The Fort Stockton Water Carnival begins its 90th annual celebration Thursday night with three evenings of pageants, performances and community events at the Comanche Springs Swimming Pool.
This year’s production, “Stars & Stripes USA 250 — WC 90 Birthday Bash,” commemorates nine decades of the community tradition while also looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Events are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 16-18. Gates open at 7 p.m. each evening, with pageants beginning at 8 p.m.
The Tiny Tot and Wee Miss pageants will be held Thursday. Miss Sub Teen and Miss Teen contestants will take the stage Friday, followed by the Junior Miss and Miss Fort Stockton pageants Saturday.
The Water Carnival production, directed by Angela Harral, will follow the pageants each night.
Reserved seating is available online while supplies last. General admission tickets may be purchased for $10 in cash at the Fort Stockton Chamber of Commerce or at the gate.
The annual Water Carnival Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. Participants will line up at 9:30 a.m. at the Old Comanche School.
Additional parking will be available near Historic Fort Stockton, with golf cart shuttles transporting attendees to and from the pool. Outside lawn chairs will not be permitted inside the venue.
A Water Carnival history open house will also be held at the historic Rollins-Sibley House and Hovey School, directly across from the pool. The exhibit will feature photographs, costumes, props, memorabilia and stories from the carnival’s 90-year history.
Community members are invited to bring their own photographs, costume pieces, props and memories to help document and preserve the tradition.
The open house will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
