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INSITE September 2017
Unlimited Band will perform a mix of country and covers to
create a perfect atmosphere for street dancing.
On Sunday, multiple Grammy nominee Deanna Carter
will headline to close out the festival. With strawberry wine
available for tasting on Sunday, festival visitors can sip wine and
enjoy one of her well-known hits, “Strawberry Wine.”
For newcomers to Texas Reds, Reynolds offers some advice
on how to maximize the festival experience.
“My personal advice when I go to a festival is to try and do
everything because I always worry I’m going to miss out on
something,” Reynolds says. “So walk through the cook-off and
sample the steaks, go under the wine tent and take the time
to talk to the representatives … talk to the wineries and the
breweries that are there, ask them questions. Definitely partake
in the eating.”
There are many ways to get involved with Texas Reds as an
individual or an organization. It takes 500 to 750 volunteers
to run the festival with helpers needed to assist breweries and
wineries, work in the Kids Zone, and help with general festival
needs. If nonprofit organizations and community groups sign-up
to help, they have the opportunity to receive money back based
on the number of hours volunteered.
“For every 50 hours they volunteer, we will pay the
organization $500,” Farris says. “In the last couple of years,
we have given on average $20,000 that we’ve returned to
community organizations.”
In addition to giving back to groups who volunteer, Texas
Reds also gives back to the community through a scholarship
program set up with Bryan ISD. In the past three years, Texas
Reds has given out nine scholarships to local students.
“We would love to keep seeing the scholarship program
expand,” says Reynolds. “The festival focuses on beef and grapes
so we give scholarships to people who are studying Ag or are
giving back to their community.”
To purchase tickets for the festival or sign-up to volunteer,
visit texasredsfestival.com. For the food events, there are a
limited number of tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at
the festival. i