Cannons booming, pirates brandishing swords, Indians lurking, boogie woogie dancers, Sam Houston, Mirabeau B. Lamar and Jean Laffite. You name it! We had it all at the 2016 Jane Long Festival last weekend. The Festival celebrates the courage and spirit of Jane Long and the residents of Bolivar Peninsula. The Festival is held on the grounds of Fort Travis Seashore Park, with the Bolivar Lighthouse in the background on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Friday night, amidst the cool winds blowing in from the Gulf over the peninsula, the chuck wagon circled around to serve up some yummy vittles to the crowds. At 8 pm, three cannon blasts signaled the start of the fireworks show. Jay’s Fireworks from Groesbeck, Texas, entertained us with about thirty minutes worth of beautiful lights in the sky.
Photo by Claudia Perkins
(click for larger view)
Promptly, at 10 am on Saturday, the Re-enactors began shooting off their cannons startling the BEJEEBERS out of us all. Heather Moody sang the National Anthem to officially start off the day. Vendors were set up in a circle around the stage. A Scavenger Hunt was on hand for the young and old, the Treasure Map leading folks off across the grounds of Fort Travis in search of answers on the scorecard – quite a learning experience for all. Bands played all day before and after the play which kicked off at 1 pm.
JANE LONG: A Woman For All Centuries, written by Dr. Melanie Wallace and Linda Elissalde.
(Meet the CAST) What a play! What a fantastic group of volunteers whose efforts and practicing were so obviously apparent. Bruce Haire sang the
BALLAD OF JANE LONG, music by Bruce, lyrics by Linda Elissalde. Thanks to the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation for yet another wonderful event.
Jane Long Festival THANK YOU!
Photos in random order
[10-17-2016]
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Thank you for this wonderful article and lovely pictures. Thanks also to all the people who made this the best Jane Long Festival ever!!! (And they have all been superb.) My appreciation goes to my talented Way Off Broadway Ensemble Players.
It is an honor to be a part of the Bolivar Peninsula Community.
People are so generous. What a delightful place to work and play!!!!
Love and gratitude,
Linda C. Elissalde
Great pictures, Tom! And a huge thank you to everyone who helped organize and conduct this fun festival. Perfect site, perfect weather! (Well, could have been a hair cooler but, hey, it didn’t rain and it wasn’t cold!)
The best part? Our play audience!
BrendaBS