Texas Independence Day Celebration to be Held March 1 & 2

The Washington on the Brazos Historical Site will host the annual Texas Independence Day Celebration next month on March 1 and 2.

The two-day festival features live music, food, traditional crafts, living history presentations, black powder small arms and artillery firing demonstrations, historical encampments and commemorative programs — all with no park entrance or parking fees. There will also be vendors selling a variety of festival foods will be on site during the celebration.

During 2014's two-day celebration, the Star of the Republic Museum, which is administered by Blinn College, will open its new exhibit “Weather Wisdom: Forecasting in the Texas Republic.”  The exhibit will include an assortment of 19th century scientific instruments used to measure wind velocity, atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity. The 19th century is seen as a transitional period from the use of weather lore (e.g. “when a whirlwind spins to the right, it means dry weather”) to the systematic collection of weather data. The exhibit will run through February 2015.

Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos is the place where representatives of the people of Texas met to decide their fate and Texas’ future during turmoil with Mexico. On March 2, 1836, 59 delegates to the convention listened to George Childress enumerate their grievances against the government of Mexico and the tyrannical rule of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

This year's event is made possible by ExxonMobil, Bluebonnet Electric Co-op, and the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, The City of Brenham, The City of Navasota, Blinn College, KTEX-FM , the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Washington on the Brazos State Park Association.

Additional information on the festival can be found online at www.birthplaceoftexas.com.