Mike Love & Associates Lights Up Lufkin For America's 250th Birthday
The fireworks finale lights up the night over Lufkin, TX at the 2026 4th of July Celebration.
Lufkin turned out in force this weekend to mark a milestone 250 years in the making. Despite the summer heat, families packed Ellen Trout Park for the city's Fourth of July Celebration, part of the larger "America 250" recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The evening brought together live music from local performers, food trucks, vendors, and the kind of community energy that makes East Texas special — capped off with a fireworks show at dusk. Kids cooled off in the Foam-O-Rama foam pit, families rode the Z&OO Railroad, and the crowd settled in as the sky lit up over the park.
What most of the crowd doesn't realize is what it takes to get that fireworks show in the sky. For the past two decades, Mike Love has helped organize and sponsor Lufkin's Fourth of July fireworks show — and rather than hiring an outside company to build it, Mike and a group of dedicated volunteers construct the entire show themselves, by hand, every single year.
"I want to thank every volunteer who showed up at 5:30 in the morning to help us build this show from scratch," Mike Love said. "This community shows up for itself, and it's an honor to help bring something like this to Lufkin every year."
Sam Johnson, Managing Partner of Mike Love & Associates, LLC, was also on hand for the celebration. When asked how the day was going, he didn't hold back about the Texas summer heat — but quickly added, "No, I'm really impressed with all the people that have come out."
It's that kind of turnout — neighbors, families, and friends showing up for their community — that makes Angelina County a great place to call home. Mike Love & Associates is proud to be part of a community that shows up for each other, whether it's building a fireworks show before sunrise or celebrating a 250th birthday at dusk.
Event details courtesy of the Lufkin Daily News.
