The 2016 Lone Star Gourd Festival
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sun, 08/21/2016
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
Multiple techniques come together to create a gourd art piece. They can be carved, wood-burned, painted, dyed, inlaid, coiled, woven, or just about anything else you can think of. They are even built into sculptural pieces.
The Lone Star Gourd Festival, sponsored by the Texas Gourd Society, is an annual event open to the public. Gourd art classes will open early beginning August 17. Competition gourds will be judged and ribbons placed Thursday night so that the public may see the winners. All visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite piece and the artist winning that vote will receive the People's Choice award, announced on Sunday.
At the festival, you will experience a …
Lelia Sublet Gourd
Gourd donated by Lelia Sublett
Raffle of Fine Art Gourds
The Texas Gourd Society is a 501c3 organization and the annual raffle raises funds used to promote gourd art educational outreach to our members and the community.
Gourd Art Competition
The competition is open to any artist. You do not need to be a Texas Gourd Society member to compete. Awards go to Best of Show, VIP Choice, People’s Choice, Best of Division, and 1st through 3rd place Category Awards.
Divisions judged are Growers, Youth, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Masters. There are multiple categories within each division.
36 Intermediate Vessels Zeldajean Byrd 1st1
2015, 1st Place, Intermediate Div, Zeldajean Byrd
Advanced FiberWorks JoanneTompkins 1st
2015, 1st, Adv Div, Fiber Works, Joanne Tompkins
Noah Spinrath Youth no ribbon1
2015, Best of Youth Div, Noah Spinrath
56 Masters SW NativeAmerican CherylTrotter 1st
2015, 1st Place, Masters Div, Native Amer, Cheryl Trotter
Roy at demo booth
Roy Cavarretta at demo booth
Gourd Art Demonstrations
A demonstration booth will run daily in the vendor area. We will have experienced Texas Gourd Society members available to answer your questions on how to grow, harvest, clean, cut, color and design your gourd.
If you want a functional piece or an art piece, we will be glad to help you. Our society is based on sharing the many ways to use this wonderful gift, the gourd.
Drawing For Youth Organizations
Youth Frog Basket
Youth organizations may register for a free drawing to win a project that includes a box of gourds and all materials and instructions for a gourd art project.
Registration will be at the admissions desk from July 31 at 9am until August 2 at noon. The drawing will be on August 2 and winners may pick up the project box then.
If you cannot be present to pick up the box, please let us know so that we can try to make arrangements to get it to you.
KIDS CORNER
Kids Corner
Children can make their own gourd art in the Kids Corner booth. TGS supplies gourds and supplies free to children.
Admission is also free to children and teenagers under 18 attending with an adult. An adult will need to remain with children in the Kids Corner while they complete their project.
VENDOR BOOTH
Vendor Booths
Vendors will be present selling gourd art, raw gourds, and supplies that can be used to create your gourd art.
Gourd Classes
Gourd Classes run daily beginning Wednesday, August 17 in the afternoon and running through Sunday, August 21. There are classes for all skill levels.
It is best to pre-register for a class so the teacher can make sure to have enough supplies. However some workshops can take walk-ins. Look for the "Classes" banner inside the vendor area to check availability.
Check the schedule to make sure that you have everything you need for a class. For some classes you will not need to bring anything and for others, you may need tools or certain supplies.
Membership
Anyone can join the Texas Gourd Society for only $15 a year. Our membership booth will be open to provide you with more information. Benefits of membership include festival discounts, a quarterly e-newsletter, and access to local TGS groups who can provide gourd art education, workshops and sharing of different techniques.
More Info
For more information, visit us at our Facebook page . And for a bigger sample of gourds around the world, visit our Pinterest page .
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.