The show WILL go on: Groves Pecan Festival kicks off with breakfast
Published 10:52 pm Wednesday, October 17, 2018
- John Lewis, left, and Kathy Levingston share a laugh during the Groves Pecan Festival’s Annual Coffee Kick-off Mixer hosted at Bonne Vie Skilled Nursing Community on Wednesday. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Contrary to Facebook rumors, the Groves Pecan Festival is not canceled. No, no, no.
The annual festival, now in its 49th year, will go on as planned from Thursday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 28th and even feature some new events, such as Groves Got Talent and fan favorites such as the parade, carnival, vendors and horseshoe tournament. That’s just to name a few highlights.
Ronnie Boneau, executive director of the Groves Chamber of Commerce, welcomed a crowd of chamber members, city employees and others for the annual pecan Festival kick-off breakfast held this year at the newly opened Bonne Vie Skilled Nursing Community, which is part of Cantex Continuing Care Network, in Port Arthur on Wednesday. In previous years the event was held at Magnolia Manor Skilled Nursing Community, also in the Cantex network.
Olivia Wellings, left, gets her door prize from Betty Legnon during the Groves Pecan Festival’s Annual Coffee Kick-off Mixer hosted at Bonne View Skilled Nursing Community on Wednesday.
Mary Meaux/The News
And just like in previous years, nursing facility director Kenny Blanda offered the use of his facility for the kickoff breakfast.
Changes
This year, the festival’s entertainment director, Beau Wilson with Electrifying Sounds DJ Service, will host Groves Got Talent.
“Instead of paid bands on Friday and Saturday my entertainment director suggested, and the board approved, Groves Got Talent,” Boneau said after the kickoff breakfast. “He felt like, because there has been a lack of people coming to see the bands — and all of the bands are good — he would do a talent show.”
The talent show will reportedly follow the pattern and look of the TV show America’s Got Talent.
The Halloween Costume Contest is still fairly new — it’s in its second year — and will be held at the Lee Rogers Pavilion in Lions Park.
There will be no washerboard tournament this year but the annual horseshoe tournament will go on as planned.
The queen’s scholarship pageant was canceled because there weren’t enough participants.
The festival runs from Thursday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 28th. The Groves Pecan Festival carnival opens in Lions Park, along with the craft and food booths at 5 p.m. Oct. 25 and 10 a.m. Oct. 26, 10 a.m. on Oct. 27 and 11 a.m. Oct. 28.
There will also be entertainment and events that will run throughout the festival. Lions Park is located at 6200 Jackson. There is no charge for admission.
For more information, call the chamber at 962-3631.
