The continuing cleanup from Harvey isn't stopping a famed festival from kicking off in Winnie, the 48th annual Texas Rice Festival is up and running.
Kicking off with free admission Wednesday, thousands make their way to Winnie to escape from the day to day chores of cleaning debris.
Many vendors out here tell 12News that the storm pushed them back with their plans, but they managed to still come out to raise money for those affected.
Vendors from the United Methodist Church are cooking up to help raise money for Harvey victims, and they tell us baby and hygiene items will be bought to help those who lost everything to the floods.
Organizers of the event say several vendors canceled last minute after losing their belongings in the flooding.
"Riding the rides are fun," says 9-year-old Kennedy Mayers.
"Harvey has had everyone stressful all the time, they now get to have a day off so they can try to forget about the storm," he says.
LOCATION:
Here's a list of the Texas Rice Festival schedule:
“YOUTH DAY”
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017
9:00 AM Opening Ceremonies
9:30 AM Diaper Derby
10:00 AM Little Rice Tot
10:55 AM Poster Contest Winners
11:00 AM Hamshire-Fannett Golden Girls
11:20 AM Little Rice King Contest
12:00 PM Miss LaPetite Pageant
1:00 PM East Chambers Buccadears
1:20 PM Little Rice Sweetheart Pageant
2:00 PM Junior Queen Pageant
2:45 PM Youth Day Parade
4:30 – 5:00 PM Amber Blanchard’s School of Dance
5:30 – 7:00 PM Honky Tonk Jones
8:00 – 9:30 PM Red Shahan
10:00 – 11:30 PM Pat Green
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017
“YOUTH DAY” EVENTS NOT ON STAGE
8:00 AM 4H & FFA Livestock Show: Steer & Breeding Beef Shows
8:30 – 10:30 AM Old Timers’ Breakfast (Community Building)
9:00 AM Ag Mechanics Show (Livestock Arena)
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Art & Photography Exhibit (Community Building)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Rice Education Tent (Across from Livestock Arena)
10 AM – Midnight Carnival Midway Open
THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ARE LOCATED NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE PARK
10:00 AM-Noon Doodlebug Face Painting, Hay Play
and a variety of free Children’s Games & Activities
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Ice Cream Eating Contest
SATURDAY, OCT 7, 2017
9:00 AM Opening Ceremonies
10:00 AM Grand Parade
11:30 AM Introduction of Honorees
Noon – 1:00 PM Local Talent
1:00 – 1:30 PM Rice Judging Awards
2:00 – 4:00 PM American Society Auction
4:30 – 6:00 PM Flatland Cavalry
6:30 – 8:00 PM Joe Diffie
8:30 – 10:00 PM Reckless Kelly
10 PM Saddle Drawing on the Main Stage
10:30 PM – 12:30 AM Bag of Donuts
SAT, OCT 7, 2017
“EVENTS NOT ON STAGE”
8:00 AM Livestock Judging
9:00 AM Rice Cooking Contest (EC Jr High Buc Café)
9:00 – 3:00 PM Antique Car Show (Northwest Corner)
9:00 – 6:00 PM Arts/Crafts Show (Community Building)
9:00 – 6:00 PM Art & Photography Exhibit (Community Building)
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Rice Education Exhibit (Across from Livestock Arena)
10 AM – Midnight Carnival Midway Open
2:00 PM Lamb & Goat Show Weigh-In
4:00 PM Lamb & Goat Show
SUNDAY, OCT 8, 2017
Noon – 6:00 PM Carnival Midway Open