Colorado County Living Spring 2022

Colorado County Living SPRING 2022

Saving a dance for you Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge

Spring Festival season

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MidTown Park’s inspiring story

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Don’t miss the 30th annual Columbus Garden Club plant sale happening Apr. 30 in Columbus.

Columbus Garden Club celebrates

30 years of plant sales

BY VELMA HARRINGTON

THE COLUMBUS GARDEN CLUB has enjoyed a year of celebrations.

Last September the club went back to its roots and held an 85th birthday celebratory meeting in the District Courtroom of the Colorado County Courthouse. City and County officials, the President of Texas Garden Club, Inc., the District Director of District IV Coastal Prairie and the Houston Federation of Garden Clubs President were all in attendance.

The Club will celebrate three decades of plant sales Saturday, Apr. 30 at Brookshire Brothers Grocery Store in Columbus. The sale is always

on the last Saturday in April, and begins bright and early at 8 a.m.

With their theme of “Pollinators – Butterflies, Bees, Birds, Bats, Oh My!” there will be plenty of plants at the sale to attract pollinators. Sun, shade and Texas native plants will be available for plant enthusiasts as well. Be sure to arrive early, because serious plant lovers are always there as soon as the sale begins.

Shopping for plants can be really hard work, so treat yourself to some sweets. Club members will have lots of homemade cookies, cakes and pies for sale too!

BEHIND THE SCENES

MANAGING EDITOR Alesia Woolridge

GRAPHIC ARTIST/PAGE DESIGN Gretchen Dyson

ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT Missy Theriot

REPORTER Trenton Whiting

GENERAL MANAGER/BOOKKEEPING Tressa Alley

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Velma Harrington

Copyright 2022 Colorado County Citizen and Granite Media Partners.

This magazine was produced by the Colorado County Citizen. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the Colorado County Citizen and Granite Media Partners.

Spring 2022

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Magnolia Days Festival, Columbus Garden Club, City of Weimar, City of Columbus, City of Eagle Lake, Columbus Country Market, Weimar Farmers Market, Eagle Lake Parks and Recreation DISTRIBUTION/CIRCULATION Calvin Harris, Sandra Weeber EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Karen Lopez

3

Magnolia Days Festival fuses tradition and trendsetting Magnolia trees will be in bloom, and Columbus will buzz with great food, music, drinks and arts and crafts May 20-21 at the Magnolia Days Festival.

BY ALESIA WOOLRIDGE

THE ANNUAL EVENT IS HOSTED by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and presented by Todd and Morgan Barten.

The festival draws crowds that number in the thousands, and the event’s roots in the arts, history and community involvement run as deep as the roots of the 100-plus year old live oak and magnolia trees.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS What is now known as the Magnolia Days Festival began as a sidewalk sale in the 1950s.

In June 1954, a group of local art enthusiasts who met and worked in the kitchen of the Live Oak Hotel formed an art club named Live Oak Art Club.

Their club was affiliated with the Amateur Artists Association of America.

After exhibiting their work in town and surrounding areas, the group organized about 34 artists to exhibit nearly 200 4

Colorado County Living

The Magnolia Days Festival is fun for the whole family.

Admission to Magnolia Days Festival is free and parking is plentiful.

paintings in the first annual Sidewalk Sale May 15, 1955.

The event would later be known as the Live Oak Art Festival.

The Magnolia Homes Tour (now known as Columbus Historical Preservation Trust) began in 1962 as a group interested in working with the Live Oak Art Club and sponsoring the festival.

By 1964, the Magnolia Homes Tour asked high school senior girls from Columbus and nearby areas to serve as ambassadors of good will for the festival.

Dressed in Victorian era attire, the Magnolia Belles were trained to be docents at the historic home sites on the tour.

The art festival and Magnolia Homes Tours combined to become the two-day Magnolia Days Festival.

Columbus Historical Preservation Trust Director Charlotte Tilotta moved to Columbus in 1981, and recalls the festivals of the 1980s and 1990s with a smile. “We used to walk several blocks from our home down to the Courthouse Square for the festival because there was absolutely nowhere to park,” Tilotta said. “There was an evening auction, live music, historic homes tour, presentation of the Magnolia Belles, and art booths all over the square. It was huge and so much fun.”

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN The Magnolia Days Festival experienced major success from the 1960s through the early 2000s. “As with Spring 2022

all things, the festival had its ups and downs. About 20 years ago, the crowds and Belle participation dwindled. For a short time, it was moved from the spring to the fall,” Tilotta shared.

