Port Aransans will party

Old Town Festival is Saturday; new events included


“We are looking for a really big turn out this year and have added a couple of new events to the festival,” said Rick Pratt, Port Aransas Museum director, when asked about the upcoming Old Town Festival.

The festival, which celebrates Port Aransas’s 103rd birthday, is Saturday, Oct. 19.

The day begins at 9 a.m. with row boat races at the city harbor launch ramp. This activity is new to the festival this year and Pratt hopes that there will be good participation in the event. The races will be staged by size of the boat. Participants may bring their own boat or check one out. Registration prior to the event is required and participants under 12 must be accompanied in the boat by a parent. No prizes will be awarded, according to Pratt “the race is for the joy of participating.” Contact Pratt at (361) 549-6328 for more information.

The Old Town parade begins at 11 a.m., with line up at 10:30 a.m. at Community Presbyterian church, 113 S. Alister St. Children in their Halloween costumes will lead the parade followed by anyone who wants to join in. Pratt says there will be bands on flatbed trailers, vehicles, golf carts, bikes and walkers. The parade begins in front of the Presbyterian church, travels down Alister Street to Beach Street; a right turn takes the route down Beach Street to Station Street where it will turn left and travel to Cotter Avenue. A left turn on Cotter Avenue and then another left back onto Alister Street will bring the parade to an end in front of the Port Aransas Museum, 101 E. Brundrett St. View the parade route online at portaransasmuseum.org. Contact Mary Novak for information or to enter the parade at (501) 580- 2828 or mary.novak5@yahoo.com.

The Expression Session Surfing Contest will take place beginning at 9 a.m. at Horace Caldwell Pier. The event for all ages is limited to 30 participants. Pre-registration is necessary and the entry fee of $10 includes a T-shirt and hot dogs after the contest. Call The Board House (361) 749- 3100 to register for the event.

A number of other events begin at 11 a.m. and last throughout the day.

Crowds will be entertained by the Port Aransas Music Showcase, which will take place on the museum porch. Denny Larkin and Friends start off the entertainment from 11 a.m. to noon, Gary Moeller plays from noon to 1 p.m., The Browns play from 1 to 2 p.m., Mike Williams entertains from 2 to 3 p.m., Kristin and Chester play from 3 to 4 p.m., The Browns play again from 4 to 5 p.m., Denny and Friends from 5 to 6 p.m., Mike Williams returns from 6 to 7 p.m. and from 7 to whenever they stop, local artists jam.

Docents will be available for tours of the Little Chapel on the Dunes, 207 11th St. Visitors may drop in and see the chapel until 4 p.m.

A self-guided 8 Wonders of Port Aransas tour is another opportunity to become acquainted with the history of the town. Information is available at the museum about the tour.

Boat-building demonstrations will go on until 4 p.m. at the Farley Boat Works, 716 W. Ave. C. Pratt says that two to three boats are currently under construction including a “stitch and glue” boat. Visitors may see the boats and talk to the owners. Pratt also says that the last of the tarpon boats will be out for display.

Lunch will be available beginning at 11:45 a.m. at the Community Center, 408 N. Alister St., and will include Pat Farley’s “world famous gumbo” and Frito pie. The gumbo is $5 for lunch or $10 for a 16 ounce carry out. Pratt assures that there will be more gumbo made this year as last year the popular gumbo ran out within an hour.

Another new event for this year’s festival is a Kid’s Casting Contest. The contest begins at 1 p.m. at the Community Center. The Junior Boatmen will help out with this event for 4 to 10 year olds. Rods with plugs on the end will be provided for each child who participates and prizes will be awarded.

A fish filleting demonstration also begins at 1 p.m. at Fisherman’s Wharf, 900 Tarpon St. Willard McMullin will demonstrate his filleting talents and the event will last about 20 minutes.

Story telling begins at 2 p.m. with locals and others remembering and recounting their Port Aransas experiences. The storytellers will talk about what brought their parents or them to the island and recount what people on the island used to do for fun. Kandace Turicchi says a slide show of old photographs will be a backdrop to accompany the storytellers.

The Coastal Paint-Out begins on Wednesday, Oct. 16, when award-winning artists spend four days painting the beaches, bays and bistros that have made Port Aransas a popular tourist destination for decades. The artists then choose their favorite pieces that they have completed for an art show and sale that will take place at the Community Center all day. Cameron Pratt said, “The paint-out has really grown this year and 17 artists have confirmed that they will be involved.”

The Quick Draw contest, featuring the artists from the Coastal Paint- Out, begins at 2 p.m. Saturday on Alister Street around the museum. During this “plein air” contest the artists are given two hours to complete a work. The public then will choose the winner of the contest by casting a vote for their favorite painting during the reception. The winner of the People’s Choice will receive a cash award and the work will be on the 2014 Old Town Festival poster. The reception and sale of the artists’ works completed during the paint-out begins at 3:30 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. in the Community Center. All proceeds from the art sale benefit the Port Aransas Museum and Farley Boat Works.

A membership drive, brick and souvenir sales will take place all day.

A full schedule of events may be found under the “News and Events” tab at www.portaransasmuseum.org.

For more information call the museum (361) 749-3800.



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