La Feria Residents Gather for 9th Annual Independence Day Celebration

Photos by Alma Martinez

The City of La Feria held its 9th Annual 4th of July Independence Day Celebration Saturday, July 4, at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Popup showers early in the afternoon caused organizers to postpone the Red, White and Blue 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament (rescheduled for the following Saturday, this past weekend) but that did not deter participants and vendors from making the most of the rest of the day.

Celebration mainstays such as the water slides, moon jump, train, vendors and sack race were supplemented by new activities such as the watermelon eating contest, water balloons and the veterans motorcycle show.

Grill masters once again came out early to compete in the Smokin Heroes Bar-B-Q Cook Off, an International Barbecue Cooks Association sanctioned event now in its fifth year. After the judging, many competitors offered their barbecue to the public for tasting.

More photos:

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Raffle Winners:

Veterans Raffle

48” Vizio Smart TV – Robert Pardo

Public Raffle

4 pack Movie Passes – Olga Oberwetter

32” Vizio TV – Mary Hernandez

HP Laptop – Abigail Gutierrez

5 Burner Gas Grill – Selena Hernandez

5^th Annual Smokin Heroes’ Bar BQ Cook Off Winners

Grand Champion          Michael River        Blowin Smoke Cooking Team

Reserve Grand Champion  Raul Rodriquez         R.J Big Boy Cooking Team

Pork Rib Category

1^st. Oscar Garcia       Sons of Smoak Cooking  Team

2^nd. Michael  River   Blowin Smoke  Cooking  Team

3^rd. David Smeyer       J.D. Xtreme  Cooking Team

Beef Brisket Category

1^st.  Richard Sanchez        So Far So Good  Cooking Team

2^nd. Michael River    Blowin Smoke  Cooking  Team

3^rd. Chad Villanueva Bros Bar BQ cooking Team

Chicken Category

1^st. Raul Rodriquez         R.J Big Boy Cooking Team

2^nd. Javier Lara     The Smoking Mafia BBQ Team

3^rd. David Smeyer       J.D. Xtreme  Cooking Team

Jack Pot Category’s

Pinto Beans

1^st. Andy Galvan      Smokin G’s Cooking Team

2^nd. Everardo Villarreal       Kool Arrows Cooking Team

Fajita’s

1^st. Hugo Garcia         Kansas City Kookers  Cooking Team

2^nd. David Smeyer       J.D. Xtreme  Cooking Team