In the mid 2000s, a fall Folk Fest was attempted.

Around 2016 the Columbus Chamber of Commerce expressed interest in reviving the Magnolia Days Festival. With some fine-tuning of the marketing and promotion of the event and securing a solid musical lineup, by 2018 and 2019 the festival saw crowds reminiscent of its glory years. After the 2020 COVID pandemic cancellation, festival organizers regrouped and the 2021 festival drew record attendance topping 3,000 festivalgoers and gained the attention of television shows like YOLO TX. The historic homes tour has become a trolley tour of historic Columbus, and

Tilotta said that transition has been a great success.

Festivalgoers can still expect to find Magnolia Belles in elaborate dress, and rows upon rows of artwork and unique finds. Country/Western music artist Wade Bowen headlines the 2022 musical lineup, and the two days and nights will be packed with acts across all genres.

5

The playground at MidTown Park, located at 700 Dewees Street in Columbus, is a favorite for families.

Colorado County Citizen archives

S

MidTown park stands as a Columbus cornerstone

BY TRENTON WHITING

6

ome youthful bike rides, a cement factory and a community. These were the vital ingredients that went into creating the midtown park, a staple of the community here in Columbus.

How could a collection of such seemingly unrelated elements lead to the creation of a community park that has lasted and been maintained for decades? It starts with a love for the community, a trust in its residents, and a leader who can bring all of these elements together. Former mayor Dr. Tom Hancher was just the leader Columbus needed to turn MidTown Park from an idea into the pillar that it is today.

Decades ago before the idea for the park was ever conceived, a cement factory stood in the area that would eventually be set aside for the park. Eventually, the company running the factory shut down operations, leaving behind a skeleton of industrial buildings right in the middle of the neighborhood. Hancher, a lifetime resident of Columbus, may have been too young to realize the negative impact of that lot when he was riding his bike around the town as a Columbus youth. But even a child could see how unsightly the deserted factory in the middle of a residential neighborhood looked. It could’ve been this early, purely emotional response that led to legitimate concern for Hancher once he grew older.

As mayor, Hancher realized the possible health and safety issues that the youth in his community could face from the stillstanding factory. Things he could not see as a care-free child were made very clear to him once he had the responsibility of keeping his community’s best interests on his shoulders. He knew exactly how much access that these kids had to the factory because of his own experiences riding around that same neighborhood. At the time, kids even had access to the interior of cleaned out areas of the factory.

“It was an eyesore to the community and absolutely no use,” Hancher said of the vacated factory space, “In fact, it was really kind of a hazard for the neighborhood.”

Colorado County Living

MidTown Park’s most recent addition was a section of musical instruments close to the playground by Columbus man Bill Smith.

Colorado County Citizen photo

It wasn’t long before Hancher realized that what the kids actually needed access to is a place where they can release their pent up energy in a positive and safe environment provided by the city. They needed a community park. Now that he had made up his mind, it was time to get to work.

And there certainly was plenty of work to be done, even before production on the area could begin. Truly the work began as soon as the idea of the park was brought to the public of Columbus. Hancher took his idea to the city council meeting with hopes to gain fellow supporters. Once Hancher gained enough impactful allies such as former city manager John Brasher as well as Willie Mae Williams and her husband who served on the city council at the time, the pro-park team had enough momentum and influence to further their plans. Unfortunately there were some hurdles to clear before they could proceed.

One of the main hurdles was simply the opinion of their fellow community members.

Immediately there was some kick back over a variety of concerns with several boiling down to some people not trusting the residents of the midtown area to keep such a project clean and functional. What those people did not realize was something that Hancher had known and had seen proven time and time again: things that serve the community, are protected by the community. Despite this, the pushback increased with Hancher even receiving a death threat phone call for pursuing these efforts. This sort of response would frighten anyone, but Hancher’s answer to the anonymous caller gave an example of true resolve through adversity. His response?

“Load up,” Hancher said, “because that park’s going in.”

Luckily the threats held no weight, and the ball kept rolling for the park’s progress.

Spring 2022

The next step required the pro-parkers to find enough funding for the demolition of the plant and the main production of the park.

The city found a way to handle the cost of buying the land and removing the remnants of the plant, but acquiring the funds necessary to get the park they desired was a different beast entirely. Enter city manager John Brasher, a young couple from Sheridan, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

These people were responsible for drafting and soliciting grant money from the TPWD that would make it possible to complete the park. Once the funding had been secured, all that was left was to decide how they wanted the park to look and what it would have to offer.

