Neches River Festival street party

Neches River Festival organizers invite the community to celebrate the 74th iteration of the annual event with a Street Party on Crockett Street from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 8.

The event will include music, kids activities, a lounge area sponsored by 5 Under, and food and drinks available for purchase. According to information from festival officials, attendees will also be treated to a citywide parade that begins from the Beaumont Civic Center at 6 p.m.

Coronation events will be held at the Julie Rogers Theatre at 6 p.m. on April 9, with the Coronation Ball to follow at the Beaumont Civic Center. The first Neches River Festival made its debut in Beaumont on May 28-29, 1949. In the last 15 years alone, the Neches River Festival has presented over 5,000 young adults as Princesses, Escorts and Duchesses.