COTTON GIN FESTIVAL, BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL DRAW LARGE CROWDS

  

Big crowds came to Washington County this past weekend for two big festivals.

Warm weather was the backdrop for the Burton Cotton Gin Festival and for the Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival.

The Cotton Gin Festival on Saturday featured activities like a parade through downtown Burton, historical demonstrations, games and contests, live music, and tours of the 1914 Burton Farmers Gin.

Cotton Gin Museum Director Steph Jarvis says the event continues to grow in popularity and in ways to commemorate the oldest operating cotton gin in America.

Meanwhile, the Bluebonnet Festival on Saturday and Sunday offered shopping through hundreds of juried arts and craft vendors selling a variety of items, live entertainment, and scenic landscapes all in celebration of the official state flower, the bluebonnet. 

Joel Romo of the Chappell Hill Historical Society says the Bluebonnet Festival is one of the best festivals in the state, and this year’s installment was no exception.

Both events are among Washington County’s largest gatherings and serve as significant drivers for tourism in the county.