NACOGDOCHES – The red grapefruit is the state fruit of Texas, but this weekend in East Texas, residents of the historic city of Nacogdoches are throwing a party to celebrate… blueberries.
Billed as “the most delicious festival in the Lone Star State,” the 34th annual Texas Cranberry Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 8 in this city located 200 miles east of Killeen-Fort Cavazos, near the National Forest Davy Crockett.
Scheduled events and activities include things like a bounce house, pet parade, pie-eating contests, washing machine tournament, food, art vendors, blueberry pie and blueberry cupcake contests, live music (folk guitar, country, jazz, soft rock). Fresh blueberries will be available for purchase and free shuttles will be offered to pick fresh berries at nearby farms.
East Texas is known for the Piney Woods, a 54,400-square-mile forest of towering pines, hickory trees, and oaks that also covers northwest Louisiana, southwest Arkansas, and the southeast corner of Oklahoma. Nacogdoches (Nack-a-DOE-chez) was founded in 1779 and is considered the oldest city in Texas.
A local tribe of Caddo Native Americans were the first settlers and it remained a Caddo settlement until the Spanish began building missions in the area and the French began exploring East Texas. According to legend, an old Caddo chief with twin sons lived near the Sabine River. One son had dark hair and skin and the other had blonde hair and light skin. When the sons grew up and were ready to become leaders of their own tribes, the father sent one of them three days east toward the rising sun and the other three days west toward the setting sun. The twin who settled three days toward the setting sun was Nacogdoches, the blonde-haired brother; while Natchitoches, the dark-haired twin, settled three days east in Louisiana.
The brothers remained friendly and the road between the two communities was well traveled, becoming a trade route and the eastern end of El Camino Real or Viejo Camino de San Antonio.
After the Civil War, Nacogdoches was booming and in 1923, Stephen F. Austin Teachers College opened and grew over the years to become what is now the 12,000-student Stephen F. Austin State University, which carries the name of one of the founding fathers of the state.
Meanwhile, the city’s population grows by around 20,000 people each year as the Blueberry Festival takes over the city center. This year, the festivities begin on Saturday with the Blueberry Run, which begins at 7:30 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., with a breakfast of fresh blueberry pancakes served near the historic plaza. Along with all kinds of blueberry-inspired delights. , keep an eye out for things like barbecue, snow cones, lemonade, funnel cake, and hot dogs on a stick.
On your way home, consider a short detour and visit the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Reservation just east of Livingston, which is about 70 miles south of Nacogdoches.
Known as the state’s oldest Native American reservation, visitors can learn about Alabama-Coushatta history, customs and traditions, including the tribe’s role in the Texas War of Independence. By fighting alongside the Texans, they are credited with playing a pivotal role in the outcome of the battle.
Alabama-Coushatta operates a casino that is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Naskila Casino, considered “the luckiest place in Texas,” features 30,000 square feet of electronic gaming space with more than 800 bingo slot machines. Casino visitors must be 21 years or older.
Camping is available at Lake Tombigbee Campground, a 26-acre facility surrounding the fully stocked lake. There are primitive sites and luxury tent sites, a variety of cabins, and RV sites with full hookups. For more information, visit: https://www.naskila.com/.
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