Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

The Texas Bucket List – Terlingua Chili Cook-off in Terlingua

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Terlingua – Over the years, I’ve been blessed with bountiful bowls of chili at some incredible places like the Phoenix Saloon in New Braunfels, the Texas Chili Parlor in Austin, and of course, Tolbert’s in Grapevine. Tolbert is a name synonymous with Texas chili thanks to Frank X. Tolbert.

Back in 1967, he helped create the most famous chili cookoff in the Lone Star State, the Original Terlingua Championship Chili Cook-off. “The experience in the desert with the chili out here is just special,” said Patrick Ryan, Frank X. Tolbert’s grandson.

“It’s my middle name. It’s Tolbert.” Really? They gave you his middle name. “Yeah.” Interesting. Had to keep that history going. “Yep. My mom insisted upon it.” And with lineage like that, I can understand why!

Patrick’s grandfather wrote for the Dallas morning news for 40 years, so he knew lots of people and even featured them from all over in his column called Tolbert’s Texas. Sounds familiar! Frank and CV Wood and a New York journalist decided they wanted to have a cook-off between Yankees and Texans to see who could make the best chili.  So in 1967, they came up to desert to hold the event.  In the end, they tied, so they had to do it again, year after year. It became a tradition, and now happens the first weekend of November every year, in one of the most desolate destinations in the whole state. “There’s dancing and there’s a little bit of drinking, a lot of chili tasting. We’re in Texas!” said competitor Steve Gaconnier.

“You’re graded on your aroma, taste, consistency, and color,” Christine Knight said. Christine has been coming to the Terlingua Chili Cook-off since 1998, and in 2010, she took the title. In order to get into the cook-off, you have to have won in the past which gives automatic qualification going forward, or you have to compete at cook-offs year-round in order to rack up enough points so you can qualify to cook. While most cooks compete all year to get this level, Steve Gaconnier doesn’t take your typical path to get to this chili cook-off. “I’m too lazy to do that, so they have what’s called Last Chance Chili, which means, yesterday we could cook, and if we get in or win the top 10, we get in the big show today,” Steve said.

After lots of ladling, sampling, and deliberating, competitors turn their chili, sit, and stew while a team of judges, including yours truly, sample the final entries allowed at the hallowed final table. As the final votes are tallied, a crowd starts to form, eager to hear who will take the title. Steve placed 12th and Christine placed 4th! The first place winner was Gene Moffett with his 48 Volt Maxdale Special Chili from Temple.

As the final night of the Terlingua Chili Cook-off wraps up, Gary P. Nunn takes the stage to put the perfect night cap on a fun-filled weekend. Gary has played at least 40 of the 50 Terlingua Chili Cook-offs, according to Patrick. His iconic chili song really gets the crowd going along with the fun atmosphere with the nice Terlingua sky and delicious chili.

So if you happen to find yourself free the first weekend of November, make your way to Terlingua to experience the largest chili cook-off in the country.

Why do you think so many people have been coming to this for so long? “It’s the camaraderie. It’s the spirit of the people that come out here and run the cook-off. It’s the local community that accepts us with open arms that come out here and drink beer in their desert for a week. And it’s a lot of things,” said Patrick. Viva Terlingua!

The Texas Bucket List – Muy Grande Deer Contest in Freer

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Freer – As the sun dawns on a new day during deer season in South Texas, the long shadows of the winter solstice make finding that big buck in the brush that much more difficult. For some hunters this experience is about getting away and taking refuge from the wintry temps in a blind that’s out of sight from everyone else. Because just being out here is beautiful.

“It’s an addiction, man. I mean it’s South Texas, when hunting season comes, guys will… They’ll drive all night long from God knows where,” said Kenneth Sharber. Sharber runs the Muy Grande Village in Freer.

Situated smack dab between Corpus and Laredo, this specialized store is sort of like a gas station, convenience store, restaurant, feed store, and sporting goods stop all rolled into one. “We’ve evolved from just a little old gas station on the corner of Highway 16 and 59,” stated Kenneth.

This business was started by Kenneth’s father-in-law Leonel R. Garza in 1965 and in order to promote his business, Leonel started a deer hunting contest at his Center Circle Gas Station. “People started making fun of him and calling it the gas station deer contest and that kind of stuff. And then Garza got a little perturbed about that. He didn’t like that. And so he came up with a name, Muy Grande. That name has stuck for 56 years,” explained Kenenth.

