The Cradle of Texas Chapter #33 participates in many patriotic, historical and civic events throughout the year. Our chapter meeting year runs from September through May, but we do support events during the summer. Additional information on these events is provided in the sidebar and below the following table.
Events In 2017 – 2018
All dates are subject to change
Many of the events listed above occur annually. Sometimes the dates and/or locations of an event may change year-to-year. Below are additional details on some of the events listed above as well as some glimpses of past events.
More Event Details
January
7 January 2018 – Stephen F Austin Funeral Reenactment Take part in a unique event recreating the state funeral of the ‘Father of Texas’. Stephen F Austin died on 27 December 1836 at age 43 in West Columbia, TX. The event begins at 9 AM at the First Capitol Replica, 512 E Brazos Ave in West Columbia, TX with political speeches and a musket volley, followed by a reception at the Columbia Historical Museum, 247 E Brazos Ave., West Columbia, TX. The event continues at noon at the Gulf Prairie Cemetery in Jones Creek, TX with memorial speeches by Sam Houston, Anson Jones, and others, punctuated by a musket volley, Masonic funeral service and a 23-round artillery salute.
26 January 2018 – Mirabeau B Lamar Day Celebration Multiple sponsors. Link Mirabeau B. Lamar is honored as Texas’ Father of Education. Lamar served as second President of the Republic of Texas from 1838 to 1841. During his administration, Congress granted each of the existing 23 counties four leagues of land to be used for education and set aside fifty leagues of land for the development of a university. Lamar supported the Homestead Act of 1839 and, during his term, the Lone Star flag and State seal were officially adopted. Report on 2018 celebration.
February
17 February 2018 – George Washington Birthday Parade, Laredo, TX Link 1 Link 2 The Washington’s Birthday Celebration (WBCA) is an almost month-long event held each February in Laredo, the seat of Webb County in south Texas, that celebrates the birthday of George Washington. It is the largest celebration of its kind in the United States with approximately 400,000 attendees annually. The celebration consists of various festivals; a Society of Martha Washington Colonial Pageant and Ball, Princess Pocahontas Pageant and Ball, two parades, a carnival, an air show, fireworks, live concerts, “Fun-Fest” at Laredo Community College, and a city-wide prom during which many of the Laredo elite dress in Colonial attire. Each year a prominent Laredo man and woman play the roles of George and Martha Washington. One of its main events, the Jalapeño Festival, has recently been named one of Top 10 eating festivals in the United States.
March
2 March 2018 – Texas Independence Day Celebration On this date in 1836, the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed at Washington-on-the-Brazos. The 59 signers met in a large frame blacksmith shop with only cotton cloth over the window openings to keep the cold out. Sam Houston was there along with 58 other representatives, 52 of which were American-born. Many of the signers wished to be at the battlefields, but Houston convinced the signers that this declaration would give them some basis of legality and would help draw more support from the United States.
3 March 2018 – Brazoria Heritage Celebration Sponsored by the Brazoria Heritage Foundation This annual Heritage Celebration in Brazoria, TX typically features a Lead Personality or Group along with a Cattle Drive Parade, Displays of Local Historical Artifacts, Arts and Crafts, Gun Show, Tractor Show, Car Show, Model Railroad Display, Catered Lunch and many other activities.
25-26 March 2018 – Goliad Massacre Reenactment at Presidio La Bahia in Goliad, TX The Crossroads of Texas Living History Association and other historical groups put on a re-creation of the occupation of the Presidio La Bahia by Colonel James Fannin and the Goliad Massacre. Following the fall of the Alamo, the Mexican Army, under the command of General Santa Anna, attacked Colonel James W. Fannin’s men at Goliad. Fannin was forced to surrender. On Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, 320 prisoners were executed, the largest loss of life in the cause of Texas independence. “Remember Goliad!” became one of the great battle cries at San Jacinto. Events: Saturday 25th 9 AM-5 PM, various events and battle reenactments; Saturday 7-9 PM, candlelight tours; and Sunday 26th 10 AM – noon, Goliad Massacre reenactment. Link
April
4 – 7 April 2019 – 124th Annual Convention, Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution, Omni Austin Hotel Southpark, Austin, Texas. Trip Report. Results of the 2018 Oration, Poster, Brochure, Newsletter and Yearbook competitions are listed here. The Cradle of Texas Chapter won a 1st place blue ribbon in the 2018 Digital Yearbook competition.
21 April 2019 – San Jacinto Day Celebration San Jacinto Day is a day of state pride for Texans in the United States on April 21 each year. It commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto between the Texan army and Mexican forces, which took place on April 21, 1836. The battle was a turning point for Texas’ independence from Mexico. Around 1820, the area that is now Texas was part of the newly independent country of Mexico. However, there was a strong push for an independent Republic of Texas so, in 1835, the Texas Declaration of Independence was drafted and a provisional government was formed. This movement was supported by a wave of volunteers from the United States. In 1836, Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna travelled to Texas to bring down this uprising. His campaign started successfully and the Mexican forces regained control of a number of areas, most famously – the Alamo in San Antonio and the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad.
