Heritage Syrup Festival

Henderson- Many years ago, just as the  East Texas Pineywoods would begin to shout with fall color families would gather at local syrup mills for a time of fellowship and trading, but most importantly, Ribbon Cane Syrup. A sweet East Texas tradition will continue this year at the Annual Heritage Syrup Festival the second Saturday of November.

East Texans will gather in Henderson, Texas to commemorate the tradition of making ribbon cane syrup, the highlight of the only folk life festival in East Texas! Experienced syrup makers will operate the Henderson Depot Museum’s antique mule powered equipment to produce “old fashioned” cane syrup. Syrup was a treasured sweet, made from crushed sugar cane and cooked in a pan over a wood fire. East Texas old-timers still reminisce about this sweet Pineywoods traditional folk art.  

The operational syrup mill is a combination of parts from two country mills. The pan used to cook the syrup is more than 200 years old and came from Richardson-Lowe Plantation and the crushing mill was part of the Leopard syrup making facility at Church Hill, Texas.

The Annual Heritage Syrup Festival has embraced East Texas culture and has something for everyone. While the syrup cooks, folk artists will demonstrate the techniques of lace making, rope making, basket making, blacksmithing, quilting, woodcarving and other old-time survival skills. Folk singers will entertain visitors, antique tractors will be on tap, children and animal lovers will enjoy a petting zoo, and local civic organizations offer a varied selection of food and beverages.

The festivities will sprawl over six blocks to Heritage Square, which is located in the Downtown National Register Historic District. Visitors can browse over 100 handcrafted arts and crafts booths, sample East Texas cuisine and enjoy live musical entertainment.  Hay ride shuttles, sponsoired by the Henderson 4-H Club will provide transportation between the Depot Museum and Downtown Heritage Square.

The Heritage Syrup Festival has been celebrated the second Saturday in November from 9:00am-5:00pm, since its beginning November 1989. Every year approximately 25,000 people from Texas and neighboring states attend the festival each year. Make plans to visit Henderson this November for folk art, folk music and East Texas soul food.

2011 Schedule of Events

DEPOT MUSEUM GROUNDS
514 North High Street
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

RIBBON CANE SYRUP MAKING
Depot Museum Syrup Team
Continuous demonstrations 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p. m.

FOLKART DEMONSTRATIONS
Grist Mill, Herbalist, Woodcarvers, Rope Makers, Printers, Blacksmith, Spinner, Weavers and many more

ENTERTAINMENT

Back Yard

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Rusk County Dulcimers
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. – Church Hill Bluegrass
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.- Grateful Life
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Church Hill Bluegrass
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Jughead Band
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Grateful Life
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Jughead Band

STORY TELLERS PAVILION
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

ANTIQUE TRACTOR AND ENGINE DISPLAY

CAROUSEL RIDES
$1.00 per person

SAW MILL DEMONSTRATION
on the hour

SALEM INVINCIBLES
SONS OF THE CONFEDERATE ROSE
Front Porch of the Beall-Ross Home

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
Rusk County Treasure Hunters
Kid’s Treasure Hunt At Back Gate  
Petting Zoo

HAY RIDE SHUTTLE
$2.00 donation for all day rides
Runs between Downtown and the Depot Museum
Provided by

                             The Rusk County 4-H Clubs

DOWNTOWN HENDERSON
A National Register Historic District
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

OVER 200 VENDORS & EXHIBITORS
CHILDREN’S SECTION
ANTIQUE & CLASSIC CAR EXHIBIT
HENDERSON CIVIC THEATER MELODRAMA
Performances – 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.

ENTERTAINMENT
Stage #1
in Heritage Square

8:45 a.m. – Opening Ceremony
9:00 a.m. – Lori Tyson & the Back Row Majority
10:00 a.m.- Shanna Strange
11:00 a.m. – Rebel Rose Band
12:00 p.m. – Shake, Rattle & Roll
1:00 p.m. – Lori Tyson & the Back Row Majority
2:00 p.m. – Shanna Strange
3:00 p.m. – Rebel Rose Band
4:00 p.m. – Shake, Rattle & Roll
5:00 p.m. – Lori Tyson & the Back Row Majority
6:00 p.m. – Shake, Rattle & Roll
7:00 p.m. – Rebel Rose Band
8:00 p.m. – Shanna Strange
Stage #2
Located Between Citizens Bank & Western Auto
10:00 a.m. – Acroflyers
11:00 a.m. – Rhythm Rockers
12:00 p.m. – Red Romper’s Square Dancers
12:45 p.m. –  Down Home Cloggers
1:45 p.m. – The Reflections Square Dancers
3:00 p.m. – Senior Circle Line Dancers

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
South Main Street 
Inflatables, Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, Children’s Train
 
HAY RIDE SHUTTLE
$2.00 donation for all day rides
Runs between Downtown and the Depot Museum
Provided by The Rusk County 4-H Clubs