Chamber Connection By Butch Burney- Sep. 6
Chamber Connection – Sept. 6
By Butch Burney
Stew cooks, check your calendars. You have just a little over three weeks to nail down your site!
Past stew cooks have until noon on Friday, Sept. 29, to reclaim the site they cooked on last year. The 54th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, presented by Alliance Bank, will get underway on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Tickets and shirts are now on sale, so get yours now!
Tickets are $8 each for those 13 and over. Children 12 years and younger will eat free this year, thanks to Signature Solar’s sponsorship, but they still need a ticket.
Tickets can be purchased online at HopkinsChamber.org or at the Chamber office, 110 Main St. Tickets can also be purchased at our financial institutions which include Alliance Bank, City National Bank, First National Bank of East Texas, Guaranty Bank and Trust, Pilgrim Bank, Red River Credit Union, and Texas Heritage National Bank
T-shirts are now available at the Chamber office for just $25 in adult sizes S-XXL. We will also be getting in other merchandise as the Oct. 28 stew date draws closer.
The 54th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, presented by Alliance Bank, has been able to keep its costs down because of our generous businesses in the community, and the cost just got even cheaper for some families.
Signature Solar and the Chamber announced last week that children 12 and under will eat free at the festival on Saturday, Oct. 28, due to Signature Solar’s generous sponsorship. Children will still need tickets, which can be obtained either online or via paper tickets. Online tickets, which are $8 each for everyone 13 years and older, are available at HopkinsChamber.org. Paper tickets will be available in early August at the Chamber and local banks.
One Church announced last week that they will sponsor the Fun Zone, which includes Gellyball, bounce houses and kids’ games. That means free fun for children!
City National Bank will be sponsoring the Friday night festivities, Oct. 27, and we will be announcing that line-up soon.
Thanks to all of our sponsors who make the stew festival affordable for families in Hopkins County. Follow the Chamber’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for spotlights on our sponsors and updates on the stew festival.
Main Street Uncorked
Main Street Uncorked Wine and Music Festival comes to downtown on Oct. 14, from 1-7 p.m.
Enjoy wine from some of the best Texas wineries, shop local vendors and enjoy talented musical artists. Jeb Brooks Band will perform from 1-3 p.m., and Nevermind will be on stage from 4-7 p.m.
Tickets are available at MainStreetUncorkedSS.com from $10. Tickets at the door are $15.
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival is coming in October.
The Homecoming Carnival is Oct. 11-15, while the parade (from Buford Park to Brookshire’s) will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Trade and vendor booths, a kids’ zone, creative art contest and craft show will all be conducted Friday, Oct. 27 to Saturday, Oct. 28.
Walk Like MADD
MADD East Texas will have its annual Walk Like MADD at Buford Park beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. For more information, call 903-534-6000.
Ribeye Roundup
Bet your appetites ready for the NetBio Cattleman’s Classic Ribeye Roundup, back on Celebration Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 7. The steak dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., with a concert at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased at Texas Heritage National Bank. VIP tickets are $100 each.
NRA Event
Friends of NRA will be having its annual fundraising event at 5 p.m. Sept. 16, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Individual tickets are $50 and include dinner and one chance for a handgun drawing. A table for eight is $500 and includes dinner, reserved seating, program recognition and a chance for a rifle drawing.
For more information, contact Sharon Campbell at 832-423-0926, Petty York at 210-414-5874 or Sandy Roeder at 903-629-5079.
Homecoming Parade
The Dial Study Club Homecoming Parade, presented by Triple Crown Roofing, will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12. All SSISD student organizations and sports teams are encouraged to join. If your business would like to sponsor, contact any Dial member or call 903-243-4138.
Solar Eclipse
When April 8, 2024 rolls around, get ready!
Almost weekly, we are messaged, called or visited by people who will be coming to Hopkins County for the total solar eclipse on that date. They are coming from around the country and literally around the world. Our latest message was from a person in Germany who messaged they will be here for the eclipse.
If you and your business aren’t already thinking about what to do when literally tens of thousands of visitors will be here for that weekend leading up to the Monday eclipse, now is the time to start!
The Chamber is making plans for a weekend market and is looking for sponsors to help us bring a concert to town for the Sunday evening before the eclipse. But, there are plenty of options and opportunities available for all businesses.
If you have an idea or an event, please contact us at the Chamber and we will help promote it on the website TotalEclipseSSTX.com.
It’s not only time to start planning, it’s time to start getting things ready for our visitors.
Mobile Mammography
Hunt Regional Healthcare’s Mobile Mammography Coach will be at Sulphur Springs Shopping Village, 1185 South Broadway St., on Thursday, Sept. 28. Most insurances are accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid. Please call 903-408-5010 to schedule a time.
Veterans Walk
On Sept. 9, Walkforvets.org will host second and third generation Army Combat Arms, John and Jason Mumby, to walk 26 miles from Winnsboro City Hall to Sulphur Springs to raise awareness and donations for veteran suicide programs.
You can participate by welcoming them to town, walking a mile or two or all 26 miles. Call or text John Mumby at jemumby.71@gmail.comor or text 313-310-6277 for information.
Border Patrol Help
Bright Star Republican Women are collecting goody bag items for Texas Border Patrol agents. They can be donated at the next meeting, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at 115 Putman St., or dropped off to Karon Weatherman at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home or call Beth Wisenbaker at 903-348-1614 for pickup.
Donations can include snack likes protein bars, beef jerky, trail mix, etc., as well as sunscreen, hand sanitizer, tooth paste, etc.
Sentimental Journey
Family friendly entertainment at Deep Routes Coffee House features Karaoke Koffee with Enola and Mike on a Sentimental Journey from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Deep Routes and Shop The Springs Hometown Market are located at 215 Shannon Road East, next to McAlister’s.
Candidate Forum
A forum for those running for Texas House District 2 is set for Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. Hot dogs and homemade ice cream will be available at 5 p.m., followed by the candidate forum at 6:30 p.m.
District 2 covers Hopkins, Hunt and Van Zandt counties.
If you have questions for the candidates, send them to Donnie Wisenbaker at donwisen@gmail.com; Lance Lenz a Lance.Lenz@ozus.com; or David Hale at davidmhale@mac.com.
Wedding Expo
The DIY Wedding Expo is coming back to the Civic Center from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23. For more information on sponsorships or vendor spaces, contact Tracey Treadway at 214-683-7669 or roadmaptothealtar@gmail.com.
