Texas Independence Celebration Moved to Conroe

CONROE, TX - This year the Annual Texas Independence Day Celebration will not take place at Washington on the Brazos historic site, location of the original signing of the declaration of Texas March 2, 1836. Instead, Heritage Place Park in Conroe will be the statewide celebration site for activities starting at 10:00am and ending at 5:00pm at 500 Metcalf.

While Washington on the Brazos made the tough decision to cancel the event this year with ongoing concerns of the pandemic, Joy Montgomery, Executive Director of the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County was thrilled to host the 185th Anniversary of Texas Independence with participants from throughout Texas in the traditional annual event in Conroe. As we know, Montgomery is the location of the birthplace of the Texas Flag!

“Montgomery County was a part of the monumental history of Texas when Santa Anna was leading his troops from Mexico as part of the Texas Revolution. Montgomery County was then located in the Washington Municipality and citizens residing in our community were urged to fight against the tyranny of Santa Anna by the Provisional Governor of Texas to become its own country”, said Joy Montgomery. “The Republic of Texas was formed in 1836 until it agreed to be a part of the United States in 1945”.

Organizations confirmed to attend the 185th Anniversary Celebration include:
• Descendants from the original 59 signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence
• Sons of the Republic of Texas
• Daughters of the Republic of Texas
• Daughters of the American Revolution
• North Harris Dulcimer Society
• Montgomery Historical Society
• Two Rivers Heritage Foundation
• Sam Houston Memorial Museum representatives
• Grimes County Historical Commission
• Heritage Museum
• VFW Post 4709
• Alabama Coushatta
• Chikawa Dancers
• The Texas Army
• K.R. Wood “Fathers of Texas” Music
• Jack Shephard as Charles B Stewart
• Cellaire String Band
• Curt Locklear and his Banjo
• Lone Star Volunteers with the Rolling Cannon
• Jazz Connection
• Children’s Books on Wheels
• Montgomery County NAACP #6304
• Buffalo Soldiers

Attendees to the free event can expect to see re-enactments, hear cannons, watch the dance performances, and listen to historical music from the 1700’s played on fiddles with the Cellaire String Band or cowboy music that keeps Texas history alive from K.R. Wood. Jack Shephard of Montgomery will portray Charles B. Stewart, the designer of the Texas flag.

Sponsored by Spirit of Texas Bank, the City of Conroe, Quest Engineering, and the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce scheduled events are free to the public and temperatures will be taken at the entrance to the park. Masks and social distancing recommended.

Saturday, Feb. 27th Schedule
10:00am Color Guard welcomes guests
11:00am Gospel Singers
12:00pm K.R. Wood
1:00pm Chikawa Dancers
2:00pm Alabama Coushatta
3:00pm Signing Event
4:00pm Jazz Connection

See the events of 1836 re-enacted from the original descendants! Food available at the event from Rolling Republic BBZ, Kreole Soul food truck, Frios Gourmet Pops, and Native Kettle Korn plus the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas. Volunteer, become a vendor, or get your organization involved by emailing Muse@consolidated.net or click on the event page:
http://bit.ly/2Z0kQ7h

Board Member, Ron Saikowski is excited to have the annual Texas Celebration hosted in Conroe. “My hope is that we can continue to have an event locally in the future as a tribute to our local history. The Heritage Museum has so much rich information about Texas and how our county was formed this is an excellent opportunity to share for generations to come.”

Learn more about the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County by visiting their website at www.HeritageMuseum.us, or follow them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/The.Heritage.Muse.

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