Kerr County 150th Birthday to include entertainment for all ages and tastes
written by the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce

Kerr County Sesquicentennial Calendar of Events 

Entertainment for all ages and musical tastes will be a hallmark as officials, organizations and the public join in celebrating 150 years since the State of Texas founded Kerr County in the Hill Country in 1856.

 

Dancers from the Lakota Sioux tribe, mariachis representing the area's Hispanic heritage, marching bands and mounted units, civic clubs, military and patriotic groups, floats, historic vehicles and an array of Country and Western and other entertainers are among the scheduled participants in the April 6-9 celebration.

 

The long list of events has serious elements as well, with county residents 90 years old and above to be honored and Gov. Rick Perry scheduled to join county and city officials and other dignitaries at the courthouse in the center of Kerrville on April 7.  Religious music and recognition of the long African-American heritage in the county will come from the pastors and choir of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, and the final official event will be an ecumenical memorial service at Dietert Auditorium on the Schreiner University campus in Kerrville.

 

Entertainers confirmed thus far include Native American dancers TaTonka and TaCha Eagle Horse, the Mariachis de Fritz Morquecho, the Seven Dutchmen big-band and polka group, Josh Grider's five-member country and western band, Darrell McCall's "dance hall country" act and singer-songwriter-TV personality Gary P. Nunn.

 

Grider has a strong local connection as the husband of Kristi Foster of "All-American Girl" fame and son-in-law of Kerrville businessman Bryon Foster.

 

Kerrville radio and television personality Jim Handly will be master of ceremonies.  Former Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., who chairs the Sesquicentennial Organizing Committee, notes that all appearances by these and other entertainers will be admission-free, thanks to extensive underwriting by businesses, professionals, civic organizations, government entities and others throughout this area.

 

Other funds are coming from the sale of $150 commemorative coins, designed and minted by Kerrville's James Avery Craftsman organization, with logistical and other extensive support from the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce.   HEB, which got its start in Kerrville and grew into one of the nation's largest supermarket chains,  is underwriting the fireworks display scheduled for Saturday night, April 8.

 

Performances will be at the municipal bandshell in Louise Hays Park, or the River Star Center on Kerrville's eastern edge in case of bad weather.   The park will be closed to traffic except for emergency vehicles and those occupied by handicapped persons, but planners point out that there is ample free parking near the Riverhills Mall, the shopping center that includes Albertsons and OfficeMax and other commercial areas.

 

One of the largest events will be the parade on Water and Lemos Streets starting at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 8.  Participants will include school and military bands, Anheuser Busch's famed Clydesdale horses, the African-American cavalry unit from Fort Hood known as the Buffalo Soldiers, horse-drawn vehicles from ranches still owned by descendants of pioneer families, antique and classic cars, and floats entered by civic clubs and other organizations.

 

Ross and Clarabelle Snodgrass will be grand marshals.  Ms. Snodgrass's parents were grand marshals of the parade in 1956, when the county celebrated its centennial.

 

Applications for participation in the parade will be available until March 15 from Sue Steele, a civic leader and member of one of the area's oldest families, at the main offices of the Bank of the Hills in Kerrville, by calling 830-895-2265, or by e-mail at sues@ktc.com.

 

The county is named for Maj. James Kerr, a physician, judge, landowner and military leader in the 1835-36 revolution which freed the province of Texas from the rule of a Mexican dictator, Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, and established it as a Republic.   Ironically, Kerr died without being able to visit the county which bears his name, but his memory lives on in the name of the county, the City of Kerrville and the names of scores of institutions, civic and patriotic organizations and businesses.