HAVE A FUN FOURTH IN ABILENE – The Fourth of July brings to mind barbecues, family and celebrating America’s independence. This summer take your family and friends out to one of Abilene’s many events during the Fourth of July weekend.

Take a short drive out to Buffalo Gap for Vintage Base Ball and an Old Fashioned Fourth of July, Saturday. The children’s parade begins at 10 a.m. on Mulberry Street and ends at the Historic Village. The Declaration of Independence will be read on the church steps. Free admission into Buffalo Gap Historic Village, 133 N. William in Buffalo Gap. For more information, call (325) 572-3365.

Decorate your bike, walk, wave your flag or sit along the route and enjoy the parade at the Hillcrest Neighborhood July 4th Parade, Saturday. The route begins at 2490 Campus Court and ends at Hillcrest Church of Christ with homemade ice cream and cookies. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information, call (325) 673-4565.

Put on your sunscreen, bring your lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of family fun at the Big Country Support the Troops July 4th Family Festival, Saturday. Activities, food booths, vendors, live entertainment and more begin at 4 p.m. and continue until dusk in Nelson Park, E.S. 11th Street and Loop 322. Fireworks display begins at dusk and is sponsored by Musgrave Enterprises. Admission is free. For more information, call (325) 518-9021.

Want a break from the heat? Come out for some hard-hitting, action-packed indoor football. The Abilene Ruff Riders take on the Odessa Roughnecks at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Taylor County Expo Center Coliseum. Tickets range from $5 to $20. Purchase tickets online at www.abileneruffriders.com. For more information, call the Front Office at (325) 370-6997.

Bring family and friends to the Abilene Zoo’s Thursday night “Sunset Safari.” Sunset Safari allows you to enjoy your visit longer during the summertime with extended hours until 9 p.m. This summer, the zoo is hosting the “Spots and Stripes Concert Series.” The Ball Family will perform clean, classic Western music at the outdoor summer concert series from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the zoo pavilion. Regular price for admission. Call (325) 676-6085 for ticket information.

Free performances of “Henry IV, Part One” will continue this week at the Abilene Shakespeare Festival in Abilene Christian University’s Fulks Theatre. The play begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Friday. The tone of this play alternates between very serious drama and fast-paced comedy. Call (325) 674-2787 for ticket information.

If you are taking a road trip for the Fourth of July weekend, be sure to have a Windshield History CD in your car! “Windshield History: Tales of the Texas Frontier from Fort Worth to Abilene, an Audio Tour of the Immigrants Trail West” tells entertaining and educational tales along U.S. Hwy 180 and TX Hwy 351. This production, along with the latest audio tour, “Windshield History: Tales of the Texas Frontier Audio Tour II Abilene to Fort Worth Interstate 20” are available for just $6 at the Abilene CVB, Frontier Texas!, Texas Star Trading Co., the Texas Store at Buffalo Gap Historic Village and www.texasstartrading.com.

Continue to be patriotic! The Center for Contemporary Arts will host July ArtWalk: Military Salute from 5 to 8:30 p.m. July 9. Bring the entire family to downtown Abilene where restaurants, shops, museums, galleries and entertainment await you. The Center coordinates monthly ArtWalk to celebrate visual and performing arts within the historical downtown district. Free to the public. For more information, visit www.center-arts.com or call (325) 677-8389.

For more information on Abilene’s attractions or events, visit www.abilenevisitors.com.



Shanna Smith is the Heritage Tourism & Special Projects Coordinator at the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. Contact at shanna@abilene.com.