Huntsville Chamber 2024 | Page 12

Things to See and Do

The Fair on the Square

Looking for a place to take the whole family for fun , food , and adventure ? With over 15,000 in attendance , the Annual Fair on the Square offers the perfect solution . Over four hundred vendors set up shop in the historic downtown district selling unique items , some handcrafted by local artisans . The Fair on the Square offers something for every age and gender and is held annually on the first Saturday in October . For more information , log on to www . FairontheSquare . com . Jewelry , home décor , apparel and more treasures are offered by vendors and the merchants on the downtown square . The Kids Korner , a haven of fun for children of all ages , includes a giant slide , balloon artist , petting zoo , bungee run , monster mural , face painting , archery station and free arts and crafts projects . The food court will tempt you to taste fair specialties such as freshly squeezed lemonade and sweet tea as well as kettle corn , corn dogs , barbecue and anything fried you can imagine . Bands entertain the crowd in the Watering Hole , while spectators spend the afternoon enjoying an adult beverage or sipping a soft drink . The Wine Knot provides a quaint atmosphere for patrons to sip and taste wine from many Texas Vineyards .

Walker County Museum : Gibbs-Powell House

The Gibbs-Powell Home , also known as the Walker County Historical Museum , was built in 1862 by Thomas Gibbs , an early Huntsville businessman . It is built in the Greek revival style , popular in Huntsville and in the South at that time . The Gibbs family was often visited at the home by personal friend Sam Houston . The house has been the home to several generations of Gibbs and Powell families . Female boarders attending Sam Houston Normal Institute in the Nineteenth Century roomed upstairs . Through the interest of Judge and Mrs . Ben H . Powell III , this home has remained unchanged , and the interior as well as the furniture and furnishings were preserved to be used as a museum . The house is both a Texas Archaeological Landmark and a recorded Texas Historical Landmark and is operated by the Walker County Historical Commission as a county museum . Furniture , furnishings , books , newspapers , and documents have also been donated by other local families to help accentuate the atmosphere of a gracious family home . www . walkercountyhistory . org

Walker County Fair & Rodeo

Eight days of fun , excitement and festivities are in store at the annual Walker County Fair & Rodeo . Head to the rodeo for action-packed good times as cowboys and cowgirls compete in the arena excelling in bull riding , barrel racing and roping . Visit the petting zoo and browse exhibits and booths , highlighting the best of Walker County , including fine arts , baked goods , crafts , and horticulture . Musical entertainment delights all , and do not miss the crowning of the Fair Queen . www . walkercountyfair . com

Huntsville State Park

Pack a picnic and a fishing pole and discover beautiful Huntsville State Park . Rent canoes , kayaks or paddleboats and explore the pristine waters of 210-acre Lake Raven . Go geocaching and enjoy a modern-day treasure hunt . Stay for the night surrounded by majestic trees and nature at one of the 160 campsites . Forget something ? Pick up camp supplies on-site at Gator Junction . www . tpwd . texas . gov / state-parks / huntsville

Sam Houston Statue & Visitors Center

Learn about the life and times of legendary Texan Sam Houston and enjoy the stunning view of the Sam Houston Statue , towering sixty-seven feet on a 10-foot , sunset granite base . “ Big Sam ” was created by world-renowned painter and sculptor , David Adickes , a Huntsville native and graduate of Sam Houston State University . Stop by the gift shop and find treasures and memorabilia for a trip to remember . www . huntsvilletexas . com / 148 / Statue-Visitor- Center

Oakwood Cemetery

Filled with graceful old trees , artistic monuments and ornate markers , this historic cemetery is the final resting place of statesmen , slaves , and notable Texans , including Sam Houston . It is also home to the Christus Statue , a full-sized bronze replica of Danish sculptor Bertel Torwaldsen ’ s masterpiece , which is considered by many to be the world ’ s most beautiful sculpture of Christ . www . walkercountyhistory . org / oakwood _ cemetery . php

12 | HUNTSVILLE-WALKER COUNTY , TEXAS 2024--2025