by Brynna Williamson
It didn’t draw in thousands of people for no reason.
Mineola’s Iron Horse Heritage Festival is an annual event, much anticipated and well loved by residents and those living all across East Texas. It’s an all-day celebration that honors the history of the railroad and its impact on Mineola and Wood County, which Mineola Chamber of Commerce organizers say takes months to plan out, book, and troubleshoot.
“As soon as one (year’s Iron Horse) is over, we start thinking about stuff for the next year,” said Chamber of Commerce president, Kelsie McGilvray with a laugh. “When our new board comes on in February, we will split into committees, and then start planning everything for the year… (putting on the festival takes) almost all (of the board members), plus some community members as well.”
History of the Festival
According to Danielle Vance, manager for the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, the Iron Horse Festival seems to have just popped into existence—and boy, are the residents of East Texas glad it did.
While not many seem to know about its origins, Vance recently found that the first Iron Horse Heritage Festival seems to have begun more than 30 years ago, when “a group of ladies got together and did it at the country club.”
“They were like, ‘We need to do something!’ And they put together Iron Horse,” said Vance.
The group, through the Mineola Main Street Program, ran the festival until 2000. In the next year, Vance said that “they gave it to the Chamber so we could use it as a fundraiser.”
Today, the Iron Horse Heritage Festival is still put on by the Mineola, Texas Chamber of Commerce, but it is also supported by many businesses and individuals across the community. Sponsors for the 2024 festival include the Wood County Economic Development Commission, Union Pacific, UT Health Quitman, the City of Mineola, DKT Investments, City National Bank, Domino’s Pizza, and more.
Traditions in Wood County
This year’s Iron Horse Heritage Festival paid tribute to its history as part of Wood County, Texas, with many annual traditions.
Least of these is certainly not the weenie dog races: a crazy tradition that is by and large the people’s favorite. In this hilarious—and often very competitive—event, owners of dachshund (or “weenie”) dogs line up their pets at one end of a “racing green,” then kneel at the other to cheer them on and call them close. The fastest pooch wins.
Of course, Mineola’s Iron Horse Heritage Festival also kept up other traditions, such as the watermelon eating contest (Isaac, the winner in the kids’ division, ate nearly an entire quarter of a watermelon in 30 seconds, despite being on crutches at the time), pie baking contest (s’mores pie, salted maple pie, and ‘mater pie won the prizes), and live music (which was really toe-tapping stuff, too!).
McGilvray said that this year’s festival featured more than 90 vendors, many of whom were small businesses. The event featured booths for everything from skate clubs to cookware to churches, stuffed animals, hair bows, chainsaw carvings, and more.
And then, of course, there was you. And if not you specifically, then a loved one, a friend, or a neighbor. We can say this, of course, because McGilvray estimated that the festival brought in “several thousand” folks from around the community. People drove in from Lindale, Tyler, Winnsboro, and farther to participate in the fun.
“We are (having a blast)!” said East Texas local, Brandi Jodoin, who came to the Iron Horse Heritage Festival for the first time this year. “I mean, everybody comes. We’ve got everybody in the house here—all 12 of us!”
Luckily, the appreciation for the festival goes both ways.
“Oh, yes, for sure (we appreciate everybody coming out to attend),” said Vance. “And that’s why we do it, is to have a big community event where everybody can come out, and parents, and kids, and grandparents (can) all enjoy it!”
Looking Back in Time
You know what the 2024 Iron Horse Heritage Festival was like? It felt like being a kid.
To put it plainly and simply, that’s what it always feels like at this festival. People are around you clapping, cheering, laughing, eating BBQ, or maybe even throwing cornhole bags. Country music swirls in the air. Smells of watermelon and popcorn are drifting everywhere. And everybody has found at least one person to catch up with. People are so happy.
The fun at Mineola’s Iron Horse Heritage Festival was for those of all ages, all experