Tyler County Dogwood Festival 2017 Begins March 18

Date:

Bradlee and Sonilynn Miller carry the flags at the rodeo during Western Weekend at last year’s Dogwood Festival.

For 74 years, the Woodville community has been hosting its three-weekend festivity known as the Tyler County Dogwood Festival.

A festival known for it’s Dogwood blooms and celebration of spring has been happening since the 1940’s starts Saturday, March 18. We chatted with Woodville City Administrator Mandy Risinger about how it all began, what’s new this year and her favorite part of the Festival.

Keep reading to learn more about the Tyler County Dogwood Festival!

TFCL: What started the Dogwood Festival?
Mandy: In the spring of 1938, when the dogwoods were in bloom, Tyler County Judge James E. Wheat arranged a meeting near the Polk and Tyler County line of a group of the state’s leading citizens whose aid he hoped to enlist in promoting the completion of U.S. Highway 190. His guests, from other parts of the state, were so impressed with the natural beauty of East Texas that Jim Wheat hit upon the idea of an annual event which would focus attention on the area when “It’s Dogwood Time in Tyler County.” Sometime before Christmas in 1939, Mr. Wheat called a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and other interested individuals to organize a festival association. The first Dogwood Festival was presented April 6, 1940 by some 30 people to an audience of 300 in a small amphitheater on the grounds of the Woodville school.

TFCL: Do y’all have any new features this year?
Mandy: The newest events occur during the Festival of the Arts and include the Denim and Dogwoods Gala, the historical driving tour and the Royal Tea. The only new feature that we have specific to this year is that the rodeo will be CPRA sanctioned. For the past several years it has been an open rodeo.

2016 Dogwood Queen Shelby Tally

TFCL: How as it grown over the years?
Mandy: The festival has grown from one event (Coronation and Historical Play) and an audience of 300 to three weekends with countless events and 10,000+ attendees. The festival was expanded to two weekends in 1967 when Western Weekend was added. There were so many trailrides joining the Dogwood parade that the organizers decided to add a weekend to embrace the heritage of the East Texas cowboy and compliment the original weekend as these trailriders come to Tyler County by horseback and wagon traveling through our beautiful forest in bloom. The Arts and Entertainment weekend (now called Festival of the Arts) was added in the year of the festival’s 50th anniversary, 1993. The focus of this weekend is to embrace our heritage and culture through the arts.

TFCL: What should attendees plan for this year for the different weekends?
Mandy: Here is a look at the events:

Festival of the Arts: The events of this weekend focus on the heritage, history and cultural arts of our region.
Denim and Dogwoods Gala (a dinner with live music and readings/enactments of pioneer stories)
Historical Driving Tour – Self-paced driving tour of historical churches
Heritage Village Tours and Exhibits – Living museum of pioneer history to include demonstrations and exhibits
Dinner on the Grounds – Live music and old-time Sunday dinner on the grounds
Royal Tea – Little girls have an opportunity to meet the current ladies of the royal court dressed in formal gowns. Attendees get to make a sash, receive a tiara and have their picture made with the princess or lady-in-waiting of their choice.

Western Weekend: Embraces the heritage and culture of the East Texas Cowboy
Trailriders come to Woodville on horseback and by wagon to enjoy the beautiful East Texas forest and participate in the Trailride parade.
Rodeo Performances
Trailride Parade – Spectators gather on the streets to watch a parade of horses, carriages and wagons as they travel through downtown Woodville

Queen’s Weekend: Celebration of spring, all events are in downtown Woodville
Dogwood Dash – 5K fun run
Arts & Crafts and Food Vendors
Motorcycle and Classic Car Exhibit
Parade
Coronation & Historical Play – Presentation of the royal court to include approximately 24 visiting duchesses and their escorts, crowning of the queen, historical play and fireworks finale

Mutton Bustin’

TFCL: What is your favorite part?
Mandy: The hometown atmosphere of every single event and activity. That said, if I had to pick just one event or activity, I particularly love the coronation and pageant. Sitting underneath the East Texas stars and basking in a tradition that is 74 years strong that brings so many people together in celebration is absolutely heartwarming and breathtaking.

