Fests up! Fall 2010

Small-town Celebrations on Tap from Plainview to Rockport

Find things to do in our Events Database.

In Texas, fall doesn’t always mean brisk breezes and cooler temperatures. Here, the start of the season is tied more to events than the weather. The kids go back to school, the pools close, and on Friday nights, staccato drumbeats and shouts from enthusiastic fans emanate from the local football stadium. Fast on the heels of these harbingers comes another abiding autumn tradition—small-town festivals.

There, the predictability ends, however, because these Texas celebrations are as diverse as the small towns that host them. Check out a festival in your area, or choose one that interests you and plan a trip. Chances are, you’ll create a fall tradition of your own.

Cowboy Days, Plainview, Sept. 18

While this action-packed community celebration adds new items to its lineup every year, the Down Ol’ Broadway Cattle Drive & Parade remains the signature event. Real cowboys and cowgirls drive real cows—including several Longhorns—two miles through downtown Plainview, from the historic Santa Fe depot to Broadway Park, recalling the cattle drives of the late-1800s.

Texas Rice Festival, Winnie, Sept. 29-Oct. 3

Started more than 40 years ago to celebrate the area’s rice harvest, this festival has evolved into a weeklong event that delights locals and tourists alike. The entertainment this year features live music by Kevin Fowler, Aaron Watson, and Wayne Toups & ZyDeCajun, street dances, parades, pageants, carnival rides, children’s games and activities, an antique-car show, a livestock show, and a Longhorn show.

Ripfest, Eastland, Oct. 2

Eastland’s most famous resident, a tenacious horned lizard by the name of Old Rip, provides the inspiration for this annual celebration. According to legend, a young Rip was placed in the cornerstone of the former Eastland County Courthouse in 1897 and was found alive 31 years later when the cornerstone was removed prior to the courthouse’s demolition. As word spread, the phenomenon brought a measure of fame not only to Old Rip, but also to Eastland. Old Rip now lies in state inside a diminutive, velvet-lined coffin in the current courthouse; his remains can be viewed anytime through a window that flanks Main Street.

Floresville Peanut Festival, Floresville, Oct. 5 and Oct. 7-9

One of the oldest festivals in Texas, the Floresville Peanut Festival dates to 1938, when residents began celebrating the harvest of the local cash crop. Today, it honors the area’s peanut heritage (look for the “Big Peanut” sculpture on the courthouse lawn) and includes a full slate of activities.

Cajun Catfish Festival, Conroe, Oct. 8-10

Catfish is only one of the delicious foods you’ll find at this free-wheeling celebration. How about shrimp, seafood gumbo, frogs’ legs, crawfish pie, boudain, red beans and rice, or gator-on-a-stick? A Go Texan display also offers a “tasting tour” of Lone Star wines and food products.

Rockport Seafair, Rockport, Oct. 8-10

Serious beach lovers know that fall is one of the best times to visit the coast, and in 1974, Rockport residents began hosting the Rockport Seafair each Oct.. Instead of falling leaves and pumpkins, the theme is “Celebrate the Sea.”

Delta County Chiggerfest, Cooper, Oct. 16

Contrary to what you might think, Chiggerfest doesn’t celebrate chiggers, but rather the end of chigger season in East Texas. One of the signature events is a 5K Run/Walk, which encourages participants to “run the chiggers out of Delta County.” Other highlights include a pancake breakfast, a Lil’ Miss and Lil’ Mister Chigger pageant, a cake walk, an arts-and-crafts competition, sidewalk-chalk art, a shoebox-float contest, a health fair, a bicycle rally, a pet parade (costumes encouraged), a raffle, and a kids’ zone with multiple activities.

Hogeye Festival, Elgin, Oct. 23

To understand the Hogeye Festival, it helps to know that Elgin bills itself as the Sausage Capital of Texas, a nod to its best-known product—Elgin Sausage. Southside Market & Barbecue has been making the tantalizing links since 1882, and Meyer’s Sausage Company has been producing several flavors of sausage since 1949. So it’s no surprise that residents go hog-wild for this family-friendly festival. Set on Main Street in Elgin’s National Register historic district, the event kicks off with the Elgin Sowpremes, a local singing group, riding in on Harleys. 

George West Storyfest, George West, Nov. 6

For more than two decades, some of the best storytellers in the nation have gathered in George West annually to share their gift with appreciative audiences. The festival’s slogan, “Good Times, Great Stories,” reflects the atmosphere well. Two of the signature events are the Texas Liar’s Contest and Ghost Stories (the latter takes place after dark). This year’s program takes place on four stages and features Oklahoma Choctaw Tim Tingle, Irish-American Yvonne Healey, motivational speaker James Ford, and a variety of other storytellers. Cowboy poets Dennis Gaines and John Campbell will also perform, as will cloggers, Tejano bands, gospel singers, and other musicians.

Artwalk 2010, Alpine, Nov. 19-20

Alpine’s gallery scene sparkles more than usual during the town’s annual Artwalk: Not only do local galleries offer paintings, photography, and sculpture, but Alpine businesses also get into the act, providing space for additional works. The entire downtown area becomes a carnival for art lovers. An open-air art and food market also contributes to the vibe, adding the tempting aromas of funnel cakes, fajitas, and turkey legs. An Art Attack area provides space for kids to do sidewalk-chalk art, see art demonstrations, and make a simple craft. And this year, an Art Car parade joins the lineup.

See the full article in the September 2010 issue.

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