Floresville Peanut Festival
Floresville, Texas

When: early to mid October

Where: Activities take place on the courthouse square in Floresville, Texas.

The town of Floresville, just 30 miles from the Alamo City, may have welcomed such cinematic celebrities as director Steven Spielberg and action hero Jackie Chan over the years, but the true star of this Wilson County community is the peanut. Since 1938 festivities have been held in honor of the town's cash-procuding crop, and today a crowd 15,000 strong flock to Floresville each second weekend in October to participate in old-fashioned, family-friendly festivities held witin sight of the giant nut statue which proudly stands year round on the grounds of the Floresville courthouse.

Events: Just as goofy as its name implies, the annual Goober Games offers competitions and activities for both the young and the young at heart, where families can happily hop toward the finish line in an old-fashioned sack race and energetic imps can try their best to sit still for a moment while an artist paints brightly-colored flowers and stars on their faces.

While there might not quite be 76 trombones leading the big parade, the annual procession that struts at the downtown square captures the nostalgic feel of the famous song from "The Music Man" as the marching high school band, twirlers and the reigning festival King and Queen, dressed in regal regalia, wave to the crowd as they pass by. (Incidentally, the young man who held the title of the first King Reboog was none other than former state governor John Connally, a native of Floresville.)

Festival attendees can also try their luck at a raffle or auction and tap their toes during the Old Fiddler's Contest before moving their feet to the beat of Texas tunes as local bands step to the mic for an evening street dance.

Children's Activities: Little ones can get in on the action with a pee wee-sized parade all their own, while both tykes and teens will enjoy hours of entertainment on the carnival rides.

For more information:

• visit www.floresvillepeanutfestival.org