News

Planning under way for city's second annual Block Party & Laser Show

From Daily News staff reports

Indoor plumbing may have arrived in East Texas several decades ago, but outhouses will see a brief resurgence in downtown Henderson in late July, though not in the usual form.

They will be racing down East Main Street during the first outhouse race as part of festivities planned for the second annual Henderson Block Party/Laser Light Show scheduled for Saturday, July 30.

Suzanne Cross, Henderson tourism coordinator and Main Street director, said she borrowed the outhouse racing idea from Mount Pleasant, which has a famous outhouse race during its summer festival every year.

With five teams already signed up, Cross is encouraging as many businesses and civic groups as possible to sign up teams.

Teams consisting of three members will race 300 feet starting at Citizens National Bank headed east toward the toilet paper finish line.

Cross said event organizers hope the man-pushed outhouse races will become an annual event. Cash prizes and plaques will be awarded to the first through third place finishers and for the "best outhouse."

"Paint them, decorate them," Cross said.

One person wearing a helmet and seatbelt will be driving mobile outhouses, while two other people push the human-powered device.

The structures must be a minimum of four feet tall with three solid sidewalls, a roof and resemble an outhouse, weigh at least 200 pounds but can be made out of any material except styrofoam, plastic and cardboard.

Block party attendees can see all the entries during a parade planned to proceed the actual races scheduled to begin about 6:15 p.m.

Cross said times could vary somewhat depending on how hot the day gets.

Also new for this year, ice cream lovers can participate in the free ice cream "freezeoff" by making their own homemade ice cream to enter in a contest.

The frozen art can be made onsite or delivered prior to judging.

"All dashers and cranks or motors must have been removed and ice cream must be kept in the original freezer," Cross said regarding the ice cream freeze-off.

Henderson Civic Theatre's children's production, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" will also be starting at 7:30 p.m. for families wanting to beat the heat of downtown Henderson streets.

Children will also enjoy playing in the 60-by-20-foot water wars game area set up to keep them cool.

Live entertainment throughout the day will be provided by the Brooze Brothers Band. "They're Henderson's number one group. They have the black sunglasses, white shirts, black hats and black ties, just like the 'Blues Brothers,' " Cross said.

Benny Ray, a one-man show, will provide musical entertainment during the street dance scheduled for 10 p.m. to midnight.

- For the rest of this story, please see the Tuesday, July 5, 2005 edition of the Henderson Daily News -

Just Fun Stuff

Ford Quality Car full story...

Soap Box Races full story...

 

Welcome | Products | Portfolio | Colors | Fonts | Graphics | Guidelines | Download | Contact Us |