Our own, Front PorchNews Texas, display greeted visitors to the Fall Festival, from its location next to
the High School Parking Lot, and on the south side of the Southwest Dairy Museum.

 

Quilt Show, Arts & Crafts,
Household Arts, Pet Show, and

Commercial Exhibits

Features of Friday at the Fall Festival

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Beautifully handcrafted quilts, baked goods, photography, arts and crafts, and commercial exhbits, opened Friday morning at the Hopkins County Fall Festival. And, a number of residents were on-hand to view the many, many products of Hopkins County, as they attended each of the venues as a crowd. "The weather is nice and we just decided to load up the car and head out to the quilt show," expressed three friends, who indicated they had left the beauty shop and made their way to the venue. "We're just going to make a day of looking at all the beautiful things, but don't expect us to start quilting anytime soon!"

 

Visitors to the Lone Star Quilt Show found almost 150 beautifully
handcrafted quilts.

 

The Texas Department of Agriculture Quilt honored ranching heritage and featured
the blocks of three local guild members.

Lone Star Quilt Show

 

Approximately 150 quilts were on display in the Wildcat Practice Gym and residents were walking up and down the isles looking at the beautiful artwork, on display. Almost any pattern imaginable was represented, as well as a number of heirloom quilts. Included in the offering was the Texas Department of Agriculture Quilt, that featured blocks by three Hopkins County residents, and a "Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt," that the local Lone Star Quilting Guild will be donating, later in the year, to Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. The lovely  "Raffle Quilt" was also featured in the show, and chances were being sold to help finance the quilt show and other activites of the local guild.

 

 

 

This beautiful quilt will be donated by the Lone Star Quilt Guild
to Hopkins County Memorial Hospital in support of Breast Cancer Research.

 

An "on-sight" quilting demonstration was offered, as local ladies who quilt, were sharing the art with anyone who was interested in learning the art.

 

A "live" quilting demonstration was featured throughout the Quilt Show.

 

In Sulphur Springs High School and along the walkway were crafting vendors, who brought their crafts to town and offered them for sale. "Autumn was definitely in the air," as a number of colorfully decorated flower arrangements, wreaths, pumpkins, and other decor was available in the booths.

 

A variety of crafts were offered for sale from booths in the high school cafeteria.

 

Then, in the SSHS Media Room, the Household Arts Contest was being conducted, on Friday morning. Judging of canned goods, horticultural products, quilts, clothing, and baked goods were just some of the categories, as well as a number of photographs that had been entered. Judges were awarding prizes and it was noted that many of the entries were of county youth.

 

 

Household Arts Show

 

Meanwhile, local organizations and businesses had the exhibit hall of the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center full and were "spilling-out" into the front lawn, with a variety of booths that featured local wares and products, that are a trademark of Hopkins County. "We have a booth here every year, just to meet people and let them know about our business," advised one local businessman. "It's a great place to make new contacts and introduce our services to the people of Hopkins County!"

 

Commercial Exhibits

 

 

Booths with jewelry, chiropractic care, and both the Democratic Women and the Hopkins County Republican Party were represented, as well as Jarvis Farms, who had spiced pecans, jams and jellies, and both Irish and Sweet Potatoes offered from their display. "We thought that it would be a great way to show everyone the many fine products we are offering at the farm," explained Steve Jarvis. "We have some new items in our offering and felt it was a way of showing them what to expect when they come out to the farm for a visit!"

 

 

"Christmas is 'just around the corner,' and this is a great place to show our line of products," advised Rhanda Massey, who had her jewelry offerings from her Church Street location available in the exhibit area.

Then, it was at 3:00 p.m., that the Annual Hopkins County Pet Show got underway, beneath the shade trees, on the Civic Center Grounds. Pets in almost every imaginable costume were on display and competed for awards and ribbons. The exotic class included a kangaroo and a lemur, and the traditional dog and cat classes were offered, as well. "Yours Truly" was one of the judges and let me tell you that the decisions were most difficult and you wished to have more "Best of Show Awards" to give to the animals presented.

 

Fall Festival Pet Show

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, all across the Civic Center grounds, activity was swift, as folks were setting-up their stew campsites with wagons, store fronts, and other decorations, so that they would be in place as the sun rose on Saturday morning, and the 38th Annual World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest got underway!

 

 

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