Bay City Tribune

Festivities for the 64th Annual Rice Festival celebration began on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. with the Little Miss and Little Mr. Rice Festival Pageant, followed at 7 p.m. by the Rice Festival Queen's Pageant in Keye Ingram Auditorium.

The Rice Dish Roundup will follow on Monday, Oct. 12, at the multi-purpose building on the fairgrounds. Contestants will enter their dishes from 9-10:30 a.m. A public viewing will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony.

The gates of the Matagorda County Fairgrounds will open on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m.

"We're excited about this year's festival and we're looking forward to having a record-breaking event," said Ken Head, Rice Festival Chairman.

Thursday night is "H-E-B Night" at the festival, and anyone who wants to attend can get in for free by bringing any H-E-B brand non-perishable item.

Friday, Oct. 16, will be "Friday Night Lights" night at the festival. Anyone who presents a local football ticket or their student I.D. will get in for one dollar. Inside the festival there will be a victory party with DJ entertainment.

Saturday, Oct. 17, will begin with the Queen's Breakfast at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Rice Festival Parade at 10 a.m.

This year's parade theme is "Rice, the International Ingredient."

Entries from various organizations will line the downtown streets for this grand event, along with parade officials and dignitaries.

The gates of the festival will open on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., immediately following the parade.

General admission to the festival will be $3 at the gate. Nightly armbands will be available for $20, while weekly armbands will cost $35.

At 2 p.m. there will be an Auto and Motorcycle Show as well as the presentation of art contest awards.

Window contest awards will be presented at 3 p.m., and live music will fill the beer garden beginning at 9:30 p.m.

The fairground will be filled with exciting attractions including the traditional train and a Coastal Expo Wild Animal Exhibit featuring amphibians, reptiles, and arachnids. Todd Armstrong Shows of Las Vegas, Nev., will be providing the carnival rides and attractions.

Sunday, Oct. 18, the gates will be open at 1 p.m. and close 6 p.m., concluding this years Rice Festival.