Texas Rice Festival celebrates 45th

 

Last updated 9/23/2014 at Noon

The Texas Rice Festival celebrates everything to do with rice and good times. Chartered in 1969, the festival is a weeklong event held annually in Winnie, beginning with the BBQ Cook-off the fourth weekend in September. The event, currently in its 45th year, is held as a celebration of the rice harvest and features family entertainment with down-home country flair. More than 100,000 people crowd the Winnie-Stowell Park annually.

BBQ Weekend, sponsored by Whataburger, starts off the festivities with a Fajita Jackpot and BBQ Cook-off, Horseshoe Pitching & Washer Tournaments, TRF Queen Coronation, and Live Music Street Dances with Jimmy & the Jokers will be held September 26 through September 27. The finale of the cook-off weekend will be the Gospel Jubilee on Sunday afternoon. Wright's Amusement Carnival (with a one-price bracelet available each day) will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday of BBQ Weekend.

Festival activities beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 1, include Wright's Amusement Carnival, vendor booths; rice education exhibits, and a multi-million dollar farm equipment display. The entertainment is non-stop along with lots of great food, including rice balls, gumbo, ettouffe, pistolettes, blooming onions, crab balls, boudain balls, pork-ka-bobs and many other delicious delicacies. The event is renowned for its outstanding cuisine.

Wednesday, Oct. 1, opening night, features entertainment by American Sons, Adam Hood and Cody Johnson Band. The first 1000 paid adults receive a special designed T-shirt on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Thursday, Oct. 2 will begin with Mike & the Moonpies, Jason Eady, and end with the Turnpike Troubadours

Friday, Oct. 3, is youth day, sponsored by Douget’s Rice Mill.

The park opens at 9:00 am, and is free admission for kids 18 and under until 5:00 pm.

Youth day activities include a 4-H and FFA livestock show, diaper derby, baby costume contest, Little Rice King and Miss La Petite Contests, Little Rice Sweetheart Pageant, Junior Queen Pageant, characters in the park, face painting, poster, photography and art contests and an ice cream eating contest.

Performances by the East Chamber Buccadears, Hamshire-Fannett Golden Girls, and the Anahuac Pantherettes will be made throughout the day.

Douget's Rice Day continues later that evening with Cajun night featuring entertainment by Charles Thibodeaux & The Austin Cajun Aces, then Geno Delafose, and closing the evening is Wayne Toups & ZyDeCajun.

Saturday, Oct. 4, is a full day of family fun. It is a harvest celebration featuring non-stop entertainment beginning with the Grand Parade followed by Opening Ceremonies. Saturday’s entertainers will begin with Book of Days followed by the American Cancer Auction, a rice cooking contest, craft show, featuring 30 booths, photography and art exhibits, antique car show, and youth longhorn show. Later that evening on stage will be Cowboy Mouth followed by Stoney Larue. The performance by Bag of Donuts will conclude the 2014 festival.

So come on out and enjoy the great food and entertainment offered by the Texas Rice Festival.

For more information on ticket prices please visit the Texas Rice Festival website at www.texasricefestival.org.

Winnie is located just off IH-10, Exit 829, between Houston and Beaumont, with lodging and RV facilities available. For information call Chris Street at 718-0205, or Heath Hebert at 832-2027 or check out the TRF web site.

The Texas Rice Festival is sponsored by Budweiser, Dougets Rice, Philpott Motors, Market Basket, Chambers County, Swat Construction, Whataburger, and Miller Lite.

 

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