TEXAS FESTIVALS
IN JULY
TEXAS FESTIVALS
IN JULY
North and Northeast
Timpson
Frontier Days
First weekend in July
Timpson Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 339
Timpson, 75975
Call Timpson-Tenaha News at 409-254-3618
Admission: $3.00
Most everyone in Timpson comes out for Frontier Days to enjoy a parade, street dance, rodeo, arts and crafts, food, music, and a variety of games.
FAIRFIELD
Peach Festival July 4
Fairfield Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 956
Fairfield, 75840
903-389-5792
Admission: Free
Since peaches are a major crop in the Fairfield area, the folks there get together each July 4 for an old-fashioned picnic revolving around the sweet, juicy peach.
They have peach ice cream, horseshoe pitiching, singing, an arts and crafts fair, a sack race, fireworks display and an antique car show.
Peach experts judge the local crop, the the fruit is auctioned off. A peach cooking competition turns up all kinds of yummy peach dishes. And of course, don't forget the peach ice cram freeze-off and the pit spitting contest.
Freedomfest
July 4
Mineola Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 68
Mineola 75773
903-569-2087
Admission: Free
Mineola celebrates July 4th with a fireworks display, fun run, volleyball tournament, tennis tournament, dunking booth, horseshoe tournament and bingo. There is also live entertainment, arts and crafts and food booths.
ORE CITY
Ore City Fourth of July Fun Festival
July 4
City of Ore City
P.O. Box 327
Ore City 75863
903-968-2511
Iron ore used to be a big industry in northeast Texas, where you'll see older houses built of a reddish stone, surrounded by the sandy red soil.
This small town's Independence Day Celebration features a parade, dance, arts and crafts fair, fireworks display, food booths, and games for kids and grown ups.
If you're looking for a workout, they have a 5K run, one mile walk, and bicycle races. About 1,200 people turn out for the festivities.
July 4th Family Fun Fair
July 4th
Stephenville Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 306
Stephenville 76401
817-965-5313
After along day of celebration, Stepehnville's community's choir performs patriotic numbers in the evening before the fireworks display. Daytime events include a parade, a greased pig catch, and live entertainment all day on two stages. There's also an arts and crafts fair, food booths, and a variety of games.
BRIDGEPORT
Butterfield Stage Days
Second weekend in July
Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1104
Bridgeport 76026
Admission: free except for barbecue
Bridgeport got its name from the toll bridge built for the Butterfield Stagecoach line over the West Fork of the Trinity River. The town grew up around the stagecoach stop, and remained even after the stage quit running during the Civil War.
The festival begins on Saturday with outdoor contests, a carnival, entertainment in the park, food booths and arts and crafts. Games include horseshoes, washers and something special for the kids. They usually have stagecoach rides as well. At night you can partake of the barbecue supper, then attend the street . A rodeo parade takes place the next Thursday, followed by three days of rodeo.
Spring Ho Festival
Second weekend in July
Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 627
Lampasas 76550
512.556.5172
Admission: free; fees for some events
Lampassas grew up around two Sulphur springs that feed a tributary creek of the Colorado Rive. Each year this Hill Country town remembers its waters with a festival of music, games and food.
Shirley Swinney, secretary of the Spring Ho Committee, said of the springs that feed Sulphur Creek, "They’re Sulphur springs, and when the weather’s right they really smell."
"People used to come here and take ‘the cure.’ We were known as the Saratoga of the South, " she said. "They figured anything that bad-smelling had to be good for you."
Most of the festival takes place in a park jus downstream from one of the springs, and you can walk over to see it.
Activities really start during the week, with most of the action on Saturday and Sunday.
During the week they have a fireworks display, gospel singing, a children’s fishing contest, and a horse show. Friday is full of activities for children like the diaper derby, pet parade, a magician, and face painting. There’s also a street dance Friday night.
Saturday features the parade, 10K and 1 mile runs, barbecue cook-off, antique car show, gardener’s harvest market, petting zoo and music on the bandstand all afternoon. An arts and crafts fair and food concessions round out the festivities on both Saturday and Sunday.
