A Toast to Texas Family Festival

Due to the ongoing renovations at the Historic Site, this event will be smaller and will temporarily replace our Texas Independence Day Celebration.

Parking & the event will be admission free.

To kick off the event, we will have an opening ceremony at Barrington Plantation starting at 10am.

11am, 1pm, 3pm: Punch and Judy- Mr. Punch and Co. return with their historic puppet show to be enjoyed by all ages! The show has all of the fun, laughs, and chaos of a traditional Punch & Judy puppet show but has been created for modern audiences. Mr. Punch celebrates his 363rd birthday this May, first appearing in London, England in May of 1662 as an Italian marionette show. His first documented appearance in the American Colonies was in January 1742 and he has performed for generations.

11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm: Professor Gerard’s Magic Show

12pm, 2pm, 4pm: Professor Thompson S. Gunn & His Mystic Arts of Asia, the Far East, & India – Professor Thompson S. Gunn’s Mystic Arts of Asia, the Far East & India is a fun-filled comedy stunt show suitable for all ages. The Professor does one dangerous stunt after another – yet feels no pain & suffers no injury. He hammers an 8-inch metal spike into his skull! Jumps barefoot on broken glass! Eats & breathes fire with ease – and so much more! You will be amazed, intrigued & confounded by this world-renowned show. 

11am – 12pm: Independence Day Dinner Party vignette that guests can attend

2:30 – 4pm: Independence Ball where visitors can dance to period music

2nd Annual Republic of Texas Chili Cookoff where Texas Historical Commission sites compete with the winner taking home the belt and showcase historic chili recipes. Begins at 10:30am, Judging is at 1:30pm

Cannon and Musket firings presented by the Rolling Thunder at 11:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm

Speeches, Toasts, Readings: Readings of the Declaration of Independence, speeches & poems from the period at 12pm, 2pm, 4:30pm

Demonstrations:  Historical organization booths and demonstrations of woodworking and blacksmithing from 10am to 6pm

Food trucks will be available for onsite purchases from 10am to 6pm