Now the Muy Grande is just as big as it sounds, attracting thousands of hunters each year to participate in a hunting contest that’s got a massive reputation. “It’s as big as Texas. And it’s as wide as the Rio Grande,” stated Kenneth.

Back in 1965, Homer Garza won the first contest that was only dedicated to the deer with the largest spread. His prize, Leonel’s old watch. “He had won a wristwatch for selling tires and he gave Homer the wristwatch. That was the first prize that was given. And it’s pretty cool,” said Kenneth.

The prizes have evolved a little bit from that. “Now we give jackets and trophies and plaques. And we have a really nice award ceremony. We give out about 300 trophies and jackets each year,”” stated Kenneth.

The Muy Grande is the Masters when it comes to this sort of competition. The oldest contest of its kind in the world, prizes are awarded for all sorts of crazy categories.  “Men’s, women’s, kid’s, boy’s, girl’s, youth division. We have Pope and Young division, which is a bow division. We have Macho Grande, which is anything that’s got a hole in the ear, tags, any of that kind of genetic stuff. We’ve got out of state. We’ve got Mexico. We’ve tried to accommodate every hunter from high fence to low fence, to Macho Grande, to give everybody a fair chance. And everybody gets competitive. It’s fun,” explained Kenneth.

And with the Muy Grande division, they take everything of your submission into account.  “Yes. It’s all around, yes, sir. When you’re Muy Grande all around, as you can see, like I said, we’ve got the weight, the spread, the points, the left circumference, right circumference. And we add all that together and that gives you the Muy Grande score,” explained Kenneth.

There’s even a husband-and-wife team category. “If you hunt together, you stay together,” joked Kenneth. And a contest for top story. Not like that could be subjective or anything. “Top story of the year, we’re looking for the most interesting thing that’s happened this year and checking it out,” said Kenneth.

Now how do you know if you should enter the one 190 club or the Muy Grande all around division? “Well, the good part about our contest is, when you enter the $25 entry fee, before you kill the animal, it puts you in every category here. So when you bring your animal, it’s up to us. We take a look and see where it’ll fit. So this thing is constantly moving back and forth, which keeps it exciting. Keeps the phone ringing,” explained Kenneth.

This contest in this little Texas town has drawn hunters from every corner of the country and even a few well-known country stars.  George Strait won this competition back in the 80’s.

Well, we had to ask what Kenneth’s favorite part is of hosting this hunting contest.  “The kids, yeah, it’s the kids because you get to see them grow up. You get to see them bring in their animal and they got that first experience. So to me, it’s the family. When you have the hunting family, the hunting world, it’s pretty awesome,” expressed Kenneth.

Even if hunting isn’t your thing, just seeing the sun makes those long shadows across South Texas makes this trip something everyone needs to experience before they kick the bucket. “If you have the opportunity, take it. And I’ve had people say, ‘Well, I don’t like to shoot.’ That’s cool. That’s cool. Go sit in a blind. Go sit out there for a minute and turn your cell phone off and listen to the birds. Listen to the wildlife. Watch the sunrise. Watch the sunset. And you’ll understand it. You’ll understand how the addiction comes,” said Kenneth.

The Texas Bucket List – Main Street Bethlehem in Burnet

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Burnet – On the first two weekends of December, the town of Burnet brings in a bunch of people. Lined up along the city streets, they wait to walk through the gates of a unique holiday tradition called Main Street Bethlehem. “I mean, you’re transported back 2000 years when you come through that gate. It’s just amazing,” said Doug Lindley, the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Burnet, the folks that have been bringing Bethlehem back to life since 1993.

While you won’t hear Aramaic while walking through the city streets, you’ll hear the story of one fateful night that changed the world forever. “You have not heard the news.” No. “My brothers and I, we were tending our sheep in the hills on the road to Joppa, when an angel of the Lord appeared to us and the Glory of the Lord shone all around us. There was light everywhere. We were terrified but the angel told us to be not afraid, that he had good news, tidings of great joy for all mankind. That here tonight in the City of David, the Messiah has been born,” proclaimed a cast member in character. “The cast is unbelievable. They don’t leave. They don’t get out of character. Most of the time they’re interacting with one another. They interact with guests that come in, but they interact in their character,” said Doug.