Piecing together the park was a team affair, displaying the collaborative spirit that had taken the project from an idea to a working concept. Hancher and his committee came up with the idea to include the community by surveying the city to find out what the citizens wanted to see. Many of the things the people requested then still stand today in the park, and the decisions made at that time directly affected how the park looks today.

The two half court basketball goals came as a result of a compromise with the citizens after some push back about a full length court. The race track, a suggestion from committee member David Stall, rests just to the side of the basketball goals for kids to play and skate on. At the entrance of the park from the city stands a line of flagpoles, each of which representing the flags of all the towns named Columbus in different states.

These “Flags of Columbus” were an idea pitched by committee member Buddy Rau. Building the park is still a community project, as even recently, Columbus man Bill Smith

left his mark on the park by adding a musical instruments section close to the playground.

MidTown Park still stands as one of the great collaborative efforts in the city as well as the symbol of Hancher’s legacy in the city. The progress the park has made is a direct reflection of the growth and progress Columbus has made as a community since. The residents of Columbus can feel comfortable knowing that their youth has a safe and well-managed space to help their growth and development as they grow into the next generation of movers and shakers in the community.

Building construction in Columbus MidTown Park. This photograph shows the state of completion of the new park’s amphitheater on June 5, 2002. Also under construction were the new restroom facility, basketball courts, five picnic areas, a walking/jogging trail, two sand volleyball courts, playground and sidewalks.

City of Columbus photo

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Colorado County Living

Like what you see in this magazine?

g n i v i L y t n u o C o d Colora SPRING 2022

Saving a dance for you

COLUMBUS GARDEN CLUB 30 Years of Plant Sales

SATURDAY APRIL 30 8 a.m. Until All Sold

Brookshire Bros in Columbus Plants That Attract Bees, Butterflies and Hummingbirds Texas Native Plants, Sun and Shade Plants

Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge

Spring Festival season

MidTown Park’s inspiring story PLUS

DAYS MAGNOLIA GEDENKE!

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RESERVE YOUR SPOT

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Spring 2022

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Refuge from the rat race

BY ALESIA WOOLRIDGE

IMAGINE BEING A TIME TRAVELER, seeing Colorado County before roadways and automobiles.

It was a serene environment, full of golden rolling prairies with tall grass swaying gently in the wind and wildlife native to the area. Among those animals was the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken.

The Attwater’s prairie-chicken is a ground-dwelling grouse of the coastal prairie ecosystem.

Through the late 1800s, the prairie-chicken population numbered nearly one million birds.

A boom in settlement and farming of the Texas Coastal prairies all but silenced the vibrant, beautiful “boom” of male prairie-chickens during mating season.

The economic growth of the area brought with it the decline of native grasslands and animals.

By the 1930s, the population of prairie-chickens had dwindled to about 8,700 birds. Biologist Val Lehmann chronicled the decline of the prairie-chickens for decades.

In 1965, Eagle Lake residents I.V. Duncan and his son Gardner Duncan approached Lehmann with an offer to sell 2,580 acres of their land in Colorado County to establish a prairie-chicken sanctuary.

Soon after, David and Eula Wintermann agreed to sell an adjoining 840 acres, and The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund secured funding to acquire both properties at approximately half their market value to establish a preserve for the birds.

Both families donated the balance of the value of these initial 3,500 acres. Retired State game warden Thomas T. Waddell was hired as a part-time caretaker of the original preserve.

In 1967, Attwater’s Prairie Chicken, with a population just over 1,000, was designated as endangered when the first list of native species threatened with extinction was published in the Federal Register that year.

In 1972, the World Wildlife Fund donated approximately 2,600 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to officially establish the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge with the purpose of providing a sanctuary for one of the last populations of the birds.

The passage of the Endangered Species Act the following year provided immediate protection for the prairie-chicken.

PRESERVING A PIECE OF THE PAST TO HELP EDUCATE THE FUTURE Located approximately 60 miles west of Houston, today the 10,541-acre refuge is home to one of the largest remnants of native coastal prairie remaining in southeast Texas.

The refuge is specifically managed to maintain or improve native coastal prairie communities for prairie-chicken reintroduction and survival, as well as for the benefit of other important fish and wildlife resources.

“When we take visitors on van tours, I let them know this is what most of Houston looked like hundreds of years ago,” Refuge Manager John Magera said.

“This is our rain forest, this is our coral reef. That is how important this piece of prairie, relatively untouched by man for thousands of years, is to all of us.”

