One of the premier events in Matagorda County is coming around for another year — it’s the 63rd Annual Bay City Lions Club Rice Festival from October 15th thru the 18th 2009.

This historical Matagorda County event celebrates the history and heritage of the rice harvest in the county with a wide variety of events to please everyone.

One of the most popular and attended events of the festival is the parade that will take place around the Matagorda County Courthouse Square at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.

This year’s theme is, “Rice, The International Ingredient”, will have numerous float entries for competition from various organizations around the county, plus nine Lions Club floats and 14 floats for officials and dignitaries.

We will have numerous bands, dance groups as well as themed floats to feature during this years festivities.

The carnival and midway is provided by Todd Armstrong Shows that will bring 14 major rides, 13 kiddie rides, games and carnival food booths.

The carnival opens at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds from 4-11 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, for a $3 gate admission or with a donation of an HEB non-perishable food item. Friday Night Lights opens at 4pm and general admission is $3 or $1 with a football game ticket stub or student ID.  Carnival ride armbands are $20 for a daily pass or $35 for the whole festival.

The carnival is also open from 4 p.m. – midnight Friday, Oct. 16, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, and 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) brings the coast to the Bay City Rice Festival through Coastal Expo beginning on Friday at 4pm and 12pm (noon) on Saturday.

Coastal Expo is a fun, family-oriented event with activities for all ages! Visitors see and touch crabs, sea stars, and other coastal animals; view a glass-bottom stream; solve a mysterious fish kill; learn what washes up on the Texas coast; fish for live catfish; and participate in other great activities. In the process, they learn about Texas coastal ecosystems, why they are important, and how to protect them.

This year will also feature several of the traditional Rice Festival events. The Rice Dish Roundup where participants serve up their best rice containing recipes will be a stomach stuffer for the judges and the Queen's Pageant will bring out the top of the line girls from our county to compete for scholarships.

And another customary Rice Festival event, Exceptionally Challenged Day that provides some of Matagorda County’s special needs students a chance to attend the Rice Festival on their own terms with the companionship of volunteer high school students.  We have also added a Senior Moment in which the senior care citizens come out and enjoy a time of fishing at the Coastal Expo.

The festival will also feature a two-day auto and boat show on Friday and Saturday and cash bingo from 4-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Rice Festival Chairman Ken Head says this year will be an event to remember. We have some special things planned that will bring out more festivalgoers than the past years. Keep your eyes and ears open for this years schedule of events!

If you need any information regarding the Rice Festival, please contact Ken Head at 979-245-4646.