Roman soldiers, busy taking the census, are constantly distracted by locals talking about the Messiah. “The shepherds in the field are saying that there’s a Messiah being born tonight,” stated an in-character Roman soldier.

Every building has someone unique, telling their particular perspective on what happened when Christ was born.“Oh, we didn’t have any idea whatsoever that it could have developed like this. It was something to keep us busy for a while,” explained Norman Leftwich, the man behind the idea of Main Street Bethlehem.

Norman Leftwich and his wife Frankie were the driving force behind this idea that started with wood framed walls with sheets painted to look like rock walls to what it is today.  A full immersive land with camels, cows, and a crazy amount of detail.“That’s the blessing that we receive is seeing the faces of people who did find that it is unique and apparently there aren’t very many displays like we have here that you can find, done in the way that we do it. We praise the Lord for that and he’s responded,” expressed Norman.

Well into his 90’s, Norman has seen Main Street Bethlehem grow beyond his wildest dreams and before the night gets kicked off, he leads a prayer that is closed out appropriately enough, with the singing of Little Town of Bethlehem. “He’s the hardest worker out here. He’s out here maintaining the facility year-round and doing things year-round, involved in cast recruitment, cast training and very humble about it. But the fact that the Lord used them to do this and that he let him stay long enough to see what it’s become,” explained Doug.

This peaceful Christmas Carol helps bring home the final destination of Main Street Bethlehem.  The stable depicts the birth of Christ. “We consistently as a congregation pray on site at the manger and there’s something about … I just get emotional when I think about it. When you walk through that gate and see that cave and know he really did this. It’s not just a nice story. He really did this. God became human and he didn’t come as a king or a prince. He came as a baby and he wasn’t born in a palace. He was born in a barn, in a stable and laid in a manger. He did that because he loves me,” explained Doug.

“I think it’s just a good grounding moment for Christmas. It just really reminds you of where it all came from,” said visitor Deborah Figueroa.

“It’s not just Christmas and gifts and everything. It’s about Jesus or to believe in God and everything. Yeah. It’s all good,” said visitor Ana Crowell.

While this display is only a recreation, it truly tugs at the hearts and emotions of the faithful.  Whether it’s joy for the season, the excitement of what this moment has meant in history, or the simple flourish of faith that fills you for some reason everyone seems to get something out of this. “I mean the Spirit of Lord came over me and it was just amazing. I just started crying and I went out the gate and I couldn’t even talk to anybody. And I’m just trying to get away because I’m just overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit,” expressed Doug.

But it’s not just the spirit of Christmas that comes over people. For Ana Crowell, it’s a chance to close out the year remembering someone she wishes could have taken this journey with her. “My mother passed away and she has always wanted to come here so today I just fulfilled her… yeah. Yeah, it’s good to be here,” expressed Ana.

While traveling to the Holy Land would be the ultimate Christmas bucket list destination, Main Street Bethlehem does a bang-up job on conveying the true meaning of Christmas. “You know, Christmas has become so commercialized that we forget what we’re celebrating. We forget the reason that we’re celebrating. The whole purpose of Main Street Bethlehem was to refocus our attention on Jesus and the fact that we’re celebrating his birth,” explained Doug.

“You know, I was pretty surprised. It takes you back in time and it’s awesome. We got to see baby Jesus, that’s the best part of it all,” said Ana.

“If you love Christmas? If you love history, this is definitely the place to come,” stated Deborah.

The Texas Bucket List – The Pumpkin Patch at the Dallas Arboretum in Dallas

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Dallas – When the calendar rolls around to October and the chill of the first cold front hits our state, it doesn’t take long for Texans to take things outside to enjoy the crisp air from up north. But if you live in a big city like Big D, finding the perfect stop to enjoy the refreshing revision in the weather could be a bit of a conundrum and fortunately, we found a good place to start.  The Dallas Arboretum.

Rick Williams, a volunteer at the Dallas Arboretum gave us a tour of the oasis and he was excited to showcase this slice of serene scenery in the middle of the city.  “Well I’ve always had an interest in horticulture,” said Rick.

