The Howe Enterprise – Oct. 26, 2020
The Howe Area Chamber of Commerce finally was able to host their annual Founders Day Festival that was originally scheduled for early May but was pushed back due to COVID-19. Chamber board members decided months ago to combine it with the Downtown Howe-lloween Festival for one big event and one big event it was. A record number of vendors nearing 100 and a record-high crowd attended from all parts of North Texas.
Shelley Luther, running for Texas Senate 30 was in attendance and gave a speech on the stage in front of a crowd that quickly flocked to the stage area upon her opening remarks.
Bent Creek was the musical entertainment for fourth consecutive year. They feature lead singer Brent Hollensed, who grew up in Howe.
“Each year this gets larger and larger and we just want to continue the momentum that we’ve been able to sustain from year to year,” said festival organizer Monte Walker. “The community needed this event. From what everyone has had to endure over the past eight months, it was a breath of fresh air, literally, to be able to get out and visit with people and have a sense of normalcy.”
The weather could not have been more perfect with a high sky and warm temperatures in the sun, but cool temperatures in the shade. But when the sun went down, quite a few vendors began tearing down and the event ended quite soon than initially anticipated.
For the first time, the festival included a wine-tasting from Wall Street Winery. Food options were available from the Knights of Columbus, The Crazy Red Rooster Kettle Corn Co., and Chill Out Shaved Ice. Hana’s Café and Don’s Smokehouse were open during the festival, but Gabriela’s and Abby’s were closed.
For 2021, the chamber plans on returning to the normal schedule of a May Founders Day event and a separate Downtown Howe-lloween event in October.
Walker, of the Howe Chamber, wants to thank Sergio and Susan Garcia for their work on the event and Chamber President Robert Cannaday for helping throughout the festival.