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The Sam Houston Memorial Museum will be hosting their 31st annual General Sam Houston Folk Festival Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum grounds on Sam Houston Avenue.
The festival, which started in 1982, will give tribute to the late General Sam Houston, his family and his life with reenactments, food, musical guests and crafts.
“The purpose of the Folk Festival is to enjoy yourself, but also to learn about Texas History and Sam Houston,” history major Cecilia Abad said.
The event will kick off Friday with more than 15,000 visitors are anticipated throughout the weekend, including more than 3,000 4th graders from around Huntsville and neighboring cities.
Graduate student Patricia Hale has always enjoyed the involvement of kids at the historical festival.
“My favorite part is on Friday when the school kids are walking around getting signatures from the historical characters. It is great to see them so excited about Texas History and they never fail to surprise me with how much they know!” Hale said.
The festival will feature country style cooking,vendors selling home made goods, traditional merchandise and folk arts and crafts. Family friendly events will run all three days of the event and will leave visitors with better knowledge of living in the 1800’s.
“The Demonstrators and re-enactors are always worth seeing. The ‘Come and take it’ cannon will be rolled out from the museum and fired every hour on the hour, experience the firing of the musket across the lake as well as many other demonstrations,” said Ruth Samuell event coordinator of the festival this year.
This year will continue the tradition of three stages of entertainment. Musical performances will include; Celtic, Bluegrass, Folk, Blues, Cajun and Traditional American Western by the Gillette Brothers. Shawnee Indians Dancers will also be performing Saturday.
“It’s a mini renaissance for Huntsville, it’s a nice way for people to enjoy history,” Abad said.
The Sam Houston State University chapter members of The Walter P. Webb historical society volunteer at the Folk Festival every year and make it their goal to educate people of history by living it.
“This is my third year volunteering and coordinating volunteers with the WEBB society. Everyone should come out and enjoy a little bit of Texas history,” Abad said.
Friday’s admission will be $3 for all ages. Two day passes for the weekend will be sold at $8 for students and $10 for adults and the entrance. For more information call the Sam Houston memorial Museum at 936.294.1832 or visit samhoustonfolkfestival.blogspot.com.