Chamber Puts Final Touches on Olney In America Celebration

The Olney Chamber of Commerce is putting the finishing touches on plans for this year’s Olney in America celebration, including an expanded roster of food trucks and a 360 photo booth, Chamber director Kimberly Smith said.

Excitement about the July 3 event at the Olney Country Club was apparent, with $50 tickets for a post-show meetand- greet with concert headliner Aaron Watson selling out quickly, Mrs. Smith said.

The number of food trucks providing meals for the event has grown to 11, including Smackin’ Mac, Ragin’ Cajun, Funnel Vision, Tom’s Kettle Korn, Tiny Temptations, Carl’s Kitchen, Street Bites, Doughlato, Taqueria Los Andrades, Antojitos, and Old Time Funnel Cakes.

Attendees can memorialize their Fourth of July evening at the 360 photo booth, which captures a video of people on a rotating platform, she said. The 360 photo booth produces dynamic videos that can be slow-motion, boomeranged, or regular. The videos will cost $5 and will be transferred directly to the buyers’ phones, Mrs. Smith said.

The event, which is free to the public, will include VIP tents available for sponsorship and reserved seating, shuttle transportation, adult beverages provided by Olney Country Club, and free parking. Organizers expect attendance to exceed last year’s 1,400 participants, projecting up to 1,800 guests this year, driven largely by Mr. Watson’s popularity.

The organizers added extra porta-potties, generators, and lighting to accommodate a larger crowd, Mrs. Smith added.

Mr. Watson, known for hits such as “Outta Style” and “Bluebonnets,” agreed to perform at the Olney event after he was approached by Chamber board member Jake Randall, a family friend. Mrs. Smith credited sponsors such as Brazos Communications, Tower Extrusions, Air Tractor, Ace Hardware, Lunn Funeral Home, Smoking Guns BBQ, and Myers Oil, Farming and Ranch for making the headliner’s appearance financially feasible.

The Foster Sullivan Band, composed entirely of Olney High School students will take the stage ahead of Mr. Watson.

The gates at the Olney Country Club will open at 5:30 p.m., and the Foster Sullivan Band will perform first, followed by Mr. Watson, leading up to the fireworks display scheduled for approximately 9:30 p.m.

Local businesses and community members interested in sponsoring tents, lighting, sound, or other event components can contact Kimberly Smith at (940) 564-5445.