The 27th Annual Texas Blueberry Festival brought out large crowds and many vendors Saturday, June 11, and showcased the culture and talent of East Texas.
The downtown streets of the oldest town in Texas were lined with many vendors advertising old fashioned blueberry lemonade, free water, dream catchers and wooden instrument and birdhouses, and so much more. Diversity was not just found with the vendors, but it was also found in the throngs of people perusing them.
Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful trashcans could be found every five to ten feet on the streets dedicated to helping keep the litter at bay during the festival. Two stages at opposite ends of the festival housed local performers and musicians serenading any passers by.
One vendor played every instrument and sang inside his booth to show the quality of his instruments and give the festival goers some joy. Another vendor offered homemade root beer with lifetime free refills. Another act dedicated one of their songs to the singer and Youtuber Christina Grimmie who was murdered while attending a concert in Orlando, Florida earlier this week.
Even though there were occasional showers and the sun was quite hot, the festival was still a big hit. Many festival goers even brought their dogs!
This event brought together many different people from across East Texas. It showcased local businesses, churches, and music. It brought attention to a locally grown fruit, and most of all it brought people together enjoying a celebration of local culture and talent.
This was the 27th Annual Texas Blueberry Festival. Here’s to hoping the rich tradition continues on another 27 years!
Photos and story by Bethany Grace Baldwin.
