long, President The Woodlands Community Association
Dymond Hayes - Miss Teen Texas International
Bonnie Hubert - Mrs. Texas International
Gold Star Moms

PARADE STAGING AREA: Staging for the parade will be at the United Methodist Church parking lot at Lake Woodlands Drive and Grogan’s Mill Road. See map.

SENIOR AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED TENT: A tent will be set up in front of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Lake Robbins Drive for senior citizens and the physically challenged to obtain respite from the summer heat.

Bandtastic! 4TH ANNUAL MARCHING BAND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:
What’s a parade without marching bands? Since the inception of the parade, it has been difficult to entice marching bands to participate in the parade due to the time of the year during school vacation. Extensive time and effort was spent each year trying to get a band to commit, to no avail. To entice bands to march in the parade, the South County 4th of July Committee is hosting the 4th Annual Marching Band Scholarship Program. The committee invites high school and college marching bands throughout the region to participate in the scholarship program. “The community wants bands in our parade and we want to help school programs,” said Karen Booren, President of the South County 4th of July Committee. Each band will receive a minimum of $1,000 for their participation. Already TWO BANDS HAVE REGISTERED - College Park High School and The Woodlands High School!

4th of July Parade Sponsors!
The South County 4th of July Committee would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to our sponsors:

Diamond Sponsors: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP AND
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS OF THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS

Platinum Sponsors: THE WOODLANDS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, HOUSTON GROTECH SERVICES AND THE WOODLANDS LIONS CLUB

Gold Sponsors: CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION, MARKET STREET (TRADE MARK PROPERTY COMPANY), AND THE WOODLANDS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers for the parade are still needed. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and enjoy the 4th of July parade. Please contact South County 4th of July Committee at 281-210-3975 for more information. It takes lots of volunteers to make these events happen! The Volunteer Orientation will be July 1 at 7:00 p.m. at The United Methodist Church parking lot, but please contact us first if you wish to volunteer.

How to contact the South County 4th of July Committee:
Post Office Box 7266, The Woodlands, Texas, 77387-7266
4th of July Committee direct telephone line is: 281-210-3975
The e-mail address is: info@4thofjuly.org
The Website is: www.4thofjuly.org

South County 4th of July Committee’s mission is to provide quality activities for South County families to celebrate our nation's birthday.

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