Sirens blared early Tuesday morning from the big red engines of the Pampa Fire Department, but there was no cause for concern. The sirens were, instead, a call to celebration, as they marked the beginning of the festivities of the Hometown Independence Day Celebration. Generously hosted by the City of Pampa, the Chamber of Commerce, and many local business sponsors, the celebration was filled with promises of fun and activities for young and old.
Activities began early that morning with a 5k, followed by the parade which started at MK Brown and ran the length of Somerville through downtown. The parade showcased several local businesses with a wide array of vehicles both classic and modern, decorated trailers, and equestrians. Parade riders tossed candy and trinkets to the enthusiastic crowd that gathered along both sides of the streets.
The fun-filled day continued through the evening at Recreation Park with many more activities including eating contests, a fishing derby, cornhole, pony rides, a rock climbing wall, dunking booth, live music, food, vendors, phase two of the Pampa Duck Derby, foam party, meet and greet with viral video star Back-it-Up Terry, and finally a veteran’s salute before launching into a grand fireworks display. The fireworks show was Pampa’s biggest yet, running right at 20 minutes long.
Congratulations are in order to all the competition winners; Blake for catching the biggest fish at the kid’s fishing derby, Bobby Abad who’s duck was hand-picked by Back-it-Up Terry in the derby to win a private party at Pampa H20, Kasey Presson for his second year in a row win in the pie eating contest, and Aeiron Keller for winning the Four for the Fourth singer/songwriter contest.
