Edgewood Heritage Fest Set For November 14

EDGEWOOD—New events along with many returning favorites will populate the 33rd Edgewood Heritage Festival on Saturday, Nov. 14, in downtown Edgewood from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Festival spokesman David Musslewhite said a big crowd is expected for the free event that spotlights Heritage Park. The attendance could be boosted, he added, by the addition of a juried quilt show and an expanded festival pet show (see related article).

"I think the quilt show will be really good for our senior citizens and for the (Edgewood) Civic Center," Musslewhite said. "It will be a juried quilt show with several categories and I think it will be a really nice addition to the festival."

The judging will take place on Friday. The following day during the festival, the Civic Center will be open to the public to view the quilts and respective prizes.

Edgewood Civic Center Manager Pam Allen said the quilt show has already drawn "an overwhelming response" with more entries expected in the final week before the festival.

"They’ve had it in the past, but this is the first time since the reopening of this building. I was a little cautious at first about how the response would be, but right now we have about 70 quilts being entered," Allen said.

The great response for the show is an indication of how strong a hobby quilting continues to be, she added.

"It seems like there was a time when quilts were really of such use…back in the Great Depression days, they did not throw anything away," Allen continued. "Whatever clothing or towels or other cloth might wear out, they would make patches out of those and quilt.

"It is more for a hobby now, but we have a few quilts here that will show a little wear and tear having been used for purposes of great need," she said.

Responses for entries have come from as far away as Gainesville, Allen noted. The quilt show will include door prizes to be given and tickets will be sold the day of the festival for a drawing for a quilt.

Two other big draws to the festival — the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) Cook-Off and the sixth annual Heritage Classic Car Show, will return.

Registration for the car show will take place from 9 a.m. to noon with free T-shirts to the first 75 entries. This show also will have door prizes and a drawing, and show awards will be presented at 2 p.m.

Registration for the chili cook-off will take place from 7-9 a.m. the day of the festival with a $20 entry fee. A bean cook-off and a junior chili competition will be included with a $5 entry fee for each of those events.

Chili tasting will take place at noon.

There will be vendors set up in the downtown area and live music and dancing entertainment all day.

The real centerpiece of the festival is the Heritage Park Museum, the collection of restored and furnished buildings that evoke life in Van Zandt County around 1900.

"The park will be open to the public and we have a new lot in the park where we will have a kids’ area with rides, activities and games for them," Musslewhite said.

Demonstration of various arts and crafts from the era will take place in and around some of the buildings.

Musslewhite said that, recently, he and other members of the Edgewood Heritage Society have been pleased to welcome younger new members who have become active in carrying on the society’s work.

"We have, slowly over the last couple of years, seen several really good new members step up and take an active part," he said.

"I think that’s always a concern, if the younger generations are going step up and carry on the work, but we are in good shape," Musslewhite added. "We have a good group of people in the society who we believe will be there for a long time."

The festival is the major yearly fundraiser for the Heritage Park Museum and Musslewhite said repairs and renovations are beginning to take place on some of the buildings.

"It can become a big expense quickly when you are talking about keeping up buildings," he said, adding that much of the restorative and repair work takes place under the leadership of Edgewood Heritage Society member Pattizo Humphries.

The Church in the Wildwood is often booked for wedding ceremonies, Musslewhite said, and several other buildings with exhibits are toured throughout the year by visitors.

The festival day will start with the Edgewood Lions Club Breakfast from 7-9 a.m. in Lodge Hall. The official opening ceremonies for the festival will begin at 8:45 a.m.

For more information and contacts for various events at the festival, visit the official Web site at