July 4 Blues Concert featuring "Beautiful Bobby" Blackmon

National blues artist "Beautiful Bobby" Blackmon will make his first blues concert in Athens since 1960, that will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 4 on the Courthouse square. Also international blues recording artist, Zac Harmon and his band will perform.

"Beautiful Bobby" Blackmon will be singing songs from his CDs. He has appeared on shows with Buddy Guy and BB King as well as numerous other blues acts at festivals in Florida where he resides. Bobby is a graduate of Fisher High School Class of 1960, which will be celebrating their class reunion in Athens July 3-6.

This is a free concert and open to the public to attend, so come on out and have some fun. 

For more information, please click here.

Fourth of July Fireworks at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center July 4

One of the biggest fireworks displays in East Texas will light up the skies over the Texas Freshwater
Fisheries Center and adjacent Lake Athens on Friday, July 4.

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for regular paid visitation. Free admission for the fireworks show will start at 4 p.m.

Visitors are encouraged to fish in the stocked casting pond until 8:30 p.m. while waiting for the fireworks, which will begin about 9 p.m. No license is required to fish, and bait and tackle are furnished for free as long as supplies last.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and people are encouraged to bring picnics. KCKL (FM 95.9) will broadcast patriotic music during the show.

Pets, alcohol, tobacco products and private fireworks, including "snap caps" and sparklers, are not allowed.

The event has become an area tradition, with many people dressing in red, white and blue in keeping with the holiday theme.

Parking is available in the main TFFC parking lot and in an overflow parking area on Peninsula Point Road. Persons using the overflow parking may enter through Gate C, which is across the street from the parking area.

For more information, please click here.

National Fishing Day at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center June 7

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens will kick off National Fishing and Boating Week on June 7 by making a family fishing trip affordable with free admission for kids 12 and under plus free fishing for the whole family.


Free hot dogs, chip and drinks will be served from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families may also win prizes in a catfishing tournament at TFFC’s casting pond. Anglers may fish as individuals or as teams with an adult assisting a child.

In addition to fishing, visitors can walk the wetlands trail; see a diver hand feed fish; learn about the history of fishing in the freshwater fishing museum; shop for gifts in the Flat Creek Bait ‘n Goods Gift Shop and watch the alligator feeding at 3:30 p.m.

National Fishing and Boating Week comes at the start of the summer vacation season and is designed to encourage families to spend time together on and around water. No fishing license is required anywhere in the state on the first Saturday in June, which is designated Free Sportfishing Day.

For more information about National Fishing Day, please click here.