The Herald-Press Blog

One of the favorite things I enjoy covering for the Herald-Press is festivals - especially the small-town festivals. There's something about going to a community, talking with the people you know, seeing all of the crafts made by people like you and me, and supporting a good cause, like a local community center.

Both Neches and Montalba have festivals each year that fit in this group. While Neches hold its annual Neches Heritage Day festival the first weekend in May, the Montalba Fall Festival is held in the fall on the last Saturday in September (Sept. 25 this year) on the Montalba Community Center grounds on Texas 19.

The Montalba Fall Festival organizers are gearing up for their festival and especially want to get the word out about the arts & crafts vendor spaces that are available. Booths are 10x10 feet. Booth spaces are $20 a booth until Sept. 22. Late entries will cost $25. To reserve a booth or for more information, call Christy Woolverton 903-549-3462 or email christyw79@aol.com.

The festival, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will start with a parade at 10 a.m. Other activities will include a children's pet contest, live auction, arts and crafts, exhibit show, chocolate pie contest, a men's cake baking contest (really good entries last year!) and more. The winning pie and cake will be auctioned at the live auction. All proceeds go directly to the Montalba Community Center & Volunteer Fire Department. For more information contact Jill Hamil at 903-549-2384.

As always, the Montalba Volunteer Fire Department will be selling barbecue dinners and stuffed potato plates as a fund-raiser. Meals include a drink and homemade desserts. For more information, call Cookie Wilbanks at 903-549-2537.

For the exhibit show, categories will include produce, home canning, arts, crafts, & needlework with many classes in each category. There also will be a special “youth section” for the youngsters to show the things they have accomplished this past year. Everyone welcome. Guidelines and show times may be obtained by calling Lucia Gramme at 903-549-2181.

The ladies from the Montalba Community Improvement Association have handcrafted a queen-sized quilt to be given away in a drawing during the festival. This has been the association's main fundraiser for over 40 years. Donations are $2 eachor three for $5. Purchase these the day of the festival, or in advance at Montalba General Store and area banks including Capital One Bank on the loop in Palestine. You need not be present to win. Call 903-549-2384 with questions about the quilt drawing.