Spring Break
Texas Reds Festival a stompin' success
Bryan holds third annual steak and grape festival Friday and Saturday
By: Lorelei Willet
Issue date: 6/22/09 Section: Features
Though some of the bands were interrupted by an occasional train, most of the vendors appreciated the music and the crowds the bands attracted to their tents.
"We just came out so people know we exist," said Michele Hasten, Class of 1992 from the 12th Man Kick-Off Team Foundation.
The 12th Man Kick-Off Team Foundation was founded by coach Jackie Sherrill and the men he brought onto the team in the 1980s. Hasten was selling the book "No Experience Required" and 12th Man t-shirts.
"All of the proceeds go to a scholarship fund for future students but we are trying to cater more to younger kids with the book so they know the tradition of Aggie football," Hasten said.
One of the more popular vendors was the candy company Brewster's Sweets from Corpus Christi that offered homemade chocolate and dipped nuts.
"The festival is great, we were here last year," said owner Jamie Gamez. "There's nothing much anyone can do about the heat, but we come out here more for the community than business. It's always a good time."
For those with less of a sweet tooth, fair favorites such as fried pickles, hot dogs and corn dogs were available.
"I got the spiral fries because they're my favorite carnival food," said Truitt.
The festival took up almost four blocks of downtown Bryan, stretching from William J. Bryan Parkway to 28th Street. Shuttles provided a park-and-ride service that bussed festival-goers from Blinn College to the corner of 26th Street and Main. The steak cook-off teams spanned the entire length of Bryan Avenue with grills and carts, making it the smokiest section of the event while the wineries were set up in a rectangular fashion across from the main stage on 28th and Main.
Although Texas Reds seems more like an adult activity, the festival was well-equipped for a family affair with the Kids' Zone, which offered a variety of activities from a climbing wall and mechanical bull to a moon walk and train rides.
"We just came out so people know we exist," said Michele Hasten, Class of 1992 from the 12th Man Kick-Off Team Foundation.
The 12th Man Kick-Off Team Foundation was founded by coach Jackie Sherrill and the men he brought onto the team in the 1980s. Hasten was selling the book "No Experience Required" and 12th Man t-shirts.
"All of the proceeds go to a scholarship fund for future students but we are trying to cater more to younger kids with the book so they know the tradition of Aggie football," Hasten said.
One of the more popular vendors was the candy company Brewster's Sweets from Corpus Christi that offered homemade chocolate and dipped nuts.
"The festival is great, we were here last year," said owner Jamie Gamez. "There's nothing much anyone can do about the heat, but we come out here more for the community than business. It's always a good time."
For those with less of a sweet tooth, fair favorites such as fried pickles, hot dogs and corn dogs were available.
"I got the spiral fries because they're my favorite carnival food," said Truitt.
The festival took up almost four blocks of downtown Bryan, stretching from William J. Bryan Parkway to 28th Street. Shuttles provided a park-and-ride service that bussed festival-goers from Blinn College to the corner of 26th Street and Main. The steak cook-off teams spanned the entire length of Bryan Avenue with grills and carts, making it the smokiest section of the event while the wineries were set up in a rectangular fashion across from the main stage on 28th and Main.
Although Texas Reds seems more like an adult activity, the festival was well-equipped for a family affair with the Kids' Zone, which offered a variety of activities from a climbing wall and mechanical bull to a moon walk and train rides.
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