While many people are eager to explore oceans, canyons and mountains, Magera says sparking the excitement over prairies requires a different approach. “Prairieland is a challenge because it’s easily overlooked. Instead of looking up, you’ve got to look down to discover what the prairie has to offer. We have over 400 species of native plants that flower year round. But it takes time to see it. Once people come and experience the refuge, they usually leave with a deeper appreciation of this land.”

“And there are hundreds of other birds, insects and reptiles who use these prairies, too,” Meredith Stroud, Assistant Refuge Manager chimed. “The prairie is like a deep introvert; it’s complex, not an extrovert. And developing a love for it isn’t a speed date; this is a long-term relationship.”

NOT THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN’S LAST DANCE The refuge has seen some ups and downs over the last decade due to catastrophic weather events and a global pandemic.

“After building the population up to about 142, the Tax Day flood of 2106 hit us hard,” Magera shared.

10

Colorado County Living

refuge increased during the shutdown.

“Before COVID, we had about 5,000 visitors annually. After the first year of COVID, we had 22,000 visitors out here,” Magera said.

Even though the birds had a rough season last May, Magera is confident the prairie-chickens still have some dances left in them. “We had a tough nesting season last year with the back to back rains. We lost pretty much all the nests we knew about. But, that’s life on the prairie, and it’s nothing new to these birds.”

By the spring of 2017, the population was making a slow increase with about 60 birds. When Hurricane Harvey hit Colorado County in August 2017, Magera said the bird population took another blow.

“After Harvey, we had about 12 birds survive here and approximately 14 at our release site near Goliad.” Soon after, Magera said journalists began contacting the refuge wondering if the storyline for the Prairie Chicken was coming to an end.

“I told those writers, ‘If you’re here to write an extinction story, you’re about 25 years too late,” Magera said with a laugh.

Since Harvey’s destruction, the bird population has grown from 26 to about 178, the highest population growth in close to 30 years.

Refuge workers were uncertain about what the COVID pandemic would bring for them, but Magera said visitors to the

MORE THAN CHICKENS CROSSING THE ROAD Visiting a national wildlife refuge like the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is a great way to escape from every-day life and enjoy the serenity of nature once prevalent in the area.

With approximately 2.5 miles of refreshing trails and boardwalks to hike, visitors won’t have to look long for signs of wildlife.

Bring a set of binoculars and look for birds soaring overhead or perched among the tall grasses.

Wildflowers bloom freely on the vast prairieland, which makes for stunning wildlife, wildflower, and sunrise and sunset photography.

The visitor center has a large display of mounted animals on display, artwork from local students, brochures and more.

Take a peaceful drive on the auto tour, or enjoy a nature walk on one of the trails.

Biking is allowed and restrooms are available.

PRAIRIE CHICKEN FESTIVAL “BOOMS” WITH EXCITEMENT EVERY MARCH See the critically endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chickens during the booming season—a time when males gather to perform their elaborate courtship ritual and make a distinct “booming” noise. Native-American tribal dancers in traditional attire perform their dance honoring the bird, and enjoy walking tours, bird viewing tours, children’s art display, and native plant walking tours.

Tours, lectures and activities for the whole family are available during the twoday annual event.

When the in-person festival was paused in 2020 due to COVID precautions, the refuge began a live footage stream called “Booming on the Prairie!” on their social media sites of prairie-chickens dancing. Viewers tuned in between 7 a.m.

– 8 a.m. to see the amazing “booming” displays by the animals. Through this new media, the refuge was able to show this unique bird’s breeding display to over 10,000 viewers in just two days.

Magera is optimistic that the van tours will continue soon, and the in-person festival will return in 2023. There are also plans for expansion at the refuge that would include a new visitor center.

The refuge is free to visit. The office and visitor center is open Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. The public areas of the refuge are open from dawn until dusk year round. Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is located at 1206 APC NWR Road in Eagle Lake.

ABOUT THE COVER: Photo of a young Blackfoot tribe Native American dancer. John Magera, Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR

Spring 2022

11

GET OUT OUT,, GET MOVING in Colorado County parks

BY TRENTON WHITING

FOR THE MORE ACTIVE MEMEBERS of Colorado County, having safe and maintained areas to engage in their physical activities is an absolute necessity. Whether going on walks, playing some hoops or making a Sunday tee time, the people of the county have a wide variety of interests that get them outdoors and staying active. Fortunately for them, the cities of Colorado County boast a number of outdoor activity areas and parks that have just about something for everyone. Here are some of the places in each town where you can get your fill of outdoor recreation.

