Local Roundup

Are you a crafty and creative person? Do you like to cook good food for lots of people? Do you have a “fine ride” that you would like to show off to the community? If you answered “yes” to any of these, then West Orange’s 2023 Holiday in the Park is the place for you!

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 in the park next door to West Orange City Hall (2700 Western Avenue; West Orange, Texas).

The City is proud to host this year’s 22nd annual event providing a venue for vendors of all types – crafts, gift items, home décor, and of course, great food! This will be the second year to include the very popular Classic Car Show. Last year’s show was canceled due to inclement weather, so we expect a large number to participate this year.

Local entertainment will perform all throughout the day. The event is proud to showcase some of hometown talent. An entertainment schedule will be released when it becomes available.

There is no charge to enter a vehicle in the car show. Vendor booth spaces are available for the day for $40, or if you will need electricity, for $65. Registration forms and additional information can be found on the city’s website. Interested participants may also call West Orange City Hall at (409)883-3468. As of the release of this notice, only ten booths with electricity and five without remain available. so don’t wait. Reserve yours today!!

Last year’s festival was a tremendous success thanks to the vendors, entertainers, and guests.  As always, there will be no entrance fee to the festival. So what better way to spend the day, visit with friends and neighbors, do some holiday shopping, listen to some great music, eat some delicious food and check out some fine rides?

The City of West Orange reserves the right to the sale of all carbonated beverages. NO alcohol of any kind will be sold at, or allowed on, the festival grounds.

Rules, regulations, a site map, and a registration form can be found on the City’s website.

For further information or to reserve a booth space, contact West Orange City Hall at 409-883-3468.

South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) has stabilization assistance available for qualifying residents of Orange County for 2023. Applicants must be at or below the 200th percentile of the Federal Poverty Level in order to qualify for services (see chart below).

Types of assistance include:

• Utilities: Electricity, Water and Gas
• Rent: Eviction Notice

An application must be completed, and supporting documentation must be provided to be considered. Please call (409)781-1549 and leave a message. A case manager will return your call and provide further instructions.

The Orangefield Fine Arts Boosters will hold its Second Annual Christmas in Orangefield Scholarship Fundraiser Festival on Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. They will be set up in the spectator area adjacent to the field house and visitor concession stand at F.L. McClain Stadium located at Orangefield High School, 10058 FM 105 in Orange. Their goal is to have a hometown festival, bringing in people to enjoy an array of family activities while raising funds to provide scholarships to our students involved in Band, Choir, Color Guard, and Sophisticats.

They seek sponsors, parade entries, vendors, food trucks, and performance talent.

Entry forms are available as follows:

Performers: Be part of the festivities by registering your group to perform at the event. Performances will happen on the football field, facing the Home Side Stands. If you or your group are interested in participating, please complete the registration form no later than Friday, December 1, 2023. There is no participation fee for the performance.  Performers can register here.

Parade: The parade time is 10:00 a.m. Entrants with motorized vehicles must maintain speed and control over their vehicles. No non-business ATVs will be permitted. Throwing candy from vehicles or floats is prohibited and can cause bodily injury and/or death to participants. All children are to be escorted and supervised by a parent, guardian, or the entry’s chairman during the entire length of the parade. Parking is limited for those participating in the parade. Car-pooling is encouraged. A `drop off lane’ will be open and marked for anyone dropping off participants. Please follow the signage and drive slowly in the staging area. Your entry will be pre-assigned a lane for staging. Please follow directions given by the parade volunteer upon arrival. Your entry will also be assigned a number that is to be placed on your window for identification.

Additional details, including the parade route, will be emailed to all entrants prior to the event. The parade fee is $20 per group and one canned food item per participant. The canned food items will be donated to a local food bank. Please complete the registration form and mail a check to Orangefield Fine Arts Boosters at PO Box 40 Orangefield. TX 77639 or send via Venmo to @OFAB1. All entries must be received by December 11, 2023. The parade entry fee is non-refundable. For more info, contact Crystal Loga at 985-637-3383 or OFABoosters@gmail.com. Parade entrants can register here.

Food Booths and Vendor Trucks: In order to reserve your Vendor space (approx. 10ft x 10ft), please complete the entry form and send your payment. Checks can be made payable to Orangefield Fine Arts Boosters and mailed to P.O. Box 40, Orangefield, TX 77639, or you may pay via Venmo (@OFAB1). Vendor Fees: $40.00 for one space or $60.00 for two spaces. Food Truck Fees: 15% of Sales (Paid by 12/20/23). For more info, contact Crystal Loga at 985-637-3383 or OFABoosters@gmail.com. Food booths and vendor trucks can register here.

Sponsors: We would like to extend an invitation to you to be part of the festivities by becoming an Event Sponsor. Event Sponsors will help us to offset some of the costs involved with this event, so that more of the money collected is able to go towards the scholarships. For a $250.00 donation, your business name will be listed on the back of the event T-Shirts, as well as on the event banner. Your business will also be listed as a sponsor on our social media page. If you or your business is interested in becoming a sponsor, please complete registration no later than Friday, November 17, 2023. Payment can be made via check (payable to the Orangefield Fine Arts Boosters) mailed to PO Box 40 Orangefield. TX 77639 or via Venmo (@OFAB1). Event sponsors can register here.

For more information, please email OFABoosters@gmail.com.

First Baptist Church of West Orange, located at 608 Dayton St. has given West Orange its first Blessing Box, thanks to a donation from Al Granger at Granger Chevrolet/Team Granger.

The side of the box says, “Take what you need, Give what you can.”

Mayor Pro Tem Meritta Kennedy headed up this initiative. Also pictured are church members Kelly Riley and Michael and Meritta Norwood.

The church was established in 1902, and the state recently approved a historical marker for the building. It is the first historical marker in West Orange.

The City of West Orange is seeking vendors for the 2023 Holiday in the Park.

Booth registrations will open to the public at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, for the City of West Orange’s “Holiday in the Park” festival.

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 in the park next door to West Orange City Hall (2700 Western Avenue; West Orange, Texas).

This hometown community festival brings in people from around the area wanting to kick off the holiday season. The event will have food booths, craft booths, children’s activities, and local entertainment.

Non-electrical booth spaces (14′ x 14′) are available for $40 each, while electrical booth spaces (20′ x 14′) are $65 each. Booths are rented on a first-come, first-served basis.

The City of West Orange reserves the right to the sale of all carbonated beverages. NO alcohol of any kind will be sold at, or allowed on, the festival grounds.

Rules, regulations, a site map, and a registration form can be found on the City’s website.

For further information or to reserve a booth space, contact West Orange City Hall at 409-883-3468.