The 87th annual East Texas Yamboree will adhere to the Texas axiom that everything here is bigger and better.
The storied annual celebration, which draws about 100,000 people to Upshur County each year, will take place Oct. 16 to 19. And this year, one of its most prominent events 性视界传媒 a barn dance Oct. 19 at the Yamboree Event Center in Gilmer 性视界传媒 will feature Texas country music artist and three-time Grammy nominee Pat Green.
性视界传媒淭his is probably going to be the biggest barn dance that we have ever had,性视界传媒 said Jeff Dodd, a former Yamboree president. 性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檝e never had someone the caliber of Pat Green.性视界传媒
Barn dance ticket sales have been high, and people are enthusiastic for the event, Dodd said. Tickets for the barn dance can be purchased for $25 each in advance at the Yamboree office in downtown Gilmer, 106 Buffalo St. Tickets cost $30 each at the door. Doors to the event at 181 Bob Glaze Drive open at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19.
But the barn dance is only one part of this multi-day festival that has outlived the crop it was created to celebrate: the yam, better known as the sweet potato, which once was a cash crop in the sandy soils of Upshur County.
Livestock shows, a live bandstand, exhibits and a carnival that fills the courthouse square will take place daily. Here性视界传媒檚 a rundown of events by day:
Alissa Everett, 9, left, and Neveah Anderson, 9, share a scream on the Orbiter in October 2015 at the East Texas Yamboree in downtown Gilmer. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 File Photo)
Oct. 16
A broiler show will take place at 7 a.m. at the livestock grounds at Yamboree Park on U.S. 271 N., and a rabbit show is set at 11 a.m. A quilt show will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Redemption Worship Center next to Walmart.
The carnival in downtown Gilmer opens at 6 p.m., and rides will be half-price until midnight.
The queen性视界传媒檚 coronation will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Gilmer Civic Center, U.S. 271 N. near Walmart. This year性视界传媒檚 queen is Katie Ella Henson, a 17-year-old student at Harmony High School.
In this October 2017 file photo, Emily Porter with Harmony FFA, left, checks her phone while Becca Jordan pets Sunny, Porter性视界传媒檚 commercial dairy heifer category entry in the livestock show at the East Texas Yamboree in Gilmer. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 File Photo)
Oct. 17A market swine show will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the livestock grounds. The bandstand on the courthouse square will swing into action at 10 a.m. The exhibit building at Yamboree Park will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the quilt show will take place at Redemption Worship Center during the same timeframe.
The Yamboree opening ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the bandstand in downtown Gilmer at the intersection of Henderson and East Marshall streets. The bandstand will open after the ceremony.
Gowns of Yamboree queens will be displayed at the Historic Upshur Museum in downtown Gilmer at 10:30 a.m., and the carnival opens at noon.
An All-Service Club Luncheon is set at 11:45 a.m. at the Yamboree Event Center. The carnival will open at noon on the courthouse square.
A goat show is scheduled at 1 p.m. at the livestock grounds, and outdoor exhibits will be on display noon to 6 p.m. at Yamboree Park.
The queen性视界传媒檚 coronation is scheduled again at 7:30 p.m. at the Gilmer Civic Center, and the street dance at the bandstand on the courthouse square will kick off at 8:30 p.m. The carnival closes at midnight.
Oct. 18Shop projects will be shown at the livestock grounds at 8 a.m., and outdoor exhibits at Yamboree Park will be displayed 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bandstand opens at 9 a.m., and the exhibit building will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The quilt show will take place at the Redemption Worship Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and queens性视界传媒 gowns will be displayed at the museum at 10:30 a.m.
A school and youth parade is scheduled at 11 a.m. on the courthouse square, and the carnival opens after the parade. A steer show takes place at the livestock grounds at 1:30 p.m., and the commercial dairy show will be at 3 p.m. The junior dairy show will start immediately afterward.
Gospel music will be played at the Gilmer Civic Center from 4 to 9 p.m., and the nightly street dance at the bandstand kicks off at 8:30 p.m. The carnival closes at midnight.
Lady Rajohnna Canady walks during the East Texas Yamboree Queen性视界传媒檚 Coronation ceremony on Oct. 19, 2022, at the Gilmer Civic Center. (Michael Cavazos/性视界传媒 File Photo)
Oct. 19An antique and classic car show will take place 8 to 10 a.m. on East Cass Street, and outdoor exhibits will be on display at Yamboree Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The bandstand opens at 9 a.m. The exhibit building at the livestock grounds will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the quilt show will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the worship center.
Queens性视界传媒 gowns again will be displayed at the museum, and the queen性视界传媒檚 parade will take place at 11 a.m. on the courthouse square. The carnival opens after the parade. The Yamboree Barbecue will take place at Yamboree Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Gospel music will be played at the Gilmer Civic Center from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The 1958 East Texas Yamboree Yam Queen Mary Kirby speaks about the history of the event and her time as the 21st Yam Queen, on Wednesday July 26, 2023, at Gilmer Area Chamber of Commerce. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)
The fiddler性视界传媒檚 contest begins at 1 p.m. on the courthouse square, and the livestock sale at the livestock grounds begins at 2 p.m.
Doors for the barn dance open at 6:30 p.m. at the Yamboree Event Center. The Clay Logan Band will play at 6:45 followed by Joint Custody at 8 p.m. Pat Green will play at 9:30 p.m.
The street dance at the bandstand begins at 8:30 p.m. The carnival closes at midnight.
性视界传媒楾rying new things性视界传媒
Interest in a newer contest, the homemade handcraft contest, has grown, Dodd said. It性视界传媒檒l be in the exhibit building.
性视界传媒淲e are constantly trying new things,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淲e don性视界传媒檛 want it to stay static.性视界传媒
From carnival rides to musical performances, the Yamboree offers something fun for everyone in a hometown country-style atmosphere, Dodd said.
This year性视界传媒檚 Yamboree will have a little less space for families to relax on the courthouse square, however. The lawn of the Upshur County Courthouse 性视界传媒 where families often place blankets to sit a spell beneath the shade of the old trees there 性视界传媒 is unavailable for public use because of the ongoing restoration of the courthouse. Dodd said event organizers are trying to find places where people can sit.
Addison Young, queen of the 86th annual East Texas Yamboree, waves her scepter during a coronation ceremony Wednesday night at the Gilmer Civic Center. The Yamboree, one of the region性视界传媒檚 largest events, is underway in Upshur County through Saturday.
Dodd encourages Yamboree event attendees to visit the livestock show and support local school students who are raising animals.
性视界传媒淲e try to give back to the community as much as we can,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淭hat性视界传媒檚 what the Yamboree really wants to be able to do is to give back to the community, and a lot of that we do through helping the kids to be able to improve their education.性视界传媒 The Yamboree Association awards scholarships to students.
For more information about the Yamboree, visit .