Rick enjoys volunteering out here so much, he took time to earn a degree in horticulture during his retirement. “Now all I do is play golf, play with the grandkids, and volunteer at the arboretum so life is good,” expressed Rick.

We took a tour of the spacious greenery and saw White Rock Lake with the fantastic Dallas building skyline in the background. “It’s an area that has lots of asphalt and buildings and stuff so it’s definitely a place to get away, breathe fresh air and enjoy the outdoors,” explained Rick.

Situated on 66 acres, the Dallas Arboretum is a haven from the heavy traffic around the metroplex, and here the hue is heightened. “Unlike a lot of arboretums, which are pretty much just trees, shrubs, and a few flowerbeds, we specialize in color,” said Rick.

But when it comes to the festive orange splendor that we look forward to during the fall, the Arboretum goes above and beyond. Known as the Pumpkin Village, this annual tradition has been going since 2005. It takes 90,000 pumpkins to create this fairytale land faithful to fall, and it’s an eye full. “We have three different pumpkin houses with a whole variety pack of pumpkins, we have some squashes and gourds. I always thought pumpkins were orange but fool that I was, turns out we have white ones, and ones with stripes so you get a whole variety pack around here,” explained Rick.

Seeing such a diverse and colorful pumpkin patch brings out a bunch of people and they usually have one thing on their mind, pictures. “Well it’s a great place for family pictures you’ll see tons of folks out here taking pictures. They come down here by the ton so this is a family oriented place if it were one,” said Rick.

While we snapped some colorful photos for our social media feed, Rick doesn’t really get into that too much. “No, I try to keep my life simple, golf, the grandkids, then the arboretum. I don’t want to worry about that,” said Rick.

Of course, it doesn’t take posting your pictures to get a positive experience out at the Dallas Arboretum. In fact, leaving your phone in the car and just seeing the sights of a seriously silly amount of pumpkins might be the best way to fully experience this haven in the middle of the city. “It’s a great place for families and it does your heart good to see people enjoying themselves down here. This is certainly a wonderful spot to cross off your bucket list,” said Rick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – The Blueberry Place in Nacogdoches

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Nacogdoches – Amongst the towering trees of east Texas sits a field full of frolicking furry creatures.  Where butterflies gently flap their wings waiting for just the right summer breeze to lift them off for a flight and folks get their fill of fine fruit.  “It’s just beautiful. It’s a beautiful peaceful place,” said Sherrie Randall.  Sherrie owns the Blueberry Place, a farm hidden in the woods near Nacogdoches and we when pulled in to pull some blueberries off the bushes, we didn’t realize how beautiful this place is. “Mm-hmm, they’re very healthy, healthy bushes,” she said.

Before Sherrie was the boss lady at the Blueberry place, she had an aerospace career in Colorado that kept her eyes to the sky. “We work behind the doors… Secret stuff, yes…[Not allowed to talk about it] But it was fun stuff,” she said. Sherrie retired from the industry with her husband in 2001 and they wanted the perfect place to put up their feet. “East Texas is gorgeous and it’s a lot like Denver with the trees…Just flat,” she laughed.  When they found this field full of fruit, they fell in love but continuing to cultivate the crop for the crowds wasn’t something they expected to do. “We weren’t going to keep it, we thought, ‘Well we don’t have to do that, because we weren’t looking to do that,’” she said. Apparently, the town felt a little differently about the fate of The Blueberry Place.

“Closed on this place on a Friday night and Saturday morning there’s all these people out here picking blueberries and it was the Kiwanis club picking blueberries for the pancakes for the festival. It’s like the town’s patch…So we ended up having a blueberry farm,” explained Sherrie.  Overnight, Sherrie and her husband unexpectedly became blueberry farmers. “After we bought this, I answered the phone and this lady said, ‘Are you still open?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ She goes, ‘Oh we heard it was bought by old people.’ And I said, ‘I am the old people, I just have a young voice,’” she laughed.

