Local fireworks shows scheduled for July 4 and July 5
As citizens across the country celebrate the 248th birthday of the United States of America, local residents can enjoy two free fireworks shows — one on July 4 and one on July 5.
The Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, Caddo Creek Investments and Clear Fork Bank will present the annual Boomfest fireworks show at Hubbard Creek Lake on Friday, July 5.
The Chamber has reserved the pavilion at Corley’s Landing for events that will begin at 5 p.m., including food trucks and other vendors, music and more.
The fireworks show is scheduled to begin at about 9 p.m.
To help raise funds for the fireworks show, Blackhorse Mercantile and Cafe will host a Murder Mystery Dinner on Saturday, June 29. Tickets cost $60 per person and will include dinner (appetizers, main course with a salad, dessert, and tea, water or soda) and entertainment. All proceeds will go toward the fireworks show. Drinks from the bar will be available for purchase.
The fundraiser will be an interactive performance where the crowd is able to participate and help discover who the “murderer” in the audience is. According to the event flyer, those attending the 1920s’ themed “Death of a Gangster” Murder Mystery Dinner are “invited to the Dunn Speakeasy for the wedding of the year! In this “married to the mob” event, you’ll never know who to trust. With the two families merging together, someone is bound to lose power, which means someone else will lose their life!” Attendees are asked to participate by dressing up in the 1920s’ theme – flapper dresses, zoot suits, feather head bands, or whatever seems to suit the event.
Tickets and more information are available at Blackhorse, 103 W. Walker St.
On Independence Day, Thursday, July 4, the annual fireworks show held near Canyon Road Barn & Grill is scheduled to take place. We’ll have more details as soon as they’re available.
At the June 10 Stephens County Commissioners Court meeting, county fire chief Wayne McMullen said that the drought index for the county is low right now. That means that, unless something drastically changes within the next two weeks, fireworks stands will be allowed to sell fireworks in the county beginning June 24.
According to the Texas Local Government Code (Sec. 352.051), the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) must be at 575 or higher in the time leading up to the fireworks holiday in order for a county’s commissioners court to ban any type of fireworks. According to the KBDI website, on June 14, Stephens County had a minimum KBDI of 36 and a maximum of 258 (in a small area in the southwestern corner of the county) for an average of 83. In the case of extreme drought conditions that develop after June 15, the county would have to pursue an emergency declaration in order to limit fireworks sales.
The Texas Comptroller’s website states that fireworks sellers that have the appropriate permits and/or licenses may sell fireworks from June 24 through midnight on July 4.
Fireworks may be discharged/ignited on private property in the unincorporated areas of Stephens County. However, they may not be discharged/ignited on County-owned property, such as County Roads. Additionally, the City of Breckenridge’s Code of Ordinances states, “It shall be unlawful within the city limits for any person to sell, give away, or otherwise dispose of, or to shoot or discharge any squib, firecracker, torpedo, Roman candle, skyrocket or other thing containing powder or other explosive matter, or any fireball.”
Cutline, top photo: Fireworks lit up the sky over Hubbard Creek Lake during the 2023 Boomfest show. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
