After being forced to cancel last year’s event due to the pandemic, a three-day summer celebration with music, barbecue, softball and fireworks seems like a perfect way to shake off any remaining effects of social distancing.

Sealybration organizers say they are prepared for record-setting crowds at B&PW Park, located at 145 Lux Road, when the annual summer festival runs from July 9 to 11.

“We are extremely excited and hopeful. We expect the biggest crowd yet,” said Melanie Willingham, president of the Sealy Community Foundation. The gates open at 5 p.m. Friday, giving visitors a chance to check out the specialty booths and carnival while the barbecue cookoff gets underway.

Visitors can climb on the mechanical bull from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday. The Stars and Strikes Classic Softball tournament gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Other competitions that begin Friday are the Beanbag Tournament, Jackpot Margarita Competition, the 1K Rookie Run and 5 Alarm 5K.

As part of the Tejano Music Night Friday, D’kche will open for the headliner, Los Viejones De Linares, on the main stage. D’kche will start at 7:30 p.m. and Los Viejones De Linares take the stage at 10 p.m. Tickets to the VIP Tent for Friday night are $75.

Willingham said organizers have enhanced the VIP experience this year due to the popularity of Tejano Music Night.

“A large part of our community listens to regional Mexican music,” Willingham said. “People were so happy to have a local concert featuring this music.”

VIP ticket holders will receive swag bags, snacks and dinner Friday night. There will be a Taco Truck and Michelada Station available for VIPs, as well as private restrooms and a VIP bar in the tent. Two free drink tickets and discounted drinks are also part of the VIP package.

On Saturday’s full agenda, the Gator Country Adventure Park – a popular recent addition – will have shows at 2 and 5 p.m. The gator wranglers will discuss some of their recent alligator rescue operations and typically have a small pool for little alligators to be put on display.

Willingham also said SCF was grateful that Tracy Lawrence, Saturday’s headliner, and The Molly Ringwalds agreed to honor their contracts from the 2020 event which had to be canceled with only a couple of weeks’ notice.

Sealybration has a track record for not only featuring talent just before they break out as major national performers, but for also featuring artists with existing national recognition. Over the last 10 years, the event has featured Tracy Byrd, Billy Jo Shaver, Cody Johnson, Earl Thomas Conley, Michael Salgado, Mark Chesnutt, David Allan Coe, the Bellamy Brothers and many others.

This year's Saturday lineup begins with Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws on the Main Stage from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by Hayden Haddock from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and William Beckham from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The Molly Ringwalds will hit the stage at 9:30 p.m. just after the fireworks display and before Tracy Lawrence closes things out from 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday night VIPs get late-night snacks, swag bags and VIP seating with an unobstructed view of the fireworks. VIP ticket holders get dinner, discounted drinks, two free drink tickets and private restrooms for VIPs only.

Sunday’s schedule includes softball tournament finals and the carnival.

Sealybration contributes up to $1.8 million to the local economy each year through the three-day event.

Tickets can be purchased online at Stub wire (https://tinyurl. com/36u9kc6f). A combo ticket for the whole weekend is $35, or at the gate Friday night. Single-day adult tickets are $20, Children 5-12 are $10.

As a native of Sealy, Willingham said she began her involvement with community events with the Fantasy of Lights. Later, she was approached by the leader of a nonprofit who asked her to revive Sealybration – which returned in 2009. She credits the phenomenal support of board members for the success of the annual event.

“I could not do any of this without the support of the board,” she said. “They work together so well, make great things happen and do it for free.”

“We are extremely excited and hopeful. We expect the biggest crowd yet.”

— MELANIE WILLINGHAM, PRESIDENT OF THE SEALY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION