How do you like your history experience? How about live and in person! We have that opportunity in our own community with the 31st Annual Texian Market Days Festival. This is one of the jewels of Fort Bend County provided by the Fort Bend County Museum Association.
The Festival is held on the picturesque grounds of the 480 acre George Ranch Historical Park. This is a living history presentation that gives you 100 years of local Texas heritage with hands-on activities, craft demonstrations, battle reenactments, historical houses, games, food, and live music. Interact with costumed first-person interpreters as they bring this piece of the Fabric of Fort Bend to life.
You will experience the sounds, smells, and colors of life in the area as history unfolded to give us what we have today in Fort Bend. Separate areas of the Festival grounds are dedicated to an era of life in the County from pioneer life on the 1830s Jones Stock Farm to the 1930s George Ranch Cattle Complex. In between you can experience life at the time of the Civil War at the 1860s Ryon Prairie Home, chuck wagon cooking methods over an open fire used on cattle drives, or life at the 1890s Davis Victorian Mansion site.
Fort Bend County developed from the efforts of Stephen F. Austin and the “Old 300” settler families some of whom moved to this wilderness for the promise of large segments of property along the Brazos River. Among that early group was Henry Jones from Arkansas. The Jones Plantation developed, beginning in a prairie house, and through Henry’s work and succeeding family generations the property has become the George Ranch. Today the Historical Park is a living museum for all of us to experience what four generations and families built in Fort Bend County.
The Festival is a showcase day for all on Saturday, October 25th, to experience the Historical Park. Friday, October 24th, is Field Trip Day and hundreds of area school students will have their opportunity for an early chance to enjoy this educational experience.
The Texian Market Days Festival is large and something you will not forget. And if you are so inclined, the Museum Association can use volunteers to support this large effort. Anything from hands-on craft making, to vendor booths, to full dress re-enactors is appreciated.
I called this the showcase day for the George Ranch Historical Park, because this is not the only day to experience this living museum. There are events and activities year round, from Halloween, to Thanksgiving, Christmas in the Park, Weddings, Private Parties, Corporate Events. Visit their website to see when you can experience this jewel of Fort Bend County if you can’t make it to the Festival.
