Bellville, Texas (map this location)
Phone: 979-865-3407
Web site: www.bellville.com

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Come for a Day, Stay for a Lifetime... Choose Saturday, May 5th as the day you visit Bellville, and you probably will not want to return to the real world.

The 5th Annual Bellville Heritage Gathering commences at 8:30am, continues throughout the day, and ends with dancing into the night to the tunes of good ol' Texas Swing. The family-friendly event is aimed at educating young and old to the ways of Texas as it was in the 1800's, when Indians, Pioneers, Texas Rangers, Cowboys, and Longhorn Cattle roamed the 653 square miles of hills and prairies that make up beautiful and Historic Austin County.

Bellville, steeped in the rich history of the birth of Texas, became the County Seat of Austin County in 1846. Austin County, named after the "Father of Texas" Stephen F. Austin, was recognized as the Colonial Capitol of Texas by the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas. The same Legislature also recognized the historical significance of Industry as "Oldest German Settlement in the Lone Star State", and San Felipe (formerly San Felipe de Austin) as "Birthplace of the Texas Rangers". San Felipe de Austin established in 1824, served as the first Capitol of the Republic of Texas and was the original county seat.

Arts and Crafts vendors will be open for business on the Square at 8:30am and the various businesses around town will have all sorts of sidewalk and special sales. You definitely don't want to miss out on the shopping opportunities!

Opening Ceremonies begin at 11:15am, followed at High Noon by real-life Cowboys driving a herd of Cattle around the Historic Square and Austin County Courthouse. The Cattle Drive will be followed by Wagons and Riders - including the Bellville Heritage Cowgirls and Gathering Trail Riders.

Great food, continuous live entertainment, jailbreaks & shootouts, along with Jailhouse Beans & Cornbread are the perfect compliment to tours of the 1890's Austin County Jail Museum. You'll find folks of "generally good character" roaming everywhere... so don't be at all surprised when you bump into gunslingers and pioneers from our lil' ol' part of Texas.

Enjoy the Wild Game Cook-Off, Horseshoe and Bean Bag Tournaments, and Children's games at the Mini Park. There, visit with the 11th Texas Cavalry and Friends, complete with Cannons and Mortars, authentic Suttlers hawking period gear, Buffalo Soldiers, Cowboy Poets, and Members of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Speakers Committee, and enjoy a bottle of old-fashioned homemade Root Beer.

Drop by The Family Heritage Center to see historic demonstrations by old-world artisans, visit with historical and genealogical societies, and delight in a riveting presentation by Marianne Marek, Chief Archeologist on the San Felipe de Austin Archeological Project. She will have actual artifacts recovered from the San Felipe dig on display.  

Pop in and say "Howdy!" to our local blacksmith "Cowboy" Szymanski, working away at his forge in the Old Blacksmith Shop built in 1891. The afternoon can be spent listening to Gregorio Munos y su Rodeo Norteno, the Shiner Hobo Band, Blue Grass, Fiddling, Gospel & Country Western music. However you decide to spend the day, you surely don't want to miss the Heritage Street Dance with Al Sulak and The Country Sounds from 6:00pm 'til 11:00pm!

Come on out to Bellville, where the kids can run and play while Mom & Dad dance the night away... it's the country way of doing things! The tons of fun available this summer along with lodging, restaurants, shopping, and other local information can be found on the Bellville Chamber of Commerce website at www.bellville.com or call 979-865-3407.

Visit beautiful Bellville, Austin County, Texas - it's really where "Hometown Attitude Makes a Difference"