As summer kicks off in the Lone Star State, people come from far and wide for the few short weeks to take a stroll and get their fill of fruit. “June [is the key time to come]. A lot of times by July 4th we are closed,” explained Sherrie. “[Only about] a month, month and a half… Then I get my privacy back.” While Sherrie jokes about her visitors, if you happen to run across the retired blueberry farmer during your stay, she’ll talk to you till she’s blue in the face because somehow, these blueberries bring people together. “You make a lot of friends, it’s like old home week when people come back… Especially when you get older, we made it another year. So it’s really cool,” she explained.

“It means a lot…for a small town, to have something like this to do,” said local, Britney Castle.  “I can’t really think of not having a blueberry patch down the road,” added customer, Nick Jacobs. “Mid-season are the clumping berries, so you can walk up and just find a big clump and you’ll get several berries at once,” said Sherrie. The bushes at The Blueberry Place aren’t treated with pesticides, so they are safe to eat while you pick.  “They taste like candy, coming off the bush they’re sweet,” said Nick. “There’s a lot of people that don’t realize, they have never seen a blueberry bush and they’re so different. They’re sweeter, especially here,” said Sherrie.

A pound of blueberries will set you back a buck fifty here but remember, you’re doing all the work. “We made everything so it’s self-serve. They drive in and they get their harness, their bucket, their bag, and they go out and do their thing, they pay and they don’t ever have to see us,” explained Sherrie. As you might imagine, this is very popular with the kids, and parents, well they love it too. “We live in town, so it’s nice to come out here and let him [her son] just be in nature really,” explained Britney. “Oh it means that I can wear them [the kids] out and they’ll go to bed early, it’s awesome. And they’re eating fruit, so it’s a twofer on that one,” confirmed Nick.

While it may take a while to fill your bucket, picking and partaking in blueberry binging at The Blueberry Place is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List. “If you can come out here and enjoy God’s creation, this is one of the best places to come do that,” concluded Nick.

The Texas Bucket List – The U.S. Air Guitar Regional Championship in Houston

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Houston—Every June an eclectic gang of curious people come together to celebrate their love of music. They come dressed to impressed because putting on a performance is what this collaboration of creative entertainers is all about. Just don’t expect to see any real instruments. Welcome to the U.S. Air Guitar Regional Championship!

“Texas has some great air guitar players…We have it all,” said organizer Randy Garza. Randy is big fan of Rush and the man who rushes to put this peculiar competition together each year. He’s also known as El Airachi. His alter ego has made it all the way to the National Semifinals in Chicago, a riff away from the World Championship held in Finland every year.

“When I was little, I used to always emulate playing a guitar. My mother, God rest her soul, she used to always say, ‘Someday there will be something that will have air guitar and it will pay off. You will be the winner,’” Randy recalled. The competition at the US Air Guitar is stiffer than the brisk winds coming off the gulf with great competitors like Stonehenge, Wild Child Roshi, Uncle Hot Dog, and even Xena. “I don’t know how to play the guitar,” Xena confessed.

Good news is, she doesn’t have to. These masterful melody imitators take this face off very seriously, even without instruments. “This is something that I love, and something I love to perform, and a friend of mine a few weeks ago said ‘Randy, some people get it, some people don’t. But guess what, a lot of people get it,’” said Randy.

The judges are serious too. Grading presentation, strumming, plucking, picking and playing of an abstract guitar. “I think one of the main things that a lot of our judges really look for is what’s called airness. That is your little unique qualities that no one else is possessing. That evening, or ever,” Randy explained. “The judges will see it and they’ll pick up on it.”
I guess we’ll go ahead and rock on.

“You’ll see people do it, and you’re like, ‘oh, okay.’” Said Patrick Friend. Patrick placed fifth his first time out. “I know some people, I see them try to play air guitar and I’m going ‘Wow, you’ve never even seen a guitar played, have you?’” he laughed. Patrick loves the competition because it lets him let loose and literary throw away the crutches to perform.
“I go by GimpDaddy in the air competition, primarily because I was born with spina bifida,” he explained. “I don’t like to use my handicap to an advantage, but I do understand that it does bring out a certain element that a lot of people aren’t expecting, and they’re like ‘Wow, someone like that did that.’” An extremely tough competitor, Patrick feels the music rush through him and for a few seconds he’s a rock god. “For those of us who didn’t have talent, but still have that appreciation, this is a way for us to perform…It sounds silly, but it’s a thing, and it’s enjoyable,” he said. “You’re like a rock star for just a few moments, you know? If you’ve never been a rock star, if you’ve never been on stage like that, it’s the best feeling,” confirmed Randy.

