Houston Founders Day Saturday

HOUSTON — Join your friends and neighbors in celebration of Houston’s 48th birthday Saturday.

Events are planned as part of the annual Houston Founders Day celebration from noon to 10:30 p.m., Saturday, when a fireworks display is scheduled to cap the day.

Parade lineup starts at 5 p.m. at Houston Lodge and includes prizes and trophies for top three winners. For more information, call Mayor Virgie Thompson 892-6869.

Volunteers also are needed between 6 and 10:30 p.m. to help with the barbecue Saturday. To add your name to the list of volunteers, contact Chief Tom Hood at 892-6457.

New this year, Founders Day also includes a food drive to benefit the Mat-Su Food Bank. Donations will be accepted throughout the day or year-round at the Mat-Su Food Bank, 501 E. Bogard Road, Wasilla.

Other events Houston Founders Day 2014

include:

Houston Founders Day 2014 Schedule

• Noon to 10 p.m. — Vendors and Houston Fire Department Auxiliary Fundraising Garage Sale and Silent Auction

• 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. — Music by Element 47— high-energy classic rock of the ’70s and ’80s with touches of blues and country rock.

• 6:30 to 9 p.m. — Barbecue with free food

• 6 to 10 p.m. Petting zoo by Parties, Ponies and Friends — More than a dozen farm animals with petting and bottle-feeding stations

• 6 to 6:30 p.m. All About Dance Studio performs

• 6 to 10 p.m. — Houston Community Assessment and Pictorial History of Houston — Help plan Houston’s future at the Houston visitors center

• 6:30 to 10 p.m. — Kid’s games, huge slide

• 6:30 p.m. — LifeMed helicopter arrives

• 6:30 p.m. — Face painting

• 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. — Free balloon art

• 7 to 10 p.m. — Free poker tournament — $100 first prize, free continuous entry; preliminaries 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m.; final table 9 p.m.

• 7 to 10 p.m. — Bird Experience and Education — Alaska Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center

• 7:30 p.m. — Dunk tank

• 8 p.m. — Free adult egg toss, $100 1st prize

• 8:30 p.m. — Free cake walk

• 9 p.m. — Greased pole climb, $100 1st prize

• 9:30 p.m. — Free blueberry pie eating contest, $100 1st prize

• 9:45 p.m. — Rubber duck dunk, $500 1st prize projected

• 10 p.m. — Sky Lanterns Festival

• 10:30/Dark — Fireworks Spectacular