At Denton’s holiday celebration, it’s not a party unless you’re involved.

t’s a hands-on Fourth of July. At Denton’s annual Jubilee, you can be an active participant. Don’t just watch the parade, march in it.Then try your hand at gutter boats and horseshoes, hotdog eating, and swimming. Finish off the festivities at a fireworks show where you can participate in the tradition of helping Denton kids.
 
So grab a flag and start waving—you’re needed to make the day complete.

A Jogging, Jumping, Jamming Jubilee
Your day can start early at the annual Liberty Run, a 2K walk and 5K run benefiting the Denton Parks and Recreation Department. Try not to get too tired, because you’re then needed to join the Yankee Doodle Parade. Everyone is encouraged to march around the Square to Civic Center Park. Deck the family in red, white, and blue, cover the stroller and tricycle with streamers, and join the fun.

The Jubilee continues with a flag-raising ceremony in front of city hall. Then it’s time for games—there’s a whipped-cream-eating contest you’ve got to enter. Kids jump themselves silly in the bounce house, or get into the spirit of the day by bringing patriotic-themed drawings to the children’s art show. Live music keeps the excitement high, and everyone gets a slice of “Happy Birthday, America” cake. The carnival ends at noon, but as Texas temperatures start to rise, you can cool off at Waterworks Park, open on the fourth at a special discounted price.

Soon it’s time to head to Fouts Field. The annual fireworks display begins after dark, but there’s plenty to do in the meantime such as eat and drink from various venders, toss a Frisbee, and listen to live, local music. While the fireworks can be seen all over town, guests in the stadium will see pyrotechnic displays choreographed to live music.
 
Kiwanis’ Children’s Clinic
The most hands-on part of the night? Your opportunity to support Denton kids.

The fireworks show is sponsored by the Denton Kiwanis Club. It’s the organization’s main fundraiser for their Children’s Clinic. The clinic, started in 1922, offers medical, dental, and prescription drug services to low-income kids in Denton County, treating 625 children last year.

Dr. Norman Pomerance has served as chairman of the children’s clinic committee for 11 years. “They won’t let me quit,” Pomerance jokes. He says working with the clinic is an opportunity to “give something back. Some of these kids are in bad shape, and we do as much as possible to help them,” he says.

While Kiwanis provides the July 4 fireworks show for free, the club sends members into the stands with their annual Bucket Brigade to seek donations. If you can’t give hands-on treatment like Dr. Pomerance, you can be an active participant by donating to the Brigade.

Here’s How to Help
Want to help this July 4? Volunteer with Denton Parks and Recreation, and you can staff the Liberty Run or games at the carnival. Call (940) 349-PARK for information. To help out with the fireworks display or the Children’s Clinic, get involved with the Kiwanis Club. The group meets every Tuesday at noon at the Radisson Hotel.