In the end, it’s a competition and only one can move on to the US Air Guitar National Championship. For a few hours it’s also just a chance for people with regular day jobs to pull a Page, keep up with Clapton, sling some Stevie or act like Angus. They come together for their love of music and leave us all with a feeling like we’re floating on air, making it well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List. “Music has been a huge part of my life, I’m always listening to music, always rocking, and this is just a huge extension of it,” said Randy. “I just have fun, you know? I suck at being a shut-in, and so I get to come out, I get to enjoy music, hang out with people who are just… really good folks, and it’s just fun,” concluded Patrick.

The Texas Bucket List – West of the Pecos Rodeo in Pecos

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Pecos – The sounds. The intensity. The smell. There’s nothing like a rodeo. And if you add the title of the World’s First, then you must be checking of The Texas Bucket List in Pecos.

“It’s just something we like to do, we enjoy it,” Tiffani Rodriguez.

Brenda McKinney is a 4th generation Texan that helps out with the tough task of putting together the West of the Pecos Rodeo, a tradition that can trace its roots all the way back to 1883.  

“The tradition is so rich, and the history goes so far back,” Brenda said. “And rodeo is a sport that’s helping preserve that rich cowboy history.”

This rodeo has been roundup for so long that it takes the championship buckle.

“It all started back in 1883, some local hands that all gathered at a saloon and were talking about who the best roper was, who the best horse rider was, so they decided to set a date and have a competition to see who would earn the rights to those bragging rights,” Brenda said. “They set a date of July 4th, 1883, and had a little competition, and the rest is pretty much history. That’s where it all started. There’s a rodeo in Arizona, and they call themselves the oldest rodeo. They too I believe started around 1883. But I believe it was a little after our rodeo.”

While a rodeo in Prescott held in 1888 is recognized for its prize structure and charging admission, Pecos was still earlier.

“There’s only one place that’s home of the world’s first, that’s Pecos, Texas,” Brenda said.

On the last weekend of June, thousands pour into Buck Jackson Arena to see some of the best bronc riders, ropers and steer wrestlers around despite it being a bit warm.

“And a lot of people said, ‘Why haven’t you moved to rodeo when it’s cooler,’” Brenda said. “Well, that’s a part of the rodeo in Pecos. Everybody expects it to be hot. It’s always this time of the year, people know what it’s like in Pecos, but that doesn’t stop them from coming to the West of the Pecos Rodeo.”

Today, it’s the best of the best that come to Pecos to put on a show that you can get a great seat for.

“They love the huge outdoor arena,” Brenda said. “They love that they can be so close to the ground, to the dirt, to the action. When you sit in some of the box seats that we have, there’s times that you’re gonna have dirt thrown right in your face.”

This one weekend means the world to this town.  A chance to represent who they are and the traditions that have been carried on in this part of the state for a very long time. For rodeo clowns and spectators alike, the West of the Pecos rodeo is a must-see stop on the Texas Bucket List.

“It’s a part of the tradition of the rich ranching history to be able to claim to be home of the world’s first rodeo and have such an event like we have every year,” Brenda said. “It’s something that kinda puts Pecos on the maps, and it’s a piece of history that nobody can take away from us.”

The Texas Bucket List – Washington’s Birthday Celebration in Laredo

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Laredo – Festive, fun, and full of life.  Celebrating is easy to come by in Laredo, Texas. From January to February, Laredo throws a bash fit for a king, though fortunately he rejected the offer. George Washington was the first President of the United States and down in the border town the George Washington Birthday Celebration is a fitting party for a politician that never affiliated with one.

“We know how to have a really good time,” Veronica Castillon, Lifetime Director of Washington’s Birthday Celebration, said. “We have a great time, but tomorrow morning we gotta get up and do it again, so space yourself, space some energy.”

Veronica plays a huge role in this presidential party that’s been a part of Laredo since 1898.  

“Here in Laredo we’re very good about celebrating El Cinco de Mayo and Diez y Seis de Septiembre,” Veronica said. “We do that very well, so now let’s do something that’s American. Why not George Washington’s birthday?”

