The 76th
Annual Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration in Palestine, Texas takes place the
last two weekends in March and first weekend in April. Since 1938, locals and visitors alike have
been enjoying the delicate white blooms of the Cornus florida, commonly known as the flowering dogwood.
Activities
are scheduled each weekend to compliment the long time Celebration, including
the Dogwood Festival set for Sat., Mar. 22, 2014 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in
historic downtown Palestine.
Festival
highlights include live music and entertainment, beer gardens, a parade, arts
& crafts, food vendors, an antique car show, the Anderson County Master
Gardeners Annual Tree Sale and much more.
The fun will continue into the evening with a Doo-Wop Cruise featuring music
from the 50’s and 60’s at the Anderson County Historic Courthouse Square.
Members of the Pilgrim Cemetery Association
will serve gingerbread and coffee at the Old Pilgrim Church, the first
Protestant church in Texas. The reconstructed log church will be open to the
public, and visitors can enjoy tours of the historic cemetery and tales of the
pioneer family from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 23 and 2 to 4 p.m on March 30.
The 13th
Annual Old Time Music and Dulcimer Festival will kick off the second weekend at
the Museum for East Texas Culture. The music
festival will be held Mar. 27, 28 and 29 with concerts, workshops and jam
sessions. For those looking for a culinary treat through the piney
woods, the Texas State Railroad will host a Dogwood Special Brunch on Sun.,
Mar. 30. The historic Texas Theatre will debut a Ghost of Chance on Mar. 28, 29, 30 and April 4, 5, and 6.
The
Palestine Main Street Farm and Flower Market, located at the Farmer’s Market
Pavilion, will be open on Sat., Mar. 29 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sun., Mar. 30
from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This unique
outdoor market will feature bedding plants, herbs, trees, fresh produce, jams,
yard art and decorations. Other
activities include the Main Street Architectural Scavenger Hunt and tours at
the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Howard House Museum and much more.
For
photography enthusiasts and Instagramers, an ‘InstaMeet’ will kick off the
third weekend. The free ‘photo walk’ will be on Sat., April 5 at 10 a.m. in
Davey Dogwood Park and 2 p.m. in the Palestine Main Street District. An Architectural Walking Tour of Main Street
is scheduled from Noon – 2 p.m. on Sat., April 5. The tour, lead by the Preservation Officer
for the City of Palestine, will include information on the styles and examples
of architecture in Palestine and an interactive discussion of the historic
significance.
Other
events happening during the third weekend include the Piney Woods Excursion at
the Texas State Railroad and the Boston’s Buckin BBQ Cook-off, sanctioned by
the Lone Star Barbecue Society.
For more
information about the 76th Annual Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration
and a complete schedule of events, visit www.texasdogwoodtrails.com, download
the free Palestine, Texas Mobile App or contact the Palestine Visitor Center at
903-723-3014.
About
Palestine, Texas:
Palestine is a charming East Texas town that boasts more than 1,800 historic
sites, including the Main Street District. Home to the Texas State Railroad and
Dogwood Trails, Palestine is graced with stately homes, gorgeous scenic drives
and a Texas friendly welcome that offers a true Southern experience.
