In case you missed all the red, white and blue, there’s a bit of a to-do this weekend in Kilgore and across the US of A.
Saturday marks America’s Semiquincentennial (that’s 250 years, for the rest of us) and the local Daughters of the American Revolution weren’t going to let it pass without due honors – the Samuel Paul Dinkins Chapter has put together an America 250 Red White and Blue Parade to roll out at 9:30 a.m. July 4th.
“We are putting on the first Fourth of July parade – we think, ever – in Kilgore,” says co-organizer Martha Deen. Marking a quarter-millennium for the United States, “It’s a pretty big deal, you know?”
(Top: Fireworks explode over Kilgore City Park during the 2025 Fourth of July Extravaganza. Photo by Chelsea Katz)
It’s a milestone that won’t come again, and there’s plenty of space along Kilgore Street and Kay Street for locals to crowd in with their best red, white and blue, cheering on three dozen or so entries the morning of Independence Day 2026.
“We’re going to have veterans, Rangerettes, the Kilgore Roller Hockey Team, lots of classic cars with different dignitaries in them, some floats from churches,” Deen said, along with participants from 4 Star Cinema and other businesses alongside first responder vehicles and more.
Mayor Ronnie Spradlin is the parade’s Grand Marshal, accompanied by Paul Revere resurrected in spirit by Pepper Stuart – about a year ago, Deen said, members of the local DAR chapter saw Stuart in character riding her horse around Marshall’s town square. They invited the performer to visit a meeting locally, presented her with a Youth Leadership Award and invited Stuart to become Kilgore’s honorary Grand Marshal for their July 4th revelries.
“What we wanted to do, especially for young people, is to promote patriotism, to promote love of country,” Deen said. “America right now needs all of that it can get. Kids need to be proud to live in America, this grand experiment.”
A wildly successful experiment, she added.
“Greatest nation in the world. We are so thrilled that we have been America for 250 years. We want to instill that in our kids and young people, to be proud to be Americans. We hope that the memory of this parade and America’s 250th birthday will help do that.”
Kilgore Police Department’s Angela Burch will lead the parade through downtown, Deen added. The longtime KPD officer is retiring at the end of this month, and the DAR members are pleased to put her in the spotlight once more: “We are very excited. She loves doing parades. She’s helping us with it the whole way through – she’s doing it because she loves it and loves Kilgore.”
The parade route officially begins on South Kilgore Street between the Texan Theater and the Old U.S. Post Office. Participants will roll northeast through downtown, taking North Kilgore Street to turn right on Kay and head toward a final turn at Wood Street to reach Kilgore City Park.
“We are hoping to begin with the parade, then it will flow right into enjoying the splash pad and the pool which is free that day… then blend right into the city park and the Kilgore Fourth of July Extravaganza which goes right into the music and the fireworks.”
The splash pad will be open 11 am to 8 pm Saturday and its 11-6 for the pool as the City of Kilgore’s America250 Fourth of July Extravaganza officially kicks-off at 6 pm at Kilgore City Park. Fireworks begin after 9 pm and the display will be simulcast by KDOK 105.3, synchronized with patriotic music courtesy of local veteran of the airwaves Chuck Conrad.
From City of Kilgore, “Join us July 4 at Kilgore City Park for food vendors, family fun, an inflatable obstacle course, free pool admission and a fireworks show after 9 pm. Bring your lawn chairs and celebrate America’s 250th birthday with us. We can’t wait to see you there!”