The celebration started back in February of 1898 when a fraternal organization called the Improved Order of the Red Men captured city hall in a mock battle. The key to the city was presented to the chief of the tribe, who handed it to Princess Pocahontas.  It’s been said that the Sons of Liberty of the American Revolution held the same sort of ritual, and George Washington posed as the Chief. For some reason, this really resonated with Laredo in the 1800’s, and over 100 years later the party has grown.

“We have the nation’s largest and longest celebration of George Washington,” Veronica said. “Freedom and democracy. We celebrate everything he stood for.”

The majority of the celebration takes place in February.  Parties, parades, pageants and plenty of particulars go into this massive celebration put on by the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association, which offices out of a building built to look like Mount Vernon.

“We’ve got to celebrate something in Laredo that’s truly American,” Veronica said. “If you look inside my closet right now, it looks like Uncle Sam threw up. Everything is red, white, and blue.”

The Martha Washington Pageant is a popular part of celebration as young girls from all over the state showcase fashion that is no longer in style but still incredible to see.

“The dresses, those are works of art,” Veronica said. “You know, if it’s velvet and it’s beaded, if those dresses, and the petticoat. Those things weigh anywhere from 50 to 65 pounds. So you have to learn how to walk and move in it. The first time I put my dress on I go, oh how pretty. And then I tried to move forward, and I couldn’t.”

On the final Saturday of the month, hundreds gather on the square in Laredo and march towards Mexico because a celebration of this size just isn’t the same unless you invite your neighbors. The international bridge is closed off to traffic and grandiose displays of patriotism from both sides of the border can be seen. Slowly, delegations from Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo in Mexico make their way to the middle of the bridge. After all the spectacles have subsided, four children emerge.  A boy and girl from Mexico and another pair from the U.S.A. meet in the middle. The future of the two countries aren’t here to debate or to get a look at what life is like on the other side of the border, they’re here to hug.

“To me the bridge ceremony is the heart of our celebration,” Veronica said. “It’s just the way of us every year, announcing to the world, or demonstrating to the world, our friendship. The river that runs through here, it’s not a divider, it’s actually a connector. We drink the same water, we ride the same bridges on a daily basis.”

The children make way for adults, city, state, and even national leaders to exchange flags and do something this world so desperately needs: Take a moment to show a little love for one another.

“We have so much in common with our friends and families in Nuevo Laredo,” Veronica said. “We’re human, we all bleed the same, I like to say. We like to party together. And we like to build relationships. We like to build strong, safe communities for our children and grandchildren.”

The George Washington Birthday Celebration in Laredo is one of kind. It’s a border town with a big place in its’ heart for a man who never even knew what the state of Texas would become.  Somehow, he still brings people together, and being a part of this month long celebration truly is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“I really don’t believe that we’re the only community that has a sister city that maintains a long lasting ties that go back hundreds of years,” Veronica said. “But, we’re probably the only one that demonstrates it so festively as we do here in Laredo during Washington’s birthday.”

The Texas Bucket List – Ugly Christmas Sweater Shop in Dallas

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Dallas – In the Mockingbird Station shopping center, situated steps away from Southern Methodist University, you’ll find a sweater store that’s takes its mission statement seriously:  To provide you with the ugliest Christmas sweater possible, the Ugly Christmas Sweater store in Dallas.

“There’s a lot of variety,” shopper Daisy Orona said “You can’t really find this anywhere else.”

Jeremy Turner is the keeper of the cardigans, and he came up with the idea for the store.

“So about eight years ago, basically I had a mobile vintage clothing store, and basically through that I started selling a few Christmas sweaters and I started seeing how popular they were,” Jeremy said. “At that time, it was really impossible to find Christmas sweaters. You just didn’t come by them, you had to go hunt for them. And I saw that, and I was like, ‘Man, if I could figure out how to find these, I’ll create the first ever Christmas sweater store.’”

Trying to find out where Jeremy turns up all these perfectly repulsive pullovers is part of the wonder of the sweater season.

“You know, I needed to find a lot of sweaters and so I figured that out.,” Jeremy said. “I can’t share that secret, because it’s a trade secret, of course, now. And that’s what I’ll tell the guests, too, because people are so curious because they’ve never seen so many Christmas sweaters. So they’re always like … guests are like, ‘Where did you get all these?’ And I’m like, ‘North Pole area.’”