The U.S. Army Band from Fort hood, the Startzville Stompers, the Sahawe Indian Dancers, a water sports demonstration, and a nighttime street dance entertain visitors Saturday. Sunday attractions consist of an old time fiddler’s contest, the Indian Dancers and the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble.
Bastille Days Celebration
Weekend closest to July 14
Paris Visitor and Convention Center
1651 Clarksville
Paris 75460
903.784.2501
Admission: Free
In honor of the big Paris in France, the folks in this Red River town throw a festival commemorating the day French peasants stormed the Bastille, a major turning point in the French Revolution. In France, Bastille Day is much like our Independence Day.
They have an antique auto parade, a street dance, artist display, tour de Paris bike race, French film festival, community Theatre performance, municipal band concert, plenty of food concessions and old-fashioned children’s games on the lawn of a historic home.
Parker Country Peach Festival
Second Saturday in July
Weatherford Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 310
Weatherford 76086
817.594.3801
Admission: Free
About 9,000 people show up for this festival, which features a peach ice cream freeze-off and peach cooking competition. Other events include a 25 mile bicycle ride, 10K run, biathlon, old-time fiddler’s contest, 42 tournament, and barbecue dinner. There’s plenty of live entertainment, food booths, and an arts and crafts fair. Weatherford peach farmers grow seven varieties of fruit.
Black-Eyed Pea Festival
Third Weekend in July
Athens Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 2600
Athens 75751
Admission: free; fee to some events
Athens, known as the Black-eyed Pea Capitol of the World, celebrates the nutritious, luck enhancing legume with three days of food, fun and entertainment. This festival attracts about 30,000 visitors throughout the weekend.
Plenty of food is available, including various black-eyed pea dishes. Visitors can take part in pea shelling, pea eating, and pea popping contests. Other activities include a parade, a pea cook-off, a bike tour, the Miss Black-Eyed Pea pageant, an arts and crafts fair, carnival, musical entertainment, and a water melon eating contest.
WYLIE
July Jubilee
Third Weekend in July
Wylie Chamber of Commerce
Box 918
Wylie 75098
903.442.2804
Admission: free
They July Jubilee offers a parade, street dance, gospel singing, and a carnival. The street dance, usually held on Saturday night, is a favorite of many townspeople. When the sun goes down, folks bring their folding chairs downtown to hear the Wylie Opry house Band play and watch their friends dance the night away.
HICO
Hico Old Settler’s Reunion
Fourth week in July
Hico Civic Club
P.O. Box 93
Hico 76457
City of Hico
817.796.4620
Admission: free
This celebration began in 1883 and now attracts a crowd of 10,000. Festivities include a parade, dance, arts and crafts fair, fun run, music, and food.
NAPLES
Watermelon Festival and Rodeo
Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday in July
Naples Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 55096
Naples 75568
903.897.5931
Admission: free
A friendly get together in Naples provides free watermelon for everyone Saturday afternoon. Other activities include a parade, trail ride, street dance, fun run, rodeo, food booths, all day live music, arts and crafts, horseshoes, bingo, and an antique car contest.
SOUTH and SOUTHEAST FESTIVALS
BELTON
Belton’s Independence Day Celebration and PRCA Rodeo
Week of July 4
Belton Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 659
76513
817.939.3551
Admission: free except for Rodeo
Belton began celebrating Independence Day in 1850. July 4 features a parade, patriotic program, gospel singing, country and western music, dance and an old fiddler’s contest. There’s also an arts and crafts fair, food booths, carnival and games for children. The professional rodeo usually runs for three days before or after July 4.
GOLIAD
Celebration of American Cultures
July 4
Goliad State Park
P.O. Box 727
Goliad 77963
512.645.3405
Admission: $2 per car entry to state park
This showcases Texas culture with music, dancing and crafts demonstration. The crafts include weaving,pottery7, flintknapping, natural dying and bowmaking. Mariachis, Indian dancers, folksingers and gospel choirs entertain visitors.
The event is held in Goliad state Historical Park-Mission Espirtu Santo Compound.
