ERATH - The fun has begun as far as the town's annual Fourth of July celebration is concerned, and more fun is on the way this weekend.

The excitement of this year's celebration resumes this weekend and will continue through Wednesday.

On Saturday, runners and walkers will take part in the seventh annual 5K Run and One-Mile Walk beginning at 7:30 a.m.

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Later in the day, contestants in the Teen Miss Fourth of July and Miss Fourth of July pageants will compete for the respective titles beginning at 6 p.m. in the Erath Community Building.

The festivities continue with a street fair with Cajun Carnival Rides. Bracelets for all rides will be on sale for $15 and will be honored from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

One thing the festival won't be short on is music. A fais-do-do features New Orleans Queen of Soul Irma Thomas from 8 to 9 p.m. Thomas will be followed by Kim Brasso & Louisiana Boogie along with Cajun music legend D.L. Menard. The group will perform from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

More rides and music will lead up to the official Fourth of July holiday. On Sunday and Monday, bracelet night continues at the street fair from 6 to 10:30 p.m. From 7 to 10:30 p.m. on both nights, Wesley LeMaire & Wesbound will provide the music.

On Tuesday evening, the carnival will take place from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. A fais-do-do will feature Travis Matte & The Zydeco Kingpins from 10 p.m. to midnight. A dance contest will take place at 11 p.m.

Wednesday's festivities, which start early in the day, bring the festival to a close.

Teche Area fire departments will take to the streets to battle it out with water. The departments will have their annual water fights at 10 a.m. downtown.

From 1 to 10:30 p.m., the carnival will be open and a parade through the town will begin at 5 p.m.

Following the parade, one last fais-do-do features the music of CajuNation from 6 to 10:30 p.m.

Just before the close of this year's festivities, a giant fireworks display will light up the skies of Erath beginning at 9 p.m.