Celebrate Roanoke celebrated its 29th year and was held along Oak Street in downtown Roanoke Oct. 10.
The city-sponsored festival included live music, headlined by country band LANCO, and tied into the western heritage of Roanoke’s early days. Events included calf roping, leather crafting, blacksmithing, basket weaving and chuckwagon living history. Organizations like the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society were also on hand, providing food samples.
What happened?
Nearly a mile of Oak Street was closed for the festival, stemming from behind City Hall to the intersection of Oak Street and Travis Street. Food and boutique vendors lined both sides of the street.
Behind Roanoke City Hall, bull riding was held at noon and 6 p.m. while children rode sheep for the mutton busting competition between the two events on the rodeo grounds.
Byron Nelson High School Future Farmers of America students had a pig penning competition to see how long it would take for children herd baby pigs through a gate.
What else?
Various photo stations were on Oak Street, from larger-than-life cowboy boots to a longhorn that people could sit on.
Northwest ISD students held an art show at Main Street and Travis Street near Cadence, a new public art sculpture located in the Austin Street Plaza that was created by artist Pascale M. Pryor.
Several dance studios performed on the Travis Community Stage while mini golf, axe throwing, carnival rides and armadillo races were also part of the festival.