WEESATCHE
Weesatche Fourth of July Festival
July 4
Goliad Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 606
Goliad 77963
Admission: Free
This fire department fundraiser started in 1960. Festivities include a dance, contests, arts and crafts, food booths, family style barbecues, a general store with homemade canned and baked goods and quit raffles.
KINGSLAND
Kingsland Aqua Boom
July 4 weekend
Kingsland/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 465
Kingsland 78639
915.388.6211
Admission: free except for pageant and dance
This summer festival features water and land parades, dances, a music festival, barbecue, arts and crafts, food booths, fireworks on the 4th, a water ski show and a jet ski show.
Lion’s Club Fourth of July Celebration
July 3 and 4
Palacios Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 774
Palacios 77465
512.972.2615
Admission: free except for dance
The shore of Palacios Bay teems with people during this festival, held since 1950. Activities include a parachute jump demonstration, live entertainment, food booths, bingo, a carnival, kiddie rides, and a fireworks display. An evening dance takes place on a pavilion built over the water.
Freedom Fiesta
July 4 weekend
Seguin-Guadalupe County Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 710
Seguin 78155
512.379.6382
Admission: free
The Seguin July 4 event has a parade, dance, game booths for kids, food booths, cloggers, old time music bands, and a dance and fireworks in the evening. They also have all girl and old-timers rodeos.
Frontier Days and Old Settler’s Reunion
Weekend after July 4
Round Rocks Chamber of Commerce
212 E. main
Round Rock 7864
512.255.5805
Admission: fees for some activities
Frontier Days offers visitors a parade, street dance, arts and crafts, 5K run, games, music and food. You can see children’s ballet folklorico and re-enactment’s of the legendary Sam Bass shootout, which took place at Round Rock.
Other activities include square dancers, washer pitch and horseshoe contests, a puppet show, a cannon shootout, fence painting, a chicken flying contest, watermelon seed-spitting and pepper eating.
International Armadillo Confab and Exposition
July 7 Generally, but not necessarily
International Armadillo Appreciation Society
P.O. Box 2465
Victoria 77902
512.573.5277]
Admission: Free
Major events include armadillo races and the Miss Vacant Lot of the World and Surrounding Counties Extravaganza
This is a parody of beauty contests everywhere, and any woman over age eight may enter
Henry Wolff, a columnist for the Victoria Advocate, said of the Miss Vacant Lot contest, "It’s more or less a spoof on beauty contests in general."
The number of contestants ranges "anywhere’s from one to 40. I think the first year they had one," Wolff said.
"They can do anything, or not do anything. Talent is helpful but not required. It’s mainly left to the eye of the judges, who can generally be bought. The winner gets a trophy and almost certain obscurity."
One popular event is the hop, skip and jump parade around DeLeon Plaza. There are not motorized floats - everyone’s on foot. Trophies are awarded for the best parade entries.
Besides this silly stuff, you’ll also find armadillo races, music all day and most of the night, arts and crafts, local folk musicians, food booths and whatever else may occur. Proceeds from all this benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Victoria.
SANTA FE
Annual Crab Festival
Third weekend in July
Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 681
Santa Fe 77510
409.925.9971
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5400 and Auxiliary
409.925.9971
Admission: Free
Organized by the VFW Post and Auxiliary, this festival celebrates the delicious shellfish. Activities include a free outdoor dance Friday night and an indoor Cajun dance Saturday night. They have crab races, barbecue, pork and gumbo cook-offs, a horseshoe tournament, an arts and crafts exhibit and food booths.
Shiner Half-moon Holidays
First weekend in July
Shiner Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 221
Shiner 77984
512.594.4180
Admission: Free
Shiner remembers its original name with this summer festival. David Kaspar, a festival organizer, explains the original settlement was about a half-mile from where it is now, near a grove of trees shaped like a half-moon, called Half-moon Timber. So the town was called Half-moon.
In the late 1800s, the railroad came close to Half-moon, but not close enough. Since everyone wanted to be near the railroad, the moved, naming the new settlement after henry B. Shiner, who donated a piece of land for the town.
