Independence Fest highlighted by Smash Mouth, cooler temps

Maybe it was a hot performance by rock group Smash Mouth that brought out nearly 12,000 people to Independence Fest on Wednesday.

Or perhaps it was the temperatures that weren’t quite as steamy.

Either way, the attendance at the Flower Mound festival surpassed last year’s mark and could provide a springboard for an even bigger event in 2013.

Chuck Jennings, recreation superintendent for the town, said the crowd of 12,000 passed the estimated 10,000 that attended last year. That doesn’t count the 2,000 people who came to the children’s Fourth of July Parade Wednesday morning.

“I think it was a combination of things,” Jennings said. “I think this year we were able to build on the success that we had last year. Plus, Smash Mouth really catered to a family crowd. And the temperatures were more bearable.”

The high temperature for the day was 98 degrees, though a light breeze beat out humidity levels to make the experience tolerable.

This was the second year for Flower Mound to have the event that combined Wild About Flower Mound, which in the past had taken place in the spring, with an Independence Day celebration. Organizers last year said that idea proved to be a good one.

The day began with the children’s parade that began at the Lewisville ISD Administration Center on Timber Creek Road.

At 5 p.m., gates opened for Independence Fest. The event included an antique car show, an art exhibit, various booths for food and vendors, a kids zone with various inflatable attractions and live music.

“A lot of people enjoyed the bands,” Jennings said. “And we had a large number of vendors, so there were a lot of places to visit. There was more space in the art exhibit this year, and the car show was huge. There were a lot of things to keep people entertained.”

There was also a dunk booth in which residents paid $5 for a chance to dunk various town and county leaders, including Flower Mound Mayor Tom Hayden and council members, Lewisville ISD Board of Trustee Kathy Duke and Denton County Sheriff William Travis.

Money raised from the dunk booth went toward Fort Wildflower, a community-built playground that is set to take place in September at Heritage Park of Flower Mound.

New this year was a large tent provided by Taylor’s Rental to provide shade for people wishing to eat at the festival.

Festival-goers took advantage of the tent, even though the Texas heat was a little more forgiving this year since it was accompanied by a breeze rather than humidity.

But by the time Smash Mouth took the stage, all focus was on it. The California band performed hits such as “All Star” and “Walkin’ on the Sun,” as well as songs off its upcoming album.

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