Texas Festivals

Texas Festivals focuses on Texas's iconic festivals, exploring what we choose to celebrate and how it reflects our history and our identity as Texans and Americans. 

Local festivals reveal a lot about a community, their collective identity, what is important to them, and what industries, traditions, and cultures are prevalent. They show the character of Texas, and in turn, the character of America.

The exhibit will be arranged by theme, highlighting festivals that celebrate agriculture and other industries, nature and natural resources, people, and recently created festivals. Each of these themes will answer a series of guiding questions: What is a festival? What are the defining elements of a festival? What types of things do festivals celebrate? How do communities decide what to celebrate as a festival? and How do these celebrations reflect the local, regional, state, and national community and identity?

Through artifacts, interactives, and media pieces, visitors will gain a deeper appreciation for the richness of Texas's industries, geography, communities, and cultures. Themes and topics will explore what makes a festival a festival and how Texan celebrations have influenced national culture. With an exhibition design that incorporates elements of the outdoors to evoke the atmosphere of a festival, Texas Festivals will celebrate the history and contemporary relevance of festivals and how they continue to evolve and shape Texas identity.

The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum Members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.