The festival starts with a dance on Saturday night and continues Sunday with a parade, 10K run, chili cook-off, arts and crafts fair, and food booths. The Half-moon Olympics includes picnic games like tug-of-war, 3-legged races and sack races. There’s also a Miss Shiner pageant, noon meal, and auction.
Shiner is famous for the Spoetzl Brewery, which makes Shiner Premium beer and Shiner Bock, that dark brew beloved of beer drinkers all over Texas. The brewery began in 1909 when German and Czech citizens formed the Shiner Brewing Association to satisfy their longing for Old World-style beer. Kosmos Spoetzl, a Bavarian beermaker, bought the brewery in 1914 and began making his recipe, which they’ve used ever since.
Spoetzl prides itself on having the smallest commercial brewing kettle in the United States- 75 barrels - and on performing most brewing tasks by hand.
Although it’s not open on the weekends, you can tour the plan Monday through Thursday at 11 a.m. and visit the Hospitality Room for a taste of Shiner Monday through Friday.
ELGIN
Elgin Western Days
Fourth weekend in July
Elgin Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 408
Elgin 78621
512.285.4515
Admission: Free
Elginites organize a parade, street dance, rodeo, arts and crafts fair, carnival, horseshoe toss, tug of war and arm wrestling. Other competitions include cooking and needlework. There’s also plenty of food and beer available.
Great Texas Mosquito Festival
Last weekend in July
Brazosport Chamber of Commerce
420 Highway 332
Clute 77531
409.265.2505
Admission: Free
The much-disdained but ever-present mosquito is the honoree of this lowland festival. Some of the most interesting events are the mosquito song writing competition, mosquito legs look alike contest and the mosquito calling contest.
There’s also a Mosquito Juice Chug-a-lug, Ms. Quito pageant, and 5K and one-mile Mosquito Chase Races.
Besides the mosquito events, you’ll find a dance, arts and crafts fair, fajita cook-off, chili cook-off, haystack dive, live bands, beautiful baby competition and food booths. The festival, held at Clute Municipal Park, draws a crowd of about 20,000.
MEDINA
Texas International Apple Festival
Last Saturday in July
Medina Development Corporation
P.O. Box 125
Medina 78055
512.589.7224
Admission: small fee
Apples are new on the Texas farming scene, but apple growers are promoting their industry with gusto. Medina, in sparsely populated Bandera County, is known as the Apple Capital of Texas. This hilly area gave birth to the apple industry in Texas, explained Roy Goodwin, operations manager for Love Creek Ranch, a leading apple producer.
As cattle ranching became less profitable, Texas looked for other ways to make money in agriculture. Hill Country folks started growing apples in about 1980, and began selling them in 1987 as the trees matured. Now, 15 varieties grow well in the Texas Hill Country, some developed especially for the area, Goodwin said.
Most Apple Festival activities take place in a pecan grove, so there’s plenty of shade. Festivities include a dance, an arts and crafts show, and a variety of food, including apple delights of all kinds. You can taste apple cider, apple ice cream, apple sauce, apple butter, strudel, syrup and baked apple goods. There’s an apple pie contest, judging of the local crop and apple bobbing.
Local growers sell their fruit and its products. The Try-apple-on challenges competitors in several races involving apples. You can tour an apple orchard in a double-decker bus.
Live music all day, including a fiddler’s contest, provides a festive atmosphere. Black powder rifle shooting, an archery contest, mule rides and a volksmarch round out the events.
WEST TEXAS AND PANHANDLE
West of the Pecos Rodeo
First four days in July
Pecos Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 27
Pecos 79772
915.445.2406
Admission: $4 to $6 for rodeo seats
Known as the world’s first rodeo, this event was first held in 1883. Besides roping and riding,l there’s a parade, trail ride, dance every night after the rodeo, a pageant, Western art show and sale, arts and crafts and food booths.
It all starts a week earlier, on the last Tuesday in June, with night in Old Pecos, which kicks off Western Week.
