• Tara Bozick •
• Originally published July 5, 2008 at 10:55 p.m., updated July 5, 2008 at 10:55 p.m.

SHINER – “Candy!” the kids shouted and waved, clutching their plastic bags in anticipation of the treats to be distributed from the floats rolling through downtown.

The driver of a Shiner police car threw some sugary treats on the street and a horde of kids ran to be first to collect the goodies.

Five-year-old Hannah Haug from Victoria declares this is her favorite part of the Shiner Half Moon Holidays. She and her 7-year-old brother, Hunter, wore American flag T-shirts they sponge-painted to get in the Fourth of July spirit.

“It means family time,” mom Monica Haug, a 32-year-old teacher, said about Independence Day weekend.

Originally from Shiner, Monica Haug brings her children to spend time with relatives in a small, safe town where everyone knows each other.

Elaine Hauptman, 58 years old from Shiner, brought four generations of her family from cities across Texas to party for the holiday in a “Preserve America” town, as the street signs say.

The town features a clean, no-trouble kind of fun. She enjoys seeing the people who grew up in Shiner coming back to visit, and the fireworks on Saturday night top off her joy.

“I think of our country and the poor soldiers,” Hauptman said about when she watches the night sky light up. “I wish they were all here with us.”

More than 1,000 people set up their lawn chairs along sidewalks and in the park to watch the 82 entries in the morning parade for the 29th Annual Half Moon Holidays. Nearly 2,000 people usually come to Green-Dickson Park for the barbecue, crafts, petting zoo and Shiner beer wagon, Bernice Jalufka, office manager for the Shiner Chamber of Commerce, said. Of course, they stay to see the fireworks.

And for people not in the know, Half Moon used to be a town two miles west of Shiner, but then the railroad came through, Jalufka said. So, Henry Shiner donated some land so the town could move.

“It’s a great place to live,” Greg Chumchal said about the town of 2,070 people.

The general manager of Ranch Hand likes its safety and small town America feel. He came to the park on Saturday with barbecue team “4 Men and a Pit” to cook off just like they have the past six years.

“It’s become a Fourth of July tradition,” Chumchal said.

The men smell the aroma of brisket while meeting out-of-towners who gawk at their custom-made barbecue pit and fire box. They sit in lawn chairs and listen to the polka music playing in the heart of the park.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a party in Shiner without filling mugs full of Shiner beer to sip on, teammate Scott O’Connor added.

Tara Bozick is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6504 or tbozick@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

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