The Katy Rice Harvest Festival 2009

By Ann Hodge
If you are looking for quality family entertainment, enrichment and fun, look no further.  The Katy Rice Harvest Festival rolls into Katy October 10th and 11th and has been named one of the Houston area’s top ten festivals as well as being voted by the community as the best annual community event.

The Rice Harvest Parade

The annual parade will be held Saturday, Oct 3 in historic downtown Katy.  Tom Zizka, FOX 26 Morning News Anchor will serve as the parade Grand Marshal.  Among the entries will be the Katy Cowgirls, a horse drawn carriage with dogs, Miss Teen –Texas World and the National American Miss, a World War 2 Military fire truck plus floats and many more miscellaneous entries.

The parade line up begins at 9 AM Saturday in the Church of Christ parking lot located at 5th Street and East Ave.  The parade will begin at 10 AM and from the church go down Ave A to 2nd Street, over to Ave C and up to 10th Street.  To insure being announced at the Reviewing Stand, entry applications need to be submitted by noon on Thursday, Oct 1.  The parade sponsor is Remedy Roofing.

Rice Cooking Contest

The Rice Cooking Contest will take place following the parade.  Prepared food dishes are to be taken to the VFW Hall on George Bush Dr by 11:00 AM.  Judging will begin at noon.  Applications and recipe submissions are to be in by 5 PM Sept.30.

Area businesses are competing for the Business Winner honor.  Some recipes submitted include Strawberry Rice Cream, Texedo Rice Pie and Orange Shrimp and Rice.  Rivianna Foods sponsors this contest.

A Historical Year

This marks the first time in the history of the festival that all booths sold out a full month prior to the annual event.  The Festival committee is proud to announce that this year there is a record number of hand crafted and homemade items.   The Food Booths have been sold out for several months.   

Hand Crafted Items & Homemade Foods

Italian hand painted crystal, homemade candles, handmade necklaces, bracelets and earrings, wood art for yards, hand crafted greeting cards, handmade wooden toys,  hand knit shawls, hand crafted cedar outdoor furniture, handmade Christmas stockings, holiday decorations and  cowboy lanterns are among the hand crafted/handmade items this year.  Other handmade items include inspirational crosses, original artist’s works, crocheted clothing, handmade belts and belt buckles, recycled art, and handmade children’s items plus more.

Homemade gourmet foods, Homemade Queso, Salsas and Nine Jalapeno Jellies, Gourmet Olive oils, gourmet vinegars, Shelled pecans, flavored pecans, and Kinloch Gourmet Pecan oil are among the booth food specialty products.

Along Food Alley you will find your favorites such as Sausage on a Stick, Boudain Balls, Roasted Corn, and Funnel Cakes.  New this year is hand-dipped Italian Ice, Battered fried cheese curds with ranch and blue cheese dressing and Frozen Pickle Pops.

Live Entertainment

In addition to the vendor booths, both hand craft and commercial, is a first class talent lineup on the Katy Stage.  Saturday’s entertainment includes Eder Mace Band, The Silverado Band, The Convertibles, Bayou Roux with the popular parade, Stephen Brown Band, Luther and the Healers, and closes with Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88’s. The Zydeco Dots, Grateful Geezers and Hunter Hayes take the stage on Sunday.

The Carnival!

Century 21 Shows will again the Festival Carnival.  They provide a full carnival with a large ferris wheel, and also the Kiddie Kingdom for the smaller children.

Location & Times

Saturday, October 10th: 10:00 am to Midnight
Sunday, October 11th from noon to 6:00 pm.

Parking

Free Parking & Shuttle at Merrell Center
6301 S Stadium Lane in Katy.

Tickets

The Rice Harvest Festival will be held from 10:00 am to Midnight on Saturday, October 10th and again on Sunday, October 11th from noon to 6:00 pm.

Tickets are $6.00 for adults and free for children 12 and under.  Senior Citizens and Military are also free with ID.   There will be Free Shuttle Service from Parking by Outdoor Learning Center by Merrell Center at 6301 S Stadium Lane in Katy.

Live Entertainment Schedule

Saturday, October 10, 2009

KATY STAGE

11:00am – 12:00n Eder-Mace Band

12:30pm – 2:00pm The Silverado Band

2:30pm – 4:00pm The Convertibles

4:30pm – 6:00pm Bayou Roux (with parade)

6:30pm – 8:00pm Stephen Brown Band

8:30pm – 10:00pm Luther & the Healers

10:30pm – 12:00mid Johnny Dee & the Rocket 88’s

KATY STAGE

Sunday, October 11, 2009

12:30pm – 2:00pm The Zydeco Dots

2:30pm – 4:00pm Will Carter

4:30pm – 6:00pm Hunter Hayes

RICE STAGE

Saturday, October 10, 2009

11:00 am Hwarang Tigers TaeKwonDo

11:30 am Kendall Crow

12:00 pm Meagan Zepeda

12:30 pm American Kids Athletics

1:00 pm Eder Mace Entertainment

1:30 pm Jenna Mazzoccoli

2:00 pm Leslie Kendrick

2:30 pm Oscar Maldanodo

3:00 pm Butter Bartek

3:30 pm Brad Turney

4:00 pm

4:30 pm Steven Marshall Berard

5:00 pm Joy Barlow

5:30 pm Magic Bob

RICE STAGE

Sunday, October 11, 2009

12:00 pm Cripple Creek Fiddlers

12:30 pm Will Carter

1:00 pm Morgan McKay

1:30 pm Sara Epstein

2:00 pm SugarLand Express Singers

3:00 pm Sienna Watson

3:30 pm Megan Flores

For more information about the Festival go to www.riceharvestfestival.org.