Red, White & Blueberry

Story by Andrea Agardy

As the oldest town in Texas, Nacogdoches, established in 1779, has a deep appreciation for the past. The county’s chamber of commerce hosts an annual festival that’s a throwback to days gone by. With attractions like pie eating contests, a pet parade and a dunking booth, the Texas Blueberry Festival is good, old-fashioned fun.

“Festivals like this are nostalgia for a lot of people,” says Grace Handler, festival chairperson. “They don’t want their kids to miss out on something that meant so much to them when they were growing up. To be able to hold onto a little piece of history is important.”

Blueberries take center stage at the festival — from the Kiwanis Club’s blueberry pancake breakfast fundraiser, to a blueberry- themed penny press, a cupcake battle and more. The fruit was an important cash crop in Nacogdoches for decades, and the festival pays homage to that agricultural history.

One of a Kind

The event, the only blueberry festival the Texas Legislature sanctions, will celebrate its 32nd year on June 11. It draws 25,000 visitors and counting to downtown Nacogdoches.

Some of the festivities, including a bluegrass concert, the Mr. and Miss Blueberry Pageant and the Festival of Quilts, will take place before the fun kicks off downtown on Saturday morning. “We’re trying to make this more of a blueberry festival weekend,” Grace says. “It’s really exciting to see the growth. Every year, the anticipation for the blueberry festival just builds. It’s just so awesome to be a part of that.”

Visitors can peruse the offerings of vendors on the square or head down to Festival Park for the car show and children’s activities area, featuring a petting zoo and inflatable bounce houses. Although vendors’ tents may block views of their storefronts, most downtown businesses are open on festival day, eager to welcome visitors. “They really enjoy people coming in,” Grace says.

The festival’s long-running success is due, in large part, to the enthusiastic support of the community. Tipton Ford is the festival’s presenting partner and the dealership’s president, Neal Slaten, even brings his 1951 Ford F1 pickup — with the festival’s logo emblazoned on the door — to the event as a centerpiece for visitors’ family photos.

Every year over 150 volunteers give their time to the event. Some arrive at 4:30 a.m. on festival day to help ensure vendors have everything they need. Another group takes the late shift, making sure the streets are pristine once again. “We have great relationships with everyone. Everybody pitches in,” Grace says. “These are topnotch volunteers and partnerships with other organizations downtown.”

A Family Tradition

Many people who came to the festival as children are now returning with their own kids. The Texas Blueberry Festival offers not only an opportunity for a fun family outing, but also a reminder of the benefits of slowing down for a day and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

“You can get back to the basics. You can spend quality time with your family and walk the beautiful streets of Nacogdoches,” Grace says. “You can share time at a slower pace. It’s quality time that you can spend with your family and be involved in different things that you don’t see every day anymore.”