Photos courtesy of Balmorhea Councilwoman Bernadette Portillo.
‘Balmorhea Labor Day Parade’ to honor workforce heroes
The Balmorhea Labor Day Parade is set to take to the streets Saturday, Aug. 31, with the event rolling out at 10 a.m. from C.T. Gray Park and passing through downtown Balmorhea, with the crux of the action between Houston and Mill Streets.
With more than 100 floats, the parade will have the theme of “Honoring Workforce Heroes: Past, Present & Future,” said Parade Coordinator Daniel Alvarado. Balmorhea State Park Superintendent Torrey Bonham will serve as the Grand Marshal.
Organizers from The Heroes & Heritage Parade Planning Committee encouraged community participation with floats showcasing local workforce heroes, using buggies, golf carts or pickups with a company logo. School bands, sporting teams and academic teams were also encouraged to participate alongside school staff.
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Alvarado said onlookers can expect carts, tractors and horses representing the past, teachers and other workers signifying the present and a futuristic drone fleet and kids representing the future in the parade. Parade floats will start lining up at 8 a.m. at the park, with the Balmorhea Lake Improvement Group coming in at 9 a.m. After the 10 a.m. parade launch, it will eventually end up at Balmorhea Community Center.
“By integrating local members, educators, city officials, and first responders into the parade, we create a special occasion that celebrates the diverse contributions of our heroes,” said organizers.
The fun continues when the parade passes through a festival (also happening Sunday) in downtown Balmorhea, complete with the Annual Washer Tournament, local food trucks, crafts, clothing, art vendors, live DJ, children’s activities and other fun around Balmorhea Lake and State of Texas Park spring water pool.
Alvarado said vendors will be lined up from the area around Matta’s Burger Place to Blue Rock Shop and that community members can show up downtown as early as 7:30 a.m. for the festival. “We’ll take everybody as they come,” he said.
Organizers encourage the community to print the flyer to place in public spaces to spread the word about the parade and festival. Questions? Contact Daniel Alvarado, Balmorhea Labor Day parade coordinator, at (432) 236-8877 or daniel@reevescounty.org or Rosa Domínguez, Balmorhea Labor Day Festival event planner at rosadominguez55@yahoo.com or (432) 448-1697.
