Communities promise blast on July 4; Smithart concert to highlight Jubilee
By LAURA CHILDRESS

With no threat of rain in Friday’s forecast, area municipalities are promising residents a blast this Fourth of July.

Oak Point will kick off the day this Friday, July 4, with its annual Indepence Day Celebration.

The fun will begin with a parade at 10 a.m. that will begin in the Crescent Oaks subdivision and end at the community park Jake’s Place (next to city hall). Parade line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Stagecoach and Muleta.

The 2008 Citizen of the Year will be recognized at 10:30.

Games and activities for kids of all ages will follow from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities will include crafts, music, a hula hoop contest, tug-of-war, horseshoe pitching, face tattoos, a water slide and pick-up softball and basketball games.

Free food and drinks, including brisket sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, tea, lemonade and water, will be served from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in the community room.

Volunteers, donations and business sponsors are needed. Booth spaces are also available.

To volunteer or for more information, call city hall at 972-294-2312.

Little Elm will continue the festivities with its July Jubilee beginning at 4 p.m. in Little Elm Park.

Among the highlights will be a free concert and CD release party by new national recording artist Jeff Smithart of Little Elm, immediately followed by a spectacular fireworks show over Lewisville Lake.

Smithart, a Little Elm fan favorite for years, is celebrating the release of his debut CD “Redneck Proud” under the Mirror Image Nashville label.

“I had the opportunity to have the CD release party in Nashville, but I wanted to have it in Little Elm,” Smithart said.

The homegrown talent, who recalls fishing on Lewisville Lake with distant cousin Stevie Ray Vaughan as a teen, says his is no overnight success story, but one a lifetime in the making.

“I’ve been doing this for 27 years,” he said.

After seeking a recording contract for years, Smithart said he finally found the support he had been searching for following a meeting with local developer Brett Cochran of Braewood Development, for whom he had been doing some work in his day job as a building contractor.

“I’m a big supporter of Jeff’s stepping out and going for his dream,” Cochran said. “If you’re allowed to have the freedom to take a leap for your dream, you’ll discover it will be delivered.

“I saw Jeff’s passion and feeling in this project,” he added, “and feel it’s important to support people who have that dream and desire.

“Jeff took that leap, and it’s amazing how all the components of this project came together with such ease.” “The timing was right, and now I’m living the dream,” Smithart said.

After signing on with Mirror Image Nashville in April, Smithart then went to work on recording his debut CD, with Brandon Lynn Shane as producer and Braewood as executive producer.

“This isn’t just any CD,” Smithart said. “It’s top-notch. The performers on this CD are all top people from Nashville. We had Tracy Lawrence’s fiddle player, Randy Travis’ lead guitarist and the 2007 CMA steel player of the year, who all play regularly at the Grand Ole Opry.” The CD includes six songs penned by Smithart, along with six by Nashville writers.

Smithart notes the title track, “Redneck Proud,” a tribute to Dale Earnhard Jr. and the legendary NASCAR family, has been generating a lot of buzz.

“I wanted the song to be an anthem for NASCAR and the redneck culture,” he said, “and the response I’ve been getting has been favorable.” Smithart notes the CD also includes a bonus track, his cousin Stevie Ray’s own “Pride and Joy.” “We also received a great review from Terry Dorsey of KSCS, who noted he was continually amazed by the talent coming out of Texas,” Cochran said.

Smithart was also one of the featured artist at Fanfare during the CMA Music Festival.

As he comes home to celebrate in this Friday’s special concert, Smithart, who has been described as a cross between George Strait and Brooks and Dunn, notes that those new to his music can expect a high-energy show.

“Through the music we’ve been able to attract a strong back-up band,” he said. “I’ll have an eight-piece band behind me, including Ronnie Miller, Charlie Pride’s steel player, Phil Taylor, who also played for Charlie Pride, and Ben Logan of Logan’s Sound in Plano on bass.” “It’s an honor to have Jeff perform at this show for his CD release party, since the label wanted to do it this spring,” Cochran said.

Smithart invites residents to the CD release party immediately following the fireworks presentation, where he’ll also be signing autographs.

“We really want people to come out and support their local talent and find out what this album is all about,” Cochran said.

Cochran added that a portion of the proceeds will go to charity.

July Jubilee will also include a wide variety of vendors, entertainment, and an entire children’s area.

Town officials note that no public parking will be allowed in the park because of ongoing construction.

Instead, residents may park and ride shuttles from one of four locations: Little Elm High School, Chavez Elementary, Little Elm Junior High and Little Elm Athletic Stadium. The athletic stadium has been designated as the main area for handicapped parking, with a handicapped equipped bus to assist those in need of this transportation.

Shuttle service will be provided by Durham Transportation and run from 3:30 p.m. until after the conclusion of the fireworks.