COUNTY LIFE

Mardi Gras events kick off in Nocona

Published

3 months ago

02/27/2025

Mardi Gras Nocona Style was launched Saturday night during the annual Mardi Gras kicking off a full week of activities for the entire family.
This is the 15th year for this unique celebration of small town Texas with a New Orleans twist. The Mardi Gras Ball was a sea of glitter and sparkle as guests dressed up in their best to enjoy music, dinner and dancing.
Larry and Donna Lemons were crowned the Mardi Gras King and Queen. The pair are longtime Nocona business owners and presently operate an art gallery in downtown Nocona featuring Lemons Texas State of Mind artwork and books.
The week will include a variety of parades from ATVs to family canines, capped off by the Big Parade on Saturday.
Nocona Chamber of Commerce is offering cash prizes for the first-third place winning floats in the “Big Parade” on March 1. First place will win $1,000, second place $500 and third place $250. It is free to enter to get you entry forms at nocona.org/events click on the Mardi Gras Nocona Style tab.
The Big Parade is the climax of a week of parades as it rolls out at 3 p.m. on March 1. It will be followed by a fish fry at the H.J. Justin building and live music at various venues in the community.

The parade activities begins on Friday with the decorated ATV parade at 5 p.m. Line-up begins at 4:30 p.m. at The VFW. Folks can enjoy a cajun boil at 5:30 p.m. at the Justin building.
Saturday opens early with a pancake breakfast at the VFW benefitting Lucky Paws Shelter. Serving begins at 8 a.m.
Run off all those carbs at 10 a.m. with the 5K Fun Run/Walk hosted by the Nocona High School Band. It will start in front of the H.J. Justin Building at East Oak and Clay.
Entry fee for the 5K is $35 and after Feb. 21 the fee goes up to $40. Race day registration is at 8 a.m. along with packet pickup at 102 Clay. Packet pickup and chip timing closes at 9:30 a.m. Age group awards will be given out for males and females in 10 year increments. Awards will be presented at the finish line.
Register at https://runsignup.com/…/Nocona/NoconaMardiGra5KFunRunWalk. The event also has a Facebook page.
Saturday is all about parades. The kid’s Shoebox Parade, sponsored by The Nocona News, is at 10 a.m. in the Justin Building, followed by the Kids Court at 11 a.m. There are three age categories for the contest: Ages 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13 and up. Adults are welcome to participate. Entry categories are shoebox (no boot boxes), cheese boxes (either size) and kitchen matchbox.

All shoebox floats must be turned in At Mary Beckham Davis Park the canines will step out in their costumes for the Krewe de Barkus parade. Pets and their people will go all out with their colorful outfits, with prizes for the top large above 30 pounds and small dogs under 30 pounds. Line-up begins at 10:30 a.m. Entry is free, but donations will be accepted for Lucky Paws Animal Shelter which sponsors the event. All dogs must be on a leash, be up-to-date on vaccines and no aggressive dogs.
The Kid’s parade will start at 2 p.m. on Clay Street followed by the Big Parade at 3 p.m. The Knights of Columbus will serve up a fish fry at the Justin building starting at 4 p.m.
On March 4 there will be a Fat Tuesday Benefit Dinner for Meals on Wheels at Red River Pizzeria starting at 5:30 p.m.

COUNTY LIFE

Free Music in the Park Festival on June 14

Published

3 days ago

06/05/2025

bowienews

Make plans to enjoy a leisure Saturday in the park at the Music in the Park Festival on June 14 in Bowie’s Pelham Park.
Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and set up under the oak trees that fill the park near the amphitheater. This is the second year for this free festival as it expands to a full day hosted by the Bowie Community Center and R&K Sound Company.
The day opens with a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Pelham Park Pavillion. Pre-race warm-up begins at 8:10 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be first-third place winners in each age category.
Entry fee is $35 and participants receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clear Choice Pregnancy Resource Center. Enter at the QR code on the Clear Choice Facebook page or email fourseasonsraceseries@gmail.com.
Live accoustic music opens the free festival starting at 11:30 a.m. with Corbin Woolsey, Blake Mangus, Tiffany Chandler, Sara White and Dillon Edwards. Other live music that day will include Bad Daddy Band and Bricktown Band. ZZ Texas, a ZZ Top tribute band will take the stage at 8 p.m. Live music continues until 10 p.m.
There will be food truck vendors, bounce houses (fee) and vendors. Guests are allowed to bring beer in a cooler, but no soda pop or similar drinks. There will be a $5 cooler fee.
Those with questions may call Bonnie at 940-872-4861 or Kenny at 817-704-9847.

COUNTY LIFE

Nocona Chamber presents annual awards

Published

3 days ago

06/05/2025

bowienews

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Members of the Nocona Chamber of Commerce celebrated their past year during the annual awards banquet Monday night surrounded by theme of “Roaring ‘20s.”
A beautiful array of tables welcomed guests to the annual event in the H.J. Justin Building in downtown Nocona. Longtime chamber member and local businessman Larry Lemons welcomed the group and shared his tale of the benefits of being in the chamber of commerce in humorous verse.
“If you love seeing deliberate strides in your community,” you may want to be a chamber member. He pointed to the chamber’s efforts to promote the town, welcome visitors and promote business members.

Hobie Meekins of Wells Fargo Bank was named Chamber Citizen of the Year.

Read the full story and see more photos in the Thursday Bowie News.

Top photo: The Carpenter Shop was named Organization of the Year by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce.

Hobie Meekins was named Citizen of the Year by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce Monday night. (Photo by Barbara Green)

COUNTY LIFE

Cruisin’ Nocona opens Friday

Published

3 days ago

06/05/2025

bowienews

For the 12th year in a row Nocona celebrates the automobile with Cruisin’ Nocona on June 6-7 with a slate of events across downtown.
This event, hosted by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce, made the move from May to June in 2025, but the activities remain the same.
The festivities kick off Friday morning with registration and check-in from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the H.J. Justin Building, 100 Clay Street. That will be followed by a breakfast burrito fundraiser (by donation) benefiting Nocona Lucky Paws from 9 to 10 a.m. It is open to everyone, even those not participating in the cruise.
Chamber organizers explained due to state regulations the cruise can no longer be called a “poker run,” but it will contain a “game component” that will have the same spirit of fun as prior events as everyone enjoys the spring countryside. There will be case prizes of $200, $100 and $50 for first, second and third places.
At 11 a.m. the cruise and game begin, followed by a barbecue lunch at 1 p.m. prepared by the Nocona High School BBQ Team, also at the Justin Building. The cruise resumes at 2:20 p.m. and concludes at Nocona Beer at the Brewery by 4:15 p.m., with game winners announced at 4:30 p.m.
The evening wraps up with the Dark of the Moon Lighted Truck Convoy at 8:30 p.m., traveling down Clay Street and back to the brewery.
June 7 begins with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Justin Building, featuring pancakes, sausage, fruit, coffee, and orange juice. The breakfast is by donation and open to anyone in the community, benefiting American Legion Riders Chapter 220.
At 10 a.m. registration opens for the Car, Motorcycle, and Working Truck Show, with judging beginning at 1 p.m. Kids can join the fun during the Power Wheels Races at 2 p.m. (vehicles must be unmodified and child-operated). The awards ceremony begins at 4 p.m. followed by a live concert by Tin Rivers.
Additional highlights on Saturday include local vendors, food trucks, shopping, and the Trucking Thru Time Rolling Truck Museum, making this a full day of fun for all ages.