Columbus

The biggest of the three towns has many different options to choose from in terms of outdoor expeditions. From volleyball to golfing to water activities, there are many places residents of Columbus can go to for their recreation.

MIDTOWN PARK: The only park that connects directly from the city and downtown areas in Columbus. The park features many different activities and unique structures in the county. Despite not having a full basketball court, it hosts two halfcourt areas with ample space for other blacktop activities such as skating or writing with chalk. The park also has volleyball courts and even a racetrack for skating and RC cars. One of the unique features is the musical instrument section near the playground for children. That section includes different instruments that kids can play and learn about music through. Located in the middle of a residential area, the proximity to the people using it makes it a vital part of the community.

BEASON’S PARK: Beason’s park located near the Colorado River bridge was one of the first parks in Columbus. Since its inception, this area has been a choice spot for picnics and riverfront activities. Geared more towards families than just children, the park has been a staple of community recreation for years. The park also has a full court basketball goal set up, giving the citizens yet another area for recreational hoops.

It features a full field equipped with uprights on either side.

Surrounded by nature and with relative ease of access to the river, Beason’s park provides a natural area for residents to enjoy.

CARDINAL PARK: In clear view of the water tower, Cardinal Park is yet another area for families to partake in some outdoor fun.

Named due to its proximity to the high school, this park hosts a playground area for kids to enjoy as well as a softball field.

The Columbus golf course is another area residents can go that is within walking distance of the high school. These areas provide opportunities for those that live closer to the school and Glidden.

COMMUNITY PARK: Just off of Montezuma St. is a collection of little league baseball fields. Each field is well maintained year round, giving little leaguers and regular residents alike their chance to play catch, get some swings in or catch some games when they happen to be played.

12

Midtown Park

Weimar City Park

Colorado County Living

j

Hill Memorial Park

Weimar

HILL MEMORIAL PARK: This park has one of the largest sq. footage areas in the County, mostly because of the crown jewel golf course it contains on its grounds.

Not only can residents enjoy the course, but they also have other options such as several sand volleyball courts as they get deeper into the park. There is also a full softball field fenced off from the woods area. It comes equipped with a full size scoreboard as well for any official school or little league games. With long stretches surrounded by nature and a pond near its entrance, it’s the perfect spot for a walk on a nice day as well.

VETERANS PARK: The Veterans baseball park is one of the nicest baseball stadiums in the County. Since it plays as the home of the Wildcats as well as the minor league Hormigas, public play in this park is limited. However, it is the only spot to catch the best that Weimar baseball has to offer. It is also filled with history as a dedication to the men and women of service to the US military.

WEIMAR CITY PARK: The Municipal park is the only park located inside near the downtown area of Weimar. Located just behind city hall, this park hosts a Spring 2022

pavilion with a grill and seating areas for public events. There is also a playground for children with several different toys available. Not too far from the playground is a covered basketball goal that holds a plaque dedicated to the city park. After putting up a few shots, residents can walk to the directly adjacent public pool to cool off, making this one of the only parks to feature a pool on its grounds.

Eagle Lake

EAGLE LAKE MUNICIPAL PARK: The Eagle Lake city park is another park that contains a pool in its list of available activities. Residents also have access to the tennis courts, the nine-hole golf course, as well as the picnic tables at the Joe Reed Recreation Center. As the park is adjacent to the second-largest natural lake in Texas, the citizens of Eagle Lake can enjoy the pristine lakeside view as well as the wide variety of wildlife that make the area their home or visit throughout the year. The park also acts as an entrance to the David Wintermann Wildlife area, where residents can get a closer look at the nature and wildlife surrounding the park.

EH HENRY PARK: EH Henry park is one of

Seaholm Park

the few public places in the county residents can get a full court basketball game in.

Eugene Herbert Henry, the park’s namesake, was a champion of black progress and improvement of the black experience in his day. His legacy is most present in the entities that share his name. The Eagle Lake Primary school was previously known as the EH Henry High School after securing a grant for a new school for African-American teens in the area during the segregation era. His legacy is honored by the park, a historical landmark of the progress Eagle Lake has made.

SEAHOLM PARK: While this park is not currently active, there are plans to renovate this park to get it back to working condition. Bleachers have been rebuilt for the baseball field, and other improvements are in the works. It has been included in this list to hint at the progress Eagle Lake and Colorado County continues to make in the community. Once it is complete, it will be yet another public area for families and children to enjoy.

