Wow! Can you believe it’s already time for AquaBoom 2017? The 48th Annual AquaBoom will be held on July 1-4 with four fun -filled days of fun and sun, and a little pomp and circumstance thrown in for good measure. With 47 years behind it, for generations this “Granddaddy” of all the Hill Country celebrations has been attended by lifetime residents and new transplants, tourists and locals, young and old. This year’s Celebration – with the theme Red, White, and BOOM! - will be no exception.
The Annual AquaBoom will be held July 1-4, with events taking place throughout the community. You can expect music, arts & crafts, tournaments, BBQ and chili cook-offs, parades, water events, a remote controlled air show, a patriotic concert, children’s activities, pony rides, a street dance and so much more! We try to load this weekend with events so that visitors and members of our community can find entertainment and a great family celebration weekend here in the Hill Country. With the exception of a few competitive events where registration fees apply, the entire weekend is a no-cost celebration in tribute to this great country.
We begin the holiday weekend with the patriotic Veteran’s Dinner on Friday, June 30th, held at and hosted by the Chapel of the Hills Baptist Church in Buchanan Dam. Volunteers will be catering steak dinners to 150+ people, including veterans, their families, and people from the community and surrounding areas. This event is open to the public, contact Chapel of the Hills Baptist Church for reservations.
Saturday July 1st is full of activities for all ages. Starting the day is the Annual AquaBoom Golf Tournament held at Lighthouse Country Club. Lighthouse and the Lone Star BBQ Society are also hosting the AquaBoom State Championship BBQ Cook-Off that day, alongside the newly sanctioned CASI Chili Cook-off. Have you ever dreamed of being a pilot? The Highland Lakes Flyers will be holding their Annual Flights of Fancy model aircraft demonstration and anyone ages 6 and up can experience hands-on piloting with experienced instructors. Top Gun, anyone?
That evening holds the Annual Miss Aqua Boom Scholarship Pageant presented at the Kingsland Community Center, with categories from Little Mister to Miss Aqua Boom. The scholarship awarded to Miss Aqua Boom is $3500 - one of the biggest scholarships in our area - and is open to residents of Llano and Burnet counties.
This year’s Arts and Craft Show will be held in a new location just off RR1431, behind M&M Donuts. With oak trees overhead, grass under your feet, and plenty of parking, this venue is the perfect location to come out and enjoy a day of fun for the whole family. Over 40 vendors from around the state will be joining us this year. For the kids we’ll have pony rides, Shortcake the Clown, inflatables and Fly the Earth, just to name a few. Come let our Braiding Booth help you show your patriotic pride with red, white and blue ribbons in your hair! Don’t forget to stop by the Chamber of Commerce tent and get your “We Lit Up Kingsland” t-shirt, along with your Sea Doo Raffle tickets. Food and music will be rounding out the day and there will be a stand selling fireworks to help you get started on your own celebration.
Activity picks up at the Kingsland Community Park on Sunday, July 2 with Horseshoe and Washer Tournaments, or you can try your hand at the Poker Run on the River. Then, take your winnings back down to the Arts and Crafts Show for some more shopping and fun for the kiddos! After you’ve worked up an appetite, head on over to the First Baptist Church where they’ll be serving our Annual Patriotic Meal (BBQ this year!) followed by the Patriotic Concert.
This community really knows how to show its guests a good time, and Monday, July 3, is the perfect opportunity to step out about town and feel the welcome. No matter what your pleasure, Kingsland has something for everyone. Shop our local boutiques, hit one of our courses for a round of golf, lunch at one of our fabulous places to eat, relax in one of our luxurious spas, or just spend a lazy day on the river soaking up the sun. Kingsland is truly a hidden secret. Come and discover its bounty. Be sure and get plenty of rest, because Monday night you’ll want to put your dancin’ boots on and join us for our Annual Street Dance at First United Bank, located on RR2900.
And that brings us to the highlight of our 4-day celebration, INDEPENDENCE DAY! This is the day we all work towards, and it shows in the pride and camaraderie you’ll see as the community gathers along RR1431 and RR2900 early on the morning of the 4th. Be sure and get your seat early – the parade route fills up fast! There are two parades, the Children’s Parade and the Land Parade, and everyone is welcome to show their creativity with an entry. Along the parade route you will find food vendors, snow cones, carnivals, and an all-around general good time.
By later that afternoon, you can feel the excitement in the air as everyone makes their way down to the 2900 Bridge. We have food, music, a boat parade, a rubber ducky race, and more! The culmination of our celebration – the moment we’ve all been waiting for - is an awe-inspiring Fireworks Show that celebrates the freedom that this beautiful country affords us every day. We hope you’ll join us this year! For more information and a complete Schedule of Events, please visit www.kingslandaquaboom.com or contact Kingsland Chamber of Commerce at 325-388-6211.
