Texas GATORFEST 2012
Anahuac- The Texas GATORFEST is one of the most unique festivals in the State of Texas. The GATORFEST combines alligators and East Texans for foolproof family fun! In Chambers County alligators outnumber residents by almost three to one, making Anahuac the Alligator Capital of Texas. This September, make plans to experience gators and East Texas culture.
Take an airboat ride or a river boat tour, enjoy four stages of entertainment, Texas Artisans, merchants and the scenic waterfront beer garden. Take a whirl on the adult carnival rides and treat the kids to the kiddie rides, pony rides and petting zoo. On Saturday and Sunday, witness the Great Texas Alligator Roundup and visit the Alligator Education Tent to get an up close and personal view of live gators.
The Great Texas Alligator Roundup is the premier event of GATORFEST. Texas alligator hunters are invited to bring in their “harvest” to compete for cash prizes. Prizes are awarded according to length and county of harvest. The festival coincides with the opening of the 20 day alligator season in Texas and the Roundup sees an average of 10% of all the alligators harvested from the wild in Texas annually. Previous years’ winners have been over 13 feet long!
An air horn will sound each hour as hunters bring in gators throughout the day Saturday and Sunday. The Great Texas Alligator Roundup gives the festival a rare opportunity to let visitor’s see this fascinating reptile “up close and personal.” This event attracts alligator hunters from across Texas to our festival.
A licensed Texas alligator buyer is on site to purchase the harvested gators, which are then processed for the hide and the meat. For more information on The Great Texas Alligator Roundup and alligator hunting opportunities in the Anahuac Area contact the GATORFEST office at 409-267-4190.
Texas GATORFEST 2012 kicks off Friday night, September 7 and 8. KICK OFF!
2012 Gatorfest Bike Tour
September 8, 2012 – Fort Anahuac Park – $25 Entry Fee
Texas GATORFEST, the Lone Star State’s most unique festival invites you to participate in the Annual Texas GATORFEST Barbecue Cook-Off to kick off this year’s festival. Our family oriented festival is one of the fastest growing festivals in Texas. It has established a reputation for being “good old fashioned Texas fun” and providing visitors with a variety of entertainment. Our celebration of the alligator and its wetland habitat has something for everyone!
The Cook-Off will be held September 7th & 8th, the weekend before the 2012 Texas GATORFEST. It will be held on the same festival grounds in historic Fort Anahuac Park. Participants and visitors alike will enjoy entertainment throughout the day on the Gator Pit stage located within the cook-off area, as well as a Street Dance on Saturday, September 8th. A Horseshoe and Washer Tournament will be held during the day on Saturday also.
Thursday, September 13, 2012 the festival weekend begins in Anahuac. Gates open at 6 p.m.Thursday and Friday, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, September 13, 2012
6 pm…………………………………. Gates Open
6 pm…………………………………. Food/Drink Booths & Beer Garden
6 pm…………………………………. Carnival Rides
6pm…………………………………. Attractions & Merchant Vendors
6 – 8 pm……………………………. Airboat Rides
6:30 pm…………………………….. Beer Garden Stage – Jobe Wilson Band
8:30 pm…………………………….. Beer Garden Stage – Jason Cassidy Band
10:30 pm…………………………… Beer Garden Stage – Casey Donahew Band
Midnight Gates Close
Friday, September 14, 2012
6 pm……………………………..….. Gates Open
6 pm……………………………..….. Food/Drink Booths & Beer Garden
6pm……………………………..….. Carnival Rides
6pm………………………………… Attractions & Merchant Vendors
6 – 8 pm……………………………. Airboat Rides
6:30 pm…………………………….. Beer Garden Stage – The Zydeco Dots
8:30 pm…………………………….. Beer Garden Stage – Chubby Carrier
10:30 pm…………………………… Beer Garden Stage – Wayne Toups
Midnight Gates Close
Saturday, September 15, 2012
10 am……………………………..….. Gates Open
10 am – Midnight………………… Food/Drink Booths & Beer Garden
10 am – Midnight…………………. Carnival Rides
10 am – Midnight…………………. Attractions & Merchant Vendors
10 am – 6 pm……………………….. The Great Texas Alligator Roundup
10 am – 8 pm………………………. Airboat Rides
10 am – 8 pm………………………. Alligator Education Tent
Noon………………………………….. Beer Garden Stage – Long Neck Road
2:30 pm……………………………… Beer Garden Stage – Buck Yeager Band
4:30 pm……………………………… Beer Garden Stage – The Rankin Twins
6:30 pm……………………………… Beer Garden Stage – Bri Bagwell
8:30 pm……………………………… Beer Garden Stage – Josh Abbott Band
10:30 pm……………………………. Beer Garden Stage – Randy Rogers Band
Midnight Gates Close
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Noon………………………….…….. Gates Open
Noon – 6 pm………………………. Food/Drink Booths & Beer Garden
Noon – 6pm……………………….. Carnival Rides
Noon – 6pm……………………….. Attractions & Merchant Vendors
Noon – 6pm………………………… The Great Texas Alligator Roundup
Noon – 6pm……………………….. Airboat Rides
Noon – 6pm……………………….. Alligator Education Tent
Noon…………………………….……. Beer Garden Stage – Jody Booth
2:30 pm……………………….…….. Beer Garden Stage – Randy Marshall & The Law
4:30 pm……………………….…….. Beer Garden Stage – Al White & Chaparral
Waterborne Education Center will be providing 45 minute marsh tours. Boat trips last approximately 45 minutes. Tickets are $12 / person and can be purchased at the Alligator Education Tent at the Texas Gatorfest.
Enjoy some of the best Cajun Food on the planet in Anahuac. You can sample alligator 10 different ways! Jambalaya, Red Beans, Etoufee, Kabobs, Funnel Cakes and practically anything you could ever want to eat. The Texas Gatorfest has a wide variety of food vendors, sure to satisfy everyone in your group.
The GATORFEST has something for everyone!
To learn more about the Texas GATORFEST visit http://texasgatorfest.com/index.php.
