(Seguin) — Seguin officially turns 188-years old this week, and the Seguin Conservation Society is hosting a big event to celebrate. The annual Seguin Birthday Party will be held Friday at the Texas Theatre.
Conservation Society President Robin Shellard says they will be serving up a bacon wrapped chicken dinner and desserts will also be offered as part of the event.
“It’s going to be bacon wrapped chicken with sausage and mac and cheese, green beans, tea, pickles, and jalapenos. And of course, everyone is always excited about the homemade desserts that we have. And so we welcome people to come with a little cash in hand to buy those desserts and to participate in our raffle prizes,” said Shellard.
Guests are encouraged to come in and enjoy their meals inside the Texas Theatre, but Shellard to-go plates will also be available.
“Starting at 5:30 p.m., you can just drive to the front of the Texas (Theatre) and we’ll run your food out to you. But of course, you can come and enjoy the air conditioning inside the Texas Theatre, and of course, enjoy the beautiful insides of the Texas Theatre,” said Shellard.
The birthday celebration for years was hosted at the conservation society’s Heritage Village, but with the intense heat of August — organizers thought it made more sense to move the event indoors.
“This is our third or fourth year at the Texas and we’re very grateful to the Texas for hosting us at this location. And I think a lot of people, if you don’t go to the theater productions, you miss the opportunity to come and be reminded of what a jewel we have in Seguin, which is part of the properties for the Conservation Society. We’re really glad to showcase that facility as well as the activities we have. It’s actually an annual meeting by the Seguin Conservation Society’s bylaws. And so it’s an opportunity for us to remind our members about what we do, to talk about what we’ve done in the past and what we plan to do in the future, and to celebrate that we had some very forward-thinking folks that came before us that let us enjoy the things that we enjoy today,” said Shellard.
In addition to the great food, the party will include entertainment provided by Dottsy Dwyer. Sellard and there will also be some special recognition of some of the people who have helped the conservation society preserve Seguin’s history.
“Mostly we just invite folks to come and visit, and there will be some awards and recognitions. So, please come and support those volunteers that we have this year. We’ve recognized a couple of our heritage heroes and Edith Lange is one of those individuals who has been a part of the Seguin Conservation Society for years. She served on the Texas Theater Board. If you don’t know her from those two locations, you know her from some other volunteer organization. Volunteers are what we know help to make Seguin such a special place and make our places special. And so, it’s really a highlight of the people and places that we’re celebrating on the evening of the birthday party,” said Shellard.
The conservation society’s mission is to preserve Seguin’s history and all of the things that have made it great. Shellard says fundraisers, like the birthday party, also allow the group to better take care of the properties they own.
“The Conservation Society has been the conservator of properties at the Heritage Village, and that’s a site on Live Oak Street. And we also are conservators of the Texas Theatre. And as anyone who owns a home knows that there are things that will deteriorate over time. So, we try to ensure that those structures are kept with historical integrity,” said Shellard.
Seguin has become one of the fastest growing cities in the state. Shellard says that growth is also part of the reason why it’s so important to remember the town’s history.
“We’ve had a lot of people that are new to Seguin. We have a lot of people that are new to Seguin that are in the Conservation Society, because they recognize that some of the things that the Conservation Society holds dear — the properties, their traditions, encouraging the arts — is something that makes Seguin unique for them. And that’s why they chose Seguin because they appreciate that we’re real and that we have that small town charm, and we welcome the participation of new folks. I think it always helps us to remember our past when we’re able to share it with someone new. And we don’t want to exclude anybody,” said Shellard. “I’m excited about the Conservation Society, the things that we’ve done in this past year, the things that we were looking forward to in the future. And I hope that there are more folks that will take an interest and stop by at the birthday party and talk to us.”
The Seguin Birthday Party runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m Friday at the Texas Theatre. Dinner tickets are $20 each and can be purchased Gift & Gourmet, Keeper’s Interiors, the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce Office, or from any conservation society board member.