Pioneer, Heritage Festival is on the move
Chamber directors hope relocation will spur ridership at the Texas State Railroad

Re-enactors and craft demonstrations will be a part of the "new and improved" Pioneer & Heritage Festival which will be held this year at the Texas State Railroad Park.

The Pioneer and Heritage Festival is on the move in an effort to spur ridership at the Texas State Railroad.

The Rusk Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted unanimously March 17 to move the Pioneer & Heritage Festival to the Texas State Railroad in order to encourage students to ride the train while visiting the pioneer festival.

Students who are studying Texas history will be given a chance to go back in time and ride a steam train, as well as see demonstrators with crafts of that time.

"The chambers' hopes are that the surrounding communities will jump on board and support this event," said Connie Brown, manager.

Planning is underway for the Oct. 9-11 festival.

Rene' McCracken is committee chair and Kenneth Welch, co-chair. Kids' Day will begin Oct. 10 with invitations going to the surrounding

school systems.

Oct. 11 vendors will be asked to show off their crafts to train riders visiting the Rusk Depot, some coming from as far away as the Houston, Austin and Dallas areas. Rusk businesses will be asked to go back in time with shopkeepers dressing in that time period.

There will be western re-enactors on the square. The chamber is seeking sponsors to shuttle festival attendees from the square to the train and back again.