The town of Boonville is gone. Bryan throws it a party anyway.
Boonville was the first Brazos County seat. What’s left is a heritage park with a restored dogtrot cabin and a few replica buildings, plus the old cemetery where Harvey Mitchell, the “Father of Brazos County,” is buried. Once a year the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History brings the place back to life. This Saturday is the 21st annual Boonville Days: Texas Heritage Festival, and it’s free.
7:30 a.m.: the Buffalo Stampede
The 5K starts at the Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Drive, and the 1 Mile Fun Run goes at 7:45. This is the 18th year. The course is gently rolling and ends downhill, which is the right way to end a race. The top finishers take home buffalo sculpture trophies, and everybody who finishes gets a medal. The money goes to the museum.
Online sign-up closes Friday at 5 p.m. It’s $40 for the 5K and $30 for the mile. After that you can sign up on paper race morning from 6 to 7 a.m., for $50 and $40. Packets can be picked up at the museum Thursday and Friday from 10 to 5, or race morning from 6. Shirts were guaranteed for sign-ups through mid-September, so a late registrant might not get one. Register at brazosvalleymuseum.org/buffalo-stampede.
9 a.m.: the festival
Yes, 7:30 on a Saturday morning is early. Nobody will judge you for skipping the race and rolling in at 9 for the festival.
You’ll see reenactors in period costume, plus cowboys, musicians and dancers. Folks demonstrate the old frontier skills too, like flint-knapping, spinning, weaving, quilting and blacksmithing. The kids get free pony rides, train rides, games and crafts. Families can also see live animals and then wander the museum’s Discovery Room, library and exhibition gallery, all free. The Texas history display is in there too. It all wraps up at 4.
10 a.m.: the shuttle
Shuttle buses start running at 10 from the Chuck Wagon Area over to Boonville Heritage Park, courtesy of Sterling Auto Group. Parking at the park itself is limited, so plan on the shuttle.
Noon: the chuck wagon lunch
Authentic chuck wagon teams in period dress set up on Friday, then cook and serve lunch from noon to 1 under the big tent. It’s $20 for chicken fried steak, beans, potatoes, cornbread or a biscuit, cobbler and a bottled water. The plate is big enough for two, so splitting one is a fair move. Pat Gavin and the Buckaroo Band play old-time cowboy music while you eat.
Tickets are pre-sold at the museum or by phone at 979-776-2195, and there are only 160 lunches, so call first to check if any are available.
After a full day running the stampede and checking out the festival, all that’s left is to rest your shells with us.