Combined Homecoming, Oil Festival Parade Planned For Next Thursday
The annual Van Oil Festival is just around the corner and plans for the annual event are being finalized.
This year’s festival will be Saturday October 17.
This year Van will celebrate the 80
th anniversary of the discovery of oil in East Texas and plans are already underway to make this the biggest Oil Festival ever.
Oil was discovered on October 12, 1929, and led to the economic success of the area. The influx of so many families to work the field immediately created the need for a larger school and the expansion of the education system led to the beginning of the Van Independent School District as it is known today.
It is only fitting that the Oil Festival and Vandal Homecoming be combined into a truly special affair.
This year, the Oil Festival Parade and the Homecoming parade will be combined and will take place on Thursday October 15.
Line up for the parade will be at 7:00 p.m. at the Van ISD Administration Building (old stadium area) and will end at the new football stadium. The parade will start at 7:30 p.m.
The parade will line up at the administration building entrance on Main Street and will enter Main Street from the intermediate campus and head west toward the blinking light. It will then turn to the north on Hwy 110 toward Van memorial Stadium where the parade will end. Citizens are encouraged to park where directed and come into the stadium for the announcement of the homecoming court, awarding of the parade theme winners and introduction of the Van Oil Festival Royalty and the homecoming pep rally.
This year’s parade will include Oil Festival entries following the theme, "Eighty Years of Discovering-Van Oil Heritage and Homecoming".
Throughout the week, traditional homecoming events and class competitions will take place, in preparation for the homecoming game on Friday night October 16 against Mineola.
Those events will include the Fields of Faith celebration on Wednesday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the football field and the Van High School Homecoming pep rally to be held at 2:30 p.m. at the high school on Friday.
Also, prior to the football game Friday night, the Van ISD Distinguished Alumni will be announced and recognized.
The Oil Heritage will be the emphasis on Saturday October 17. Festivities will begin in the morning at the Van Oil and Historical Museum. Some of the special occurrences of the day will be the introduction of the attending oil company’s retirees and present employees, and the dedication of two historical markers to be unveiled in Van, one at the Oil Museum grounds and one at the small corner park in downtown Van next to the Van methodist Church.
In connection with the city marker dedication, there will be a display of many photographs and other memorabilia set up at the Fellowship hall of the methodist Church for viewing. Receptions will be held in connection with these marker dedications.
Also, the Man and Woman of Yesteryear will be announced, Oil pageant royalty will be introduced and area talent is set to perform.
Vendors for the day’s events are still needed and reservations must be received by October 13. Booths are first come first serve and will be placed at the discretion of the chairman of the Oil Festival committee.
For more information, please call 903-963-5051 and leave a message or email jessicagoode_vista@yahoo.com.