WOODVILLE – There was no shortage of things to do last weekend, but if you did not take advantage of the beautiful weather and venture out to the Harvest Festival at Heritage Village, you missed two days of fun.
The festival started Friday, and featured storyteller Angela Davis, always a crowd favorite, who gave two performances, kicking off the entertainment from the stage. The Outlaws of the Big Thicket, the Big Thicket Ramblers and Tom Bass Line Dancing were also on the bill to entertain.
Saturday’s entertainment did not disappoint either. Festival goers were treated to a performance by Polynesian Hula dancers, and before they left the stage, Heritage Village’s executive director Ofeira Gazzaway joined them to take part in their tribute dance to her native Samoa.
Debrina Sylestine-Dirden and her daughter, Kalila, from the Alabama Coushatta Indian Reservation took the stage next, with Dirden giving a complete oral history of the Alabama and Coushatta tribes, dating back to the 1500’s. Dirden and her daughter then performed some traditional Indian dances, culminating with a stirring rendition of the Lord’s Prayer, which she rendered in sign language.
Music was on tap next, with the always popular Meaux Legacy, with Bubba and Sharon Meaux, taking the stage. After a short break, the stage was set for the Grupo Folk Lorico-Zapata dancers, all decked out in traditional Spanish costumes.
The Big Thicket Ramblers made an encore appearance, followed by music from Spurger native Christina Greenwood, accompanied by Will Lewis, and Brad Hight. Christina and her band closed out the festival’s entertainment with several popular tunes, as well as some gospel tunes.
Festival goers had plenty of choices if they got hungry. Joe Blacksher had his pork and chicken kabobs, Norm’s Dogs offered up brats, hotdogs, and popcorn, there were funnel cakes, all kinds of things on a stick, corn dogs, and this year, the Rotary Club of Woodville set up and sold hotdogs, sausages, and drinks.
The Blacksmith barn puts on exhibitions for festival goers, and this year was no exception, as several in the crowd stopped by for demonstrations. There was something for everyone at this year’s Harvest Festival, the weather was beautiful, and everyone attending had a great time.
Heritage Village Museum will host Boomtown, a musical comedy about the most dangerous town in Texas, Saturday, November 16, at 7:00 p.m. Call the village at 409-283-2272 for more details.