Saint’s Roost Celebration
July 4the weekend
Clarendon Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 730
Clarendon 79266
806.874.2421
Admission to rodeo
Clarendon used to be known as Saint’s Roost, a name sarcastically used by area cowboys. The town’s founder, Methodist minister L.H. Carhart, forbade gambling and alcohol. So besides celebrating the Fourth of July, the citizens also recognize their history with this festival.
Rodeos all three nights of the celebration are each followed by a dance with old-time country music. On July 4, there’s a parade, contests, arts and crafts, stage show, food booths, turtle race, old-timer’s reunion, and a barbecue cookout. They’ve been celebrating Independence Day in this way since 1878.
COLORADO CITY
July Fourthfest and Fly-in
Colorado City Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 242
Colorado City 79512
915.728.3403
Admission: Free
Colorado City holds its July 4 festival in Ruddick Park with and arts and crafts fair, games, food booths, a hamburger supper in the evening and a fireworks display after sundown.
Those who want a little exercise can enter the 5K run, 1 mile fun run or the 1 mile walk.
The Fly-in, which has been going on since 1962, features aerobatic stunts, a skydiving demonstation and airplane rides. Pilots who fly into the airport northwest of town in the morning receive a free breakfast. Other folks dan eat for a fee, then have a look at the airplanes.
Old Fashioned Fourth of July
July 4 and a weekend
Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 378
Fort Davis 79734
915.426.3015
Admissin: Free
This festival features a parade, dance, tortilla toss, cantaloupe eating contest, live music all day, children’s games, arts and crafts, food booths and roping.
FORT STOCKTON
Fourth of July Festival
July 4
Fort Stockton Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box C
Fort Stockton 79735
915.336.2264
Admission: Free
They have a dance, live entertainment, contests, arts and crafts and food booths, all in James Ronney Park. At night, the local Jaycees put on a fireworks display.
Tkhe actual fort in Fort Stockton has been partially restored, so you can take either a self-guided or bus tour of the landmark.
July 4th Community Picnic
July 4
Lamesa Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Drawer J
Lamesa 79331
806.872.2181
Admission: Free
Activities include a dance, contests, arts and crafts, stage show, food booths and a volleyball tournament.
MERKEL
Fun Day
July 4
Merkel Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 536
Merkel 79536
915.928.5722
Admission: Free
Fun Day, which takes place in Merkel’s South Park, featueres live music by local bands, a variety of games, an arts and crafts fair, and food booths.
July 4 Freedom Fair
July 4
Monahans Chamber of Commeerce
P.O. Box 1040
Monahans 79756
915.943.2187
Admission: Free
Monahs celebrates Independence Day with a parade, arts and crafts contest, a fun run, games, music, and food.
Monahans Sandhills State Park features 3,800 acres of sand dunes, some of them 70 feet tall. The town’s Millin Barrel Museum features a large cement lined hole in the ground built in 1928 to store a millin barrels of oil. The plan didn’t work so now they use the tank for dances, barbecues and other large activities. The museum also has a collection of historic buidings and farm, ranch and railroad items.
July 4 Celebration
July 4
Muleshoe Chamber of Commerce
215 S. First
Muleshoe 79347
806.272.4248
Admission: Free
Muleshoe celebrates July 4 with a parade, street dance, cow patty bingo, games for kids and grown-ups, 10K and 2 mile runs, and arts and crafts. Of course, they have fireworks at night.
Celebration on the Square
July 4
Ozona Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1135
Ozonoa 76943
915.392.3066
Admission: Free
Ozonoa’s July 4 celebration has a parade, arts and crafts, an apple pie bake-off, performances by the Sahawe Indian dancers at night, fireworks, food, games, entertainment and special displays in the historical museum.
The evening of July 3, everyone turns out for the Old Time Beauty Pageant, the main event of which is men modeling old fashioned swimsuties. The audience enjoys homemade ice ceream and other entertainment.
July 4th Celebration
July 4
Snyder Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Drawer CC
Snyder 79549
915.573.3558
Admission: Free
Snyder’s salute to Independence Day features a fireworks display, parade, arts and crafts, stage show, carnival and food booths. Contests include washer pitching, hula hoop, and limbo.