TFCL: Why did y’all choose the theme: “The Cowboy Way – History According to the Texas Cowboy and Legends?”
Mandy: The theme changes from year to year and is based upon the historical play and set design. One of the primary focuses of our festival is celebrating and embracing our Texas heritage and the heritage of the East Texas cowboy.

TFCL: What do the Children of the Court do, along with other royalty?
Mandy: The children of the court serve as flower girls and bearers to the queen during the coronation ceremony. They are selected from first graders throughout Tyler County school districts. These young individuals represent the promise of youth and Springtime, the nobility of the forest, and they embody our community pride.

TFCL: What does the Festival represent of Tyler County?
Mandy: The festival represents a celebration of our natural resources and the beauty of the region, but also of our history, heritage and the family that is Tyler County – our small town atmosphere.

TFCL: Can you tell me about Mr. East Texas and the honoree?
Mandy: The Mr. East Texas Award was established in 1967 and is presented at the discretion of the operating board of directors to the East Texan who best exemplifies the spirit and quality of leadership which advances, shapes and gives direction to the growth and progress of East Texas. This year’s honoree is Edward “Bubba” Miller. Mr. Miller was selected for his devotion to the growth and development of East Texas through the sport of rodeo and evangelistic ministry. He has used his love for rodeo and his faith to enrich the lives of many East Texans particularly our youth. Bubba has also used his passions as catalysts to represent our region across the country. The board feels that Mr. Miller embodies the 2017 festival theme “The Cowboy Way.”

TFCL: What does the public look forward to the most and why?
Mandy: The public looks most forward to the parade and downtown activities of Queen’s Weekend. It’s like a huge homecoming for those who have ties to the community, and it’s like being in Maybury for visitors. There is no admission charge and there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Dancer

TFCL: What do you want the public to know about the Festival?
Mandy: The entire event is family oriented and just great fun!

TFCL: Where is each event located and the cost of them?
Mandy: Here is a look at the location of each event and the admission cost.

Festival of the Arts
Denim and Dogwoods Gala – First Baptist Church of Woodville Family Life Center, 205 W. Wheat, Woodville $25 per ticket
Historical Driving Tour – Cherokee Church (Heritage Village), Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church (Warren, TX), Mt. Hope Methodist Church (Chester, TX), donations accepted at each site
Heritage Village Tours and Exhibits – 157 PR 6000, Woodville
Dinner on the Grounds – 157 PR 6000, Woodville
Royal Tea – Village Street Bed and Breakfast, 201 N. Village St., Woodville

Western Weekend
Rodeo – 405 CR 2025, Woodville, TX, Adult presale tickets $8, Ages 12 & Under $6, Tickets $2 more at the gate
Trailride Parade – Downtown Woodville, no admission

Queen’s Weekend
5K Fun Run – 505 N. Charlton, Woodville, Pre-registration $15, Late Registration – $20, No admission for spectators
Arts & Crafts and Food Vendors – 102 N. Charlton, Woodville, No admission
Motorcycle and Classic Car Exhibit – 100 Block of W. Charlton Street, No admission
Parade – Downtown Woodville, No admission
Coronation & Historical Play – $7 & $9 Pre-sale, $8 & $10 at the gate – ticket prices based upon seating section

Western Weekend parade.

TFCL: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Mandy: The festival is completely operated and produced by volunteers. The focus of the festival has also included scenic routes of dogwood trees in bloom, but we have no control over mother nature and this is Texas. Many times the Dogwood trees, redbuds and azaleas bloom early and are not in full bloom during the festival. For 74 years local volunteers have been making paper dogwoods, azaleas, wisteria and yellow jasmine to adorn parade floats and the stage for the coronation and play. These flowers cannot be reused from year to year, so each year volunteers throughout the county make thousands upon thousands of flowers that are tied on to harvested yaupon bushes and trees.

For more information on the Dogwood Festival, visit tylercountydogwoodfestival.org.

Megan Whitworth
Megan Whitworth is the former creative director of Texas Forest Country Living. Growing up in East Texas, Megan discovered her love of writing at the age of 11, writing song lyrics and poetry, which turned into essays and articles for publications around East Texas. She later added photography into the mix capturing Friday night football games, the latest fashion looks, and portraits of people around the nation. Megan enjoys karaoke, blogging, reading, and road trips. She resides in Lufkin with her husband, Ryan, and two cats, Felix and Lucy.

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