Published: October 08, 2008 01:55 am            

Grapeland to celebrate heritage during annual Peanut Festival

GRAPELAND — The peanut is as intertwined in the fabric of Grapeland as the deep sand the region is known for; and the legume is celebrated every year at the Peanut Festival.

This will be the 63rd installment of the annual celebration. While growing peanuts isn’t quite as big a business as it used to be in the area, there are still some local farmers who make the effort.

“We always have local peanuts at the festival,” said Richard Currie with the Grapeland Chamber of Commerce, who helps organize the festival. “It wouldn’t be the peanut festival without them.”

Over the years, the festival has become more of a reunion and homecoming time for the folks of Grapeland.

“The school’s homecoming is held at the same time, so it’s a good time for people to get together with friends and family,” Currie said.

The Grapeland Peanut Festival is more than just a one-day event. The festivities begin Thursday night with family night at the carnival.

All of the carnival rides are covered Thursday night with the purchase of an arm band.

There’s more on Friday night. Grapeland will hold its annual homecoming game against Price Carlisle. Following the game the town will hold its annual street dance on Main Street.

This year’s street dance will be hosted by the Grapeland Chamber of Commerce and will feature the band Two Mile Creek. The dance will run from 10 p.m. to midnight Friday. The carnival being held at Grapeland City Park also will be open during this time.

Everything begins in earnest at 10 a.m. Saturday morning with the annual Peanut Parade. The theme for this year’s event is “Music, Music, Music.”

Floats will be built around the theme on which the queen contestants will ride.

After the parade, folks will make their way to Grapeland City Park, located on Market Street, for the carnival and arts and crafts fair.

Events conclude Saturday night with the Peanut Queen Coronation. This year’s queen contestants are Amelia Moore, daughter of Rickey and Rita Floyd; Rashel Dameron, daughter of Lee Dameron and Arlene Yates; and Kelsey Luce, daughter of Danny and Carrie Luce.

Other events include the Grapeland Athletic Boosters 5K Walk/Run. Registration for the event will begin at 7:15 a.m. Saturday at 202 S. Main St. Also, there will be the Everything Peanut Baking Contest.

Entries must be turned in at the Grapeland High School Home Economics lab by 8 a.m. Saturday. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m. Saturday from the band stand at the park.

The Peanut Festival was born in 1945 as the Goober Carnival, and served as the community’s harvest celebration, according to a history of the festival from the Grapeland Chamber of Commerce. The first festival also commemorated the allied victory in World War II.

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Wayne Stewart may be contacted via e-mail at wstewart@palestineherald.com

        

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