WHEELER
July 4th Celebration
July 4
Wheeler Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 221
Wheeler 79096
806.826.3408
Admission: Free
Folks in Wheeler bring you such sights as sky-divers, hot air balloons, a radio-controlled model plane air-show, and fireworks. Other activities include a fun run, street dance, turtle races, free swimming, volleyball, contests, stage show and food booths.
SEYMOUR
Old Settlers Reunion and Rodeo
Second weekend in July
Seymour Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1379
Seymour 76380
817.888.2921
Admission to rodeo
This annual event began in 1896 after a retired cowboy named Jeff Scott came up with the idea of a cowboy’s reunion. The first year, several thousand people showed up for the event, which included a free barbecue, a baseball game, a band concert, a grand ball, and a rodeo.
The second cowboy reunion, in 1897, featured Comanche Chief Quanah Parker and 500 Indians performing dances around a campfire for an audience of 10,000. The story goes that the Indians walked into Seymour on a Sunday moroning while everyone was in church. When the worshiopers saw the large crowd of Indians in the street, they poured out of the sanctuary doors, overwhelmed with curiosity.
Now known as the Old Settlers Reunion, the festival once again boasts Indian dancers. The major events take place on Tghursday, starting with the Reunion. Then there’s the election of the Old Settlers King and Queen, the parade, rodeo and dance. The arts and crafts show goes on during this time as well. The rodeo and dance also take place Friday and Saturday nights.
Early Settlers Reunion
Second Saturday in July
Levelland Chamber of Commerce
1101 Avenue H
Levelland 79336
806.894.3157
Admission: Free
Folks in Levelland come out to see old friends and enjoy the parade, street dance, food booths and arts and crafts fair. There’s also a dog show, horseshoe contest, stick horse race, washer pitiching, all-day entertainment, and a quilt show. Most activities are held on the grounds of the Hockley Country Courthouse.
Martin County Old Settlers Reuniion
Second Saturday in July
Martin Country Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 614
Stanton 79782
915.458.3350
Admission: free except for barbecue and homes tour
Started in 1930, this event ahs a parade, dance, barbecue at the city park, arts and crafts, food booths, contests, and open roping. Visitors can enjoy the Histoerial Museum, Old Jail, Old Convent, and the Old Texas Theatre.
Caprock Round-up
Third weekend in July
Claude Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 129
Claude 79019
806.226.2221
Admission: Free
Activities include a parade, dance, arts and crafts fair, live entertainment by dancers and musicians, and a free barbecue lunch. About 4,000 people attend the celebration.
Claude is just east of Amarillo and north of Palo Duro Canyon, an essential stop for any traveler through the Panhandle.
TULIA, KRESS and HAPPY
Swisher County Picnic
Weekend closest to July 17
Tulia Chamber of commerce
P.O. Box 267
Tulia 79099
806.995.4426
Admission: free except for b arbecue meal
This countywide celebration, which began in 1900, includes a parade, dance, rodeo, barbecue meal, old-time fiddler’s contest, antique car show, carnival, food booths, and live entertainment.
FORT STOCKTON
Water Carnival
Third Weekend in July
Fort Stockton Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box C
Fort Stockton 79735
Admission: $5 to water show
The water carnival starts Thursday night with a pageant followed by a musical production. Saturday features a parade and crowning of Miss Fort Stockton. The water show, which includes water ballet, takes place at an Olympic sized swimming pool at Comanche Springs. These springs used to spill forth 60,000 gallons of water a day until they ran dry in 1950 after years of irrigation. Wells drilled to water cattle and crops depleted the underground water supply.
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FARWELL
Bordertown Days
Last weekend in July
Farwell Chamber of Commerce
Box 117
Farwell 79325
806.481.3681
Admission; Free
Farwell gets together win Texico, New Mexico across the state line for a little summer fun. Saturday is the big day for this festival, with a parade in the morning, then live music all afternoon and arts and crafts booths. There’s a rodeo Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
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