The third annual Heritage Day Celebration in historic downtown Bonham on Saturday, July 25 will have one handy new feature this year -- public transportation to shuttle the festival crowd between events and historic sites.
Two Texoma Area Paratransit System (TAPS) buses will be making the circuit every 15-20 minutes to carry passengers from parking lots to the Bonham Square, Creative Arts Center, Sam Rayburn Library and Museum, Fort Inglish and Fannin County Museum of History.
The TAPS Public Transit website explains that TAPS is a private, non-profit corporation created to provide safe, dependable and affordable transportation for persons who depend on public transportation or who desire to avoid the high cost of fuel.
TAPS Executive Director Brad Underwood has arranged for two buses to be available to ferry the festival crowd to all the sights of interest around Bonham on Saturday as the city prepares for its biggest annual summertime event downtown.
This will make it easier visit particular sites of interest around town in between popular Heritage Day events on the Bonham Square and at Creative Arts Center.
Parking will be available at Legend Bank, American Bank, Fannin Bank as well as the city parking lot on South Main Street. Mr. Underwood hopes to have a bus stop by all downtown parking lots every 15 minutes and begin delivering riders to their favorite points of interest around Bonham. Then, in approximately another 15 minutes, the next bus will show up to allow visitors to continue their tour of one of the oldest towns in North Texas.
This is the perfect opportunity to tour one of the finest historical museums in small-town Texas, the library Sam Rayburn built for his constituents in the 4th District, a replica of the original fort constructed by Bailey Inglish 172 years ago, plus one of the premier art galleries in North Texas, the Creative Arts Center.
This event is a favorite for families because it combines such a wide variety of entertainment with the charm and friendliness small Texas towns are known for.
Arts, crafts and food vendors will have booths around the Bonham Square. Activities start at 7:00 a.m. with a Chuck Wagon Breakfast on the north side of the Fannin County Courthouse and continue throughout the day.
In addition, kids will want to tour Fort Inglish, Sam Rayburn Library and Sam Rayburn House will host visitors and the Fannin County Museum of History will be open.
At the Bonham Square, the day formally gets underway with an official welcome and flag ceremony at 8:30 a.m.
The Creative Arts Center Theatre group will take the main stage on the northwest side of the courthouse at 9:00 a.m..
Colgate Country Showdown Talent Contest, sponsored by KFYN 1420AM starts at 10:00 a.m.
Lanny Joe Burnett and the cowboy poets will be spinning tales from 10:30 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. at Creative Arts Center.
One of the real showstoppers last year, the Fireman's Rodeo, takes place at noon on the northeast corner of the Bonham Square.
This crowd favorite will pit all the county's volunteer fire departments and the Bonham Fire Department against each other in a series of timed events as their fans cheer them on.
Of course, fascinating antique tractors and farm equipment, sponsored by Elite Printing and AutoTech, will be on display from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Awards will be handed out at 1:00 p.m.
Fannin Bank is sponsoring a Motorcycle Show, with 103.7DocFM sponsoring a Fun Run. Motorcycles will begin arriving on North Main Street at 8:00 a.m. and awards will be handed out at 2:00 p.m.
The popular Car & Truck Show, sponsored by American Bank, is scheduled to run from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on South Main Street. Awards will be presented at 3:00 p.m.
If you like to military vehicles of yesteryear, don't miss the Military Vehicle Preservation Association display set up on the west side of Main Street.
On top of all that, hang onto your hat when the 12th Cavalry storms into town. The 12th Cavalry will perform several times during the day.
Heritage Day Celebration already has a full slate of food vendors signed up, but anyone interested in securing a spot for an arts/craft booth can call Judy at 903-583-0302 or Jean at 903-640-8980.
A booth is reasonably priced at $30, so don't miss this opportunity to market your wares or advertise your business. Artists could even go in together to share the cost.
Corporate sponsors have been very helpful again this year, but there is still time to place your banner downtown or sponsor an event. Please call Judy at 903-583-0302 or Jean at 903-640-8980 for more information.
