250th Anniversary Independence Day Parade Invitation
Speaker: City of Heath Mayor Jeremiah McClure

This year's Independence Day celebration will be one for the history books, as our nation marks its 250th anniversary of independence. And here in Heath, we're celebrating in a very special way with our annual July 4th parade, followed by a big grand opening of the newly renovated Towne Center Park. The festivities began at 9 a.m. and it's going to be unbelievable.

Participants should arrive, if you're going to be in the parade at the Amy Parks Elementary School beginning at 8 a.m.. Okay. We're also going to have judging for all your floats at 8:30. And then the parade is going to kick off at 9:00. Entry details are available on the city's website, and we're hoping for more creative and patriotic floats than ever before.

So go get and gather your friends, your churches, your businesses, anyone that wants to be in it. Go to the website. Be part of this fun tradition. 

One of the most meaningful traditions of the day is honoring our Heath veterans and active military members. So we invite all who have served or currently serving to ride and or walk with our veteran float.

We'll have that all set up. Come down. Be here at 8:00, right here at City Hall at the fire bay. We're going to have donuts and coffee for you veterans, so please come jump on that float. It's going to be a wonderful ride. 

Immediately following the parade, the celebration is going to continue. It's going to continue at the Towne Center Park with an official grand opening

It has been years of planning and investment that have gone into this project, and we're very excited to officially open this park on this historic day. So beginning at 10 a.m., you're going to enjoy live music, food trucks, free popsicles, prize drawings, and activities for the entire family. So we're also adding something that's going to be even better.

So the Sandlot Junior Home Run Derby for the first time ever here. And it is going to start at 10:30. So players that are aged 14 and under can participate with all of those proceeds benefiting the PATH, which is our Parks and Trails Heath fundraising program. It's just $10 for ten pitches and the registration will be on site at the city's tent when you come.

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, the City of Heath will also receive the Music Friendly Texas certification designation from our one and only Governor, Greg Abbott's Texas Music Office. This is another major milestone worth celebrating here in Heath. This is going to be more than the 4th of July celebration. It's an opportunity to commemorate America's 250th birthday, honor those who have served our country and gather as a community to open this park. That's obviously going to serve us for generations to come.

I hope you'll join us for this memorable day from my family to yours. Have a safe and happy Independence Day and we'll see you on July 4th.