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Fun times, fab finds at local Farmers Markets

BY ALESIA WOOLRIDGE

SPRINGTIME IN COLORADO COUNTY brings wildflowers, festivals and Farmers Markets.

Most Farmers Markets throughout the county run from spring through fall. Market goers can experience rows of one-of-a-kind finds, organically grown fruits and vegetables, preserved goods, jewelry, live music and much more.

EAGLE LAKE FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MARKET Third Saturday of each month March – November 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Downtown Eagle Lake behind Eagle Lake Insurance Associates Facebook: Eagle Lake Parks & Recreation Department

SATURDAYS ON THE SQUARE Every Saturday except the last Saturday of the month 8 a.m. – noon Courthouse Square, downtown Columbus Facebook: Saturdays on the Square A weekly outdoor market of local vendors offering home baked goods, handcrafted items, locally grown fruits and vegetables and more.

From yard eggs to native Texas plants, coins, and jewelry, market goers are sure to walk away with a bag or two at Saturdays on the Square. Potted plants, floral arrangements, pottery and lots of unique finds are waiting for eager shoppers at Saturdays on the Square.

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COLUMBUS COUNTRY MARKET Last Saturday of each month March – November 9 a.m. – noon Courthouse Square, downtown Columbus www.columbusFMtx.org Facebook: Columbus Country Market It’s called “The Big One” for a reason!

Boasting crowds in the hundreds, Columbus Country Market launched in 2014.

Community volunteers lead the market with support from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. The County Market promotes healthy choices while supporting local farmers, gardeners, cooks, bakers, craftspeople, and other artisans. Vendors sell everything from breakfast tacos, tamales, hot coffee and fresh produce including berries, greens, carrots, beets, squash, onions, tomatoes and herbs, to homemade baked goods like pies, breads and cakes, to fresh gulf shrimp, local farm raised beef and eggs, jewelry, crafts, plants, jams, jellies, local olive oil, local honey, handmade soaps, homemade soups, yummy Filipino egg rolls and lots more. Market guests are encouraged to enter a monthly drawing for $50 in Country Market gift certificates. It’s free to enter and two new winners are chosen each month.

The Eagle Lake Farmers and Community Market, now in its second season, offers a great variety of everything from plants to plates of barbecue, freshly made lemonade, crafts and more.

Eagle Lake began its monthly market in 2021 and had a very successful year. More than 30-50 vendors participate monthly. There is also local, live music at each market. “We have vendors who join us from near and far,” said Angela Spencer, Eagle Lake Parks and Recreation Coordinator. “Some with tasty treats and others with very unique, hand-crafted items. We also look forward to the fresh produce and farm items.”

Spencer said the market has grown in popularity because there is no vendor fee to participate. However, she does encourage a donated item for a basket giveaway available to vendors and market customers.

WEIMAR FARMERS MARKET Second Saturday of the month March – November 8 a.m. – noon 201 W. Main Street, Weimar Cucumbers, okra, sago palms, cookies, lemonade, craft and homemade items – you name it and it’s likely to be found at the Weimar Farmers Market.

Local farmers and vendors sell the fruits of their labor. There is no fee to participate but vendors must notify the Weimar Chamber of Commerce to reserve a space.

Colorado County Living

Welcome to Gedenke!

Where Texas hospitality and German customs meet

BY ALESIA WOOLRIDGE THE 2021 GEDENKE! FESTIVAL IN WEIMAR saw record attendance, and event planners are optimistic that the 2022 festival will be bigger and better.

Translated to English, the German word “Gedenke” means “Remember”. After the event was forced to cancel in 2020 due to COVID precautions, the meaning of Weimar’s Gedenke! Festival rings truer than ever before.

Weimar Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Crystal Barrow recently announced the Gedenke! Festival would donate $5,000 to the Heritage Society of Weimar for awning repairs.

History is important to the Weimar community, and the town’s rich German heritage will be on full display at this popular two-day Mother’s Day weekend event May 6 – 7.

Gedenke! is a wonderful way to connect with old friends, make new ones, and have a little old-fashioned festival fun with loved ones.

Admission and parking are always free, so come on out and join in the fun May 6-7 for Gedenke!

For more information about Gedenke!, please visit https://weimartexas.net/event2/gedenke/, find them on Facebook at Gedenke! Weimar German Festival, or contact the Weimar Area Chamber of Commerce at (979) 725-9511, chamber@ weimartexas.org or https://weimartexas.net.

Spring 2022

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Colorado County Living