8th Annual Pecan Harvest Festival Returns to Richmond November 18
By Sandra Gray, Fort Bend County Master Gardener
From gearheads to amateur bakers, the 2023 Pecan Harvest Festival will have something for everybody. This eighth annual event celebrates Fort Bend County’s rich history of growing pecans. Pecans are native to Texas and Texas is second only to Georgia in U.S. pecan production.
The festival will be held on Saturday, November 18, in the historic district of downtown Richmond. It will feature live music; classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles; a pecan bake-off; and pecan judging for local growers (even if you have only one tree in your back yard). The Fort Bend AgriLife Extension will also provide education about growing pecans, including the equipment for growing, sorting and cracking pecans. If you are considering growing pecans, you might also learn about different varieties of pecans.
Make this a full-day event for the family with the food trucks, a farmer’s market, and other vendors to provide food and shopping. T. W. Davis YMCA and the Ft Bend County 4-H are sponsoring three special kid-activity zones. For adults, there will be three beer gardens.
Entrance is free. However, there will be much to buy from local vendors, including pecans at the Bagley’s Pecans and other pecan-related products from local vendors.
To enter your classic vehicle for judging, present the vehicle between 8am and 10am at City Hall Plaza Park. There is an entry fee for judging. Applications can be found at pecanharvestfestival.com.
Amateur bakers may submit entries before 10 a.m. at the Morton Masonic Lodge. There is a fee for judging. The requirements and entry fee can be found at pecanharvestfestival.com.
Music will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. at three different venues. The charts below show where you can find your chosen entertainers.
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Wessendorff Park - Gazebo Stage
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Start
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End
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Performers
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10:15am
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11:15am
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Gold Standard Band
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11:45am
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12:45pm
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Mariachi Tradicion de Jalisco
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1:15pm
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3:35pm
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Steel Country Band
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4:00pm
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5:00pm
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Mitch Jacobs Band
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City Hall Plaza Park Stage
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Start
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End
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Performers
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10:00am
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4:00pm
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Billy Folchi- DJ & musician
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Morton St Stage
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Start
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End
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Performers
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10:30am
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12noon
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Michael Ahles & Friends
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12:30pm
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1:30pm
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Ryan & Emily
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2:00pm
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3:00pm
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Max Burgess
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3:30pm
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5:00pm
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Teo of Cosmic Cats
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In past years, the Pecan Harvest Festival was held the Sunday before Thanksgiving. However, this year marks a change in that it will be held on Saturday to allow more downtown businesses to participate. The festival is expected to continue to evolve. Under consideration for the future is growing to a multi-day event, adding more children’s activities, and possibly a Little Miss Pecan pageant.
This family-friendly event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Richmond. According to Larry Pittman, Pecan Harvest Festival of Richmond Event Coordinator, the Rotary Club will return “a portion of the event proceeds back into the local community through the Rotary Club’s charitable giving programs and projects.” So, you can have fun and know the money you spend will help the community. See you there!