With over 10,000 sweaters in stock, you can find every Christmas theme imaginable.

“There’s so many unique sweaters here,” Jeremy said. “That’s what blows my mind every year.”

When surrounded by so many sweaters, we have to ask: What exactly makes an Christmas sweater ugly?

“It has to just be something you would never ever wear again, only to an ugly Christmas sweater party,” Maggie Messina said. “It cannot be cute, like it can a little, but it has to have ugly aspects to it. Maybe things sticking off of it, like jewels and pompoms.”

The attraction to the store comes from the incredible quirkiness of its cheerful owner as well as its crazy collection of Christmas sweaters. That love for live and the holiday season is showcased in his commercials which somehow find a way into your soul with some seriously special dance moves. While an ugly Christmas sweater may not be on your holiday wish list, spreading joy, happiness, and the true meaning of Christmas is on Jeremy’s. His emporium is his extension to bring that enthusiasm to the people.

“So Christmas has deeper meaning to me about hope for the world,” Jeremy said.

If you’re looking for a not-so-good looking sweater to celebrate the season, the Ugly Christmas Sweater store in Dallas is a jolly jovial stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“You can for sure to get your Christmas sweater,” Daisy said. “You can’t leave here without one, it’s not possible.”

The Texas Bucket List – The Nutcracker Market in Houston

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Houston – When it comes to the holiday season, finding the perfect gift for that special someone is sometimes a tough thing to accomplish. Thankfully, down in Houston there’s a massive market held every year with things even Santa’s elves would be impressed with, the Nutcracker Market in Houston.

“It’s just a fun, crazy day,” Steph Dewaegener said.

Cecilia Campbell is one of the chairman of the market. She’s been participating in the Nutcracker Market for 14 out of the 38 years that this Christmas custom has been carrying on.

“This is huge,” Cecilia said. “We will probably have over 100,000 shoppers in our four days.”

The Nutcracker market is organized by the Houston Ballet as a fundraiser. What you see today is a far cry from what is was when it commenced in 1981.  

“I believe it’s the biggest Christmas market in the country,” Cecilia said.

What started as a small gathering has turned into a four day extravaganza featuring 270 merchants in the massive NRG arena.  

“It’s chaos to Christmas in a matter of a couple of days,” Cecilia said.

While the flood of folks who like to find good deals seem to be exceedingly female, there are a few fellas you’ll find braving the crowd.

“We do get men shoppers,” Cecilia said. “The majority are women, but we do have a lot of men who come through here. A lot of them are here to carry bags for their wives.”

Jeff Krause is one of the longest tenured trading posts in the market.  His Round Top Collection is a popular stop at the show thanks to its 45,000 square foot showroom.

“We’ve got some fun stuff, but the booth, like I said … it’s the first day, and it’s already torn up,”  Jeff said. “So we will be here probably five or six hours after the doors close just restocking and placing things where they belong.”

Jane Tabbah leads a league of Italian ladies known as Dona di Domani, or “The Women of Tomorrow”. They have a very sought after item at the market: Spaghetti sauce.

“We have made this sauce for over 25 years, and have raised over 2 million dollars on this one project,” Jane said. “And all proceeds, and I mean all proceeds, go to charity. We make a certain amount of jars, and once those jars are gone, that’s it until next year.”

While you can’t try the sauce, this is only a small sample of the insane amount of gifts you can get here.  

“All kinds of food items, clothing, jewelry,” Cecilia said. “If you name something, I can probably tell you if we have it or if we don’t have it. Our goal is to have something for every single person that walks through the door. All of the people here will spend in four days close to 20 million dollars.”

The amount of cash people spend is almost as crazy as some of the outfits you’ll find here.  

“Oh, I know. So we get the … you’ve seen it, we’ve seen the ladies that have all of the matching headbands,” Cecilia said. “We have ladies that make special t-shirts to come to the market. That’s so really they can find each other is the main reason they do that.”

If you’re looking for a merry market with a measureless amounts of marvelous goods, the Nutcracker Market is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“You’ve gotta put on your comfortable shoes, get your list together and come check off everybody from your list as you buy your gifts here,” Cecilia said.