Special by Lindsay Hajek, assistant director of Main Street & Destination Management
(Seguin) — There is so much to see and do at the 20th annual Pecan Fest on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to start early and plan ahead to experience a full day of music, activities, and family fun across Seguin, including Central Park, the Big Red Barn, Sebastopol House, Magnolia Hotel, and Heritage Village. Over the past 20 years, Pecan Fest has grown from a small community celebration into a city-wide festival that draws regional visitors and highlights Seguin’s history and pecan agriculture.
Blaire Friar, Main Street and Destination Management Director, said, “Our goal is to offer a variety of activities and entertainment that appeal to all ages. From live music to historic tours to family-friendly fun, Pecan Fest provides a unique experience that showcases our community and brings people together.
Central Park will be the heart of the 20th-anniversary celebration, offering a mix of food, shopping, and entertainment. Guests can browse 142 vendors, eat a wide range of food from BBQ to crepes, relax in the expanded beer and wine garden, and enjoy live performances at the Gazebo by Leslie Lane Llama Farm, Karess, and Broken Arrow.
Activities include the Get Crackin’ Pecan Cracking Contest, where participants compete to crack the most pecans in two minutes, a Seguin-themed basket raffle, the new Kids Zone with bounce houses, a petting zoo, and face painting, and Exhibitor’s Row featuring farm equipment, pecan trees, and antique tractors.
Food lovers will not want to miss the first annual Food Truck Throw Down, which will award the best pecan-inspired dish.
The Big Red Barn will be bustling with pecan-themed events, including a tractor pull, pecan baking contests, vendor market, hayrides, square dancing, live fiddlers, and hands-on activities for children.
Young attendees can also participate in the youth scarecrow contest and visitors can explore the Pioneer
Flight Museum Antique Car Display. As home to the Texas Pecan Museum and the World’s Largest Pecan, the venue also offers an educational glimpse into the region’s agricultural legacy.
Heritage Village will be open for tours, giving enthusiasts the chance to explore historic buildings, visit the Heritage Museum to learn about Guadalupe County’s past, and take a photo with Seguin’s favorite antique fire truck.
At the Sebastopol House, the Wilson Pottery Foundation Show will feature pottery displays and a variety of hands-on activities, including a pottery wheel photo opportunity and arts and crafts.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors can enjoy a free walk-through of the Historic Magnolia Hotel, known as The “Queen of Seguin” and where docents will share its history from a log cabin in the 1840s to the 1850 expansion with hotel rooms, a saloon, and a restaurant.
Returning this year, the Seguin Film and Arts Festival at the historic Palace Theatre will showcase feature films and short films from filmmakers across Texas and beyond.
With so much to see and do across multiple locations, getting around Pecan Fest is easy thanks to ART’s free shuttle service connecting Central Park, the Big Red Barn, and other sites. This service allows attendees to enjoy all activities, entertainment, and historic tours without the hassle of parking or transportation.
Pecan Fest’s 20th anniversary is made possible thanks to the support of generous sponsors, including Guadalupe Trading Co., Pecan Country Chiropractic, Beck and Beck Buick GMC, GVEC, Renewal by Andersen, Academy, and Schertz Bank and Trust. Visitors can explore exhibits from several of these sponsors in Central Park, where they will showcase their products and services as part of the celebration.
For more details, visit seguingonuts.com.