Texan forces led by General Sam Houston fought and won the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, and
captured General Santa Anna afterwards. This event led to negotiations for Texas to become fully independent from Mexico. The site of the battle is now known as the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, which is near the Houston Ship Channel and the Texas cities of La Porte and Baytown. The site features the San Jacinto Monument, which is 570 feet (or about 174 meters) high and the world’s tallest masonry tower.
An annual festival, which includes a reenactment, is held on the site of the battle. The Sabine Volunteers, a reenactment group from East Texas, participate in the San Jacinto Reenactment annually. This group is named for an actual militia group during the Texas Revolution. The reenactment group consists of four members and has appeared on the History Channel. A documentary entitled The Re-Enactors of San Jacinto, directed by Emmy-winner Allen Morris, was released in 2010 and shown on Houston PBS. The documentary details the annual San Jacinto Day celebration and shows the reenactment of the 18 minute battle. Perhaps less remembered in the aftermath of this battle is that the Mexican army still numbered over 4,000 troops nearby. So why was the Battle of San Jacinto so successful for Texas? One reason was the “Sea of Mud”, and accident of nature, located here which helped negate a follow-up engagement by the Mexican army.
San Jacinto Day is also frequently celebrated in other venues and locations around Texas such as this one at the Varner-Hogg Plantation in 2016 and in 2019.
May
Memorial Day Memorial Day is a federal holiday for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. It is observed annually on the last Monday of May. It originated after the American Civil War in 1868 to honor fallen Union soldiers but by the 20th century had merged with competing Union and Confederate holiday traditions to honor all Americans who died while in the military service. Memorial Day is not the same as Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.
June
14 June 2018 – Flag Day Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The United States Army also celebrates its birthday on this date since Congress adopted “the American continental army” after reaching a consensus position in the Committee of the Whole on June 14, 1775. The president of the United States issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day in 1916, and in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, but it is celebrated annually in a number of cities and states across our land.
July
4 July 2018 – Independence Day Celebration Independence Day – the 4th of July – is the National Day of the United States and is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 on July 4 by the Continental Congress. During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain rule. Two days later on July 4, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence which was a statement written primarily by Thomas Jefferson to explain the earlier resolution. Ever since July 4, 1777, American Independence Day has been traditionally celebrated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions and ceremonies celebrating the history of the United States.
On July 4th 2019: Asa Underwood Chapter DAR and Cradle of Texas Chapter 33 SAR co-host a Fun and Food Compatriot and Family Event from 4:30 to 6 PM at Holly Farms in Brazoria. Catered fried chicken dinner, $10/adult, pre-teens free. Flag retirement ceremony. RSVP by 28 June to Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh 979-480-3567 or maryruth@maryruth.biz
On July 4th 2017, Mary Ruth Rodenbaugh, the Asa Underwood Chapter of DAR and the Cradle of Texas Chapter of SAR again host the July 4th Event at her Holly Farms in Wild Peach just outside of Brazoria, TX.
On July 4th 2016, Mary Ruth Rodenbaugh and the Asa Underwood Chapter of DAR hosted joint festivities with the Cradle of Texas Chapter of SAR and guests at her Holly Farms in Wild Peach just outside of Brazoria, TX. There were water slides for the kids, a catered lunch and a flag retirement ceremony.
13 – 18 July 2018 – 128th Annual SAR Congress The Congress will be held at the Westin Houston Memorial City Hotel, Houston, TX . This event is chock full of fun, excitement, festivities, tours for all (ladies and gentlemen!) See the NSSAR link for more information: 128th Annual SAR Congress .
21 July 2018 – Santa Anna Ball Sponsored by the Brazoria Heritage Foundation . Features period costumes, catered dinner, dancing, and live auction with proceeds going to the foundation.
September
16 September 2018 – Texas Navy Day Celebration Celebrate the Republic of Texas Navy at 101 Parkview Road, Surfside Beach, TX 77541. Interact with costumed interpreters and watch period artillery at work. Flag raising at 8 AM; infantry drill at various times; cannon school at 10 AM; ceremony at 4 PM . Phone: 979-864-1541. Time: 8 AM – 5 PM. Check Link for latest information.
The Texas Navy was formed in 1836 under the newly-formed Republic of Texas. For the past half a century Texas Governors have bestowed honorary Admiralships on deserving individuals. In December 2011, SAR President General Ed Butler nominated SAR President General Larry Magerkurth to be commissioned as an Admiral in the Texas Navy. Judge Tom Lawrence endorsed the nomination. For a hilarious report of Butler’s conference call in January 2012 with Governor Perry and Judge Lawrence to review Magerkurth’s qualifications to receive this prestigious award, “click” here.
17 September 2018 – Bells Across America Sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to celebrate the signing of the U. S. Constitution. Our SAR chapter supports the DAR in ringing church bells across America on this day.
17 September 2018 – Constitution Day Constitution Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is normally observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.
October
October 2017 – This is now a past event. The Board of Managers (BOM) Meeting of the Texas Society, Sons of the American Revolution was held in Galveston, TX. For details, please see the Fall Texas Compatriot.
November
11 November 2018 – Veterans Day Parades Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11 to honor military veterans – persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. (Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service).