LAMPASAS (July 6, 2012)—The annual Spring Ho festival, "Peace, Love & Springs," runs Monday through Sunday in Lampasas.
Spring Ho will take place where U.S. Highways 183, 190 and 281 intersect and festival times will vary, depending on the day.
Monday night’s activities will begin at 6:45 p.m. with live entertainment by "Walking to Space," followed by the opening ceremony, both at Ruth Eakin Outdoor Theatre in W.M. Brook Park.
The Spring Ho Beauty Pageant to crown Miss Spring Ho and Little Miss Spring Ho will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the park amphitheater.
Local high school girls will be participating in the Miss Spring Ho pageant, and dozens of 4-year-old and 5-year-old girls will participate in the Little Miss contest.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the KCYL Hayloft Party and Texaco Country Showdown Talent Contest is scheduled at the Ruth Eakin Outdoor Theatre.
Starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, children ages 5 to 12 will have an opportunity to participate in a fishing derby at Sulphur Creek in hopes of winning some cool prizes.
Other Wednesday events include county fair registration, gospel music performances and a fireworks display just after 9 p.m.
The county fair will take place on Thursday and entries will be judged when the festivities begin at 9 a.m. A carnival will open in the evening at the AMVETS parking lot and will be available to the public throughout the duration of the festival.
The Spring Ho Dance Contest at Lucky Ranch Grill on East 3rd Street will conclude Thursday's fun.
Friday's events will feature an arts and crafts fair, dozens of vendors, pet parade, Diaper Derby, corn-shucking contest, water polo game, off-location arts exhibit, barbeque, local talent, several children's activities and a downtown street dance to end the night.
A race for adults and children will kick things off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, with the Spring Ho Grand Parade at 11 a.m.
A barbeque cook-off, washer pitching, horseshoe pitching, water sports competitions, Rubber Duck Derby, music and dancing are also on the schedule.
Organizers say it is important to note that the parade will follow the same route as last year, but not any year before then.
Ongoing construction on Key Avenue means that the parade will begin on North Avenue and proceed west before turning left onto Chestnut Street.
The parade will turn left onto 3rd Street and continue to Hackberry Street with a final left turn to end near Hanna Springs Elementary School.
Sunday's fun will be a great chance for festival-goers to catch up on what they might have missed earlier in the week; there will be vendors, a carnival and various art displays that can be found throughout Hanna Springs Sculpture Garden.
A Spring Ho Badge can be used at weekday events, but do not apply on the weekend, according to the website.
Some activities will cost money and tickets on Friday and Saturday are priced at $10 per day.
Spring Ho badges are $5 each and can be purchased at the Spring Ho Office, located at 101 East 8th St.
Festival T-shirts are on sale at Hodges & Sargent Pharmacy, Rutland's and at the Spring Ho office.
Members of the 2012 Spring Ho Committee are Jody Cummings, Julie Williamson, Cathy Kuehne, Janette Stotts, Lisa Dibble, Mary K. Hoyer, Kristi Ball, David Brooks, Jason Syx, Luther Hensley, Nathan Brown and Robby Vann.
More information can be found on the event website.
