It is time once again for all of the fun, food and family time that comes with the annual Pioneer Days festival in New Boston. As always, this year’s festival will come jam packed with all of the things Bowie County has come to love at Pioneer Days, including the annual parade winding through downtown New Boston.
This year’s parade is themed “Party Like it’s 1776” and you can bet that it will be something special to see with antique cars, horseback riders and a wide array of themed floats all centered around entertaining the community.
This year’s Pioneer Days Parade Grand Marshall is Chief Petty Officer Joseph Hawthorne, a New Boston Native who was recently named a 2026 Sailor of the Year and has served our country in the U.S.
Navy for 23 years. Hawthorne is a Seabee diver stationed at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport. Hawthorne was presented the honor for he and his team’s efforts to recover the remains of four soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division died on March 25, 2025, when their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle sank into a bog in Lithuania.
Hawthorne was also previously named the 2019 Navy Diver of the Year by the Carl M. Brashear Foundation.
That foundation was established in honor of Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carl Brashear, the first African-American master diver whose life story and immense impact on the Navy Dive community was told in the movie Men of Honor.
But hold on, the fun begins well before the parade on Saturday. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday also bring carnival fun, live music at the Trail Head Park Pavilion, and food vendors of all kinds. On Wednesday, the midway fun begins at 6 p.m. with carnival rides for all ages and live music takes to the stage under the pavilion at 7:30 p.m. with the 24/7 Band.
The fun continues on Thursday with the carnival again starting at 6 p.m. with $30 arm bands. On the stage that night is Back in Black, and AC/DC Tribute Band firing up their rock classics at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, carnival tickets are just $1 each and that night’s entertainment will be country singer Josh Ward who will begin his set at 8:30 p.m.
The big finale day on Saturday starts at 7 a.m. with the annual pancake breakfast at the fire station, followed by the parade. Live entertainment of all kinds will take to the stage at 11 a.m. and run through 3 p.m.
Then to close out the festival, country music legend Gene Watson will take to the pavilion stage to entertain the crowd with his long list of hits including five chart topping number one songs and 21 top ten songs. Those include songs like Paper Rosie, Fourteen Carat Mind, and Should I come Home Or Should I go Crazy.
So, get ready for another fun-filled year at the Pioneer Days Festival in New Boston. It is sure to be a night to remember for all ages.
U.S.. Navy Chief Petty Of_icer Joseph Hawthorne will be the Grand Marshall of this year’s Pioneer Days Parade.
