Olney in America brings hometown music, food trucks, fireworks June 29
The Olney Chamber of Commerce is in the last throes of preparing for the Third Annual Olney in America celebration on June 29 with a fireworks display, a concert and food truck extravaganza, that spotlights local talent, Chamber Director Deidre Brown said.
The event, which is free to the public, takes place at the Olney Country Club at 1 Bankhead Dr. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. this year, and the concert begins at 6:30 p.m. The fireworks show, sponsored by Tower Extrusions and performed by Ridinger Fireworks of Wichita Falls, starts at dark – or around 9:45 p.m., Ms. Brown said.
Olney in America drew more than 1,500 people last year, and signs are that it will be at least as popular this year. The Chamber sold out of tents two weeks before the event and encouraged attendees to bring lawn chairs and blankets. The Chamber will have a large community tent with tables and chairs for people to sit and eat from a bevy of food trucks and local food vendors.
Lemonade Express will be back for its third year at the festival, and Magdelena’s is back with Mexican fare, she said. Asian fusion truck Fast and Furious Express from Lewisville will join the celebration for the first time, as well as Yum Pig, a barbecue truck from Oklahoma City that competed in the Graham Food Truck Championship this year. Antojitos food truck from Wichita Falls brings Baja California-style tacos, nachos, sandwiches, and skewers. Local favorites participating this year include Roland G’s Barbecue and Tex-Mex, owned by Opie Garcia, Longhorn Mini-Donuts, Loaves and Dishes, selling fruit and agua fresca, and Cyuss’ Confections, offering dessert.
Ms. Brown was working on securing vendors for pizza, snowcones, and cotton candy, she said.
Olney singer-songwriter Race Ricketts returns to headline the concert this time, with locals Casey Keeter and Kevin Bullock as the opening act. “Last year, Race was our opening act,” Ms. Brown said. “He has gained in popularity and a lot of people wanted to see him come back this year. We switched gears and went back to local guys this year.”
Mr. Ricketts has had two songs climb the charts in the past few months. His anthem to the local area code, “940,” peaked at No. 10 in Ft. Worth radio station 94.9’s “The Ranch Top 12,” and his duet with Presley Haile “You Don’t Deserve Writing a Song About,” now sits at No. 2 on the countdown. Ms. Haile also will appear with Mr. Ricketts and will sing the National Anthem, Ms. Brown said.
She said that the Kid Zone Attraction will feature four interactive games and yard games such as cornhole and the washer toss. All-access tickets for the Kid Zone are available for $5.
Special guests at this year’s festival include Rep. David Spiller and developer-TV producers Lance and Corey Groves, who will be filming the festivities for their upcoming “Rural Route Revival,” a “Fixer-Upper”-style documentary series that features the City of Olney in its first season. Lance Groves said his crews will be filming drone shots and may mingle with the crowds. The Olney High School Class of 2003 rented a tent for their 20th reunion, she said.
The Chamber is asking for donations for parking, with all proceeds benefiting the Olney Volunteer Fire Department. VIP parking passes are now on sale at the Chamber for $20, and include a golf cart ride from the parking area to the event entrance, Ms. Brown said. Guests may purchase alcohol onsite, and event staff will conduct cooler checks.
Sponsors include Brazos Communications, Tower Extrusions, Beyond Faith Hospice, First State Bank, Stewart’s Food Store, Spirit of Texas Ranch, Olney Hamilton Hospital, Hometown Coffee & Tea, Christopher D. Baran, the Olney Country Club, Ingleside Ranch, Fort Belknap Electric Cooperative, Hersteller May Graphic Design, Printing & Apparel, Rocky Hickam Towing, Johnny Moore State Farm Insurance, 1966 Productions, Don’s Butane and Olney Fuel & Supply, Riddle Firearms, Here’s Your Sign, Burch Construction, Roger’s Drilling Co, 3T Meats, CenterWell Home Health, Callie Hicks Brooker Real Estate, Trudy Capps, Lunn Funeral Home, John & Cherrye Meredith, FUMC Olney, Olney Interbank, Anderson Ranch Graphics, Horizon Country Church, Jan Myers, Rue & Anna Rogers, Kelli Cuba - Team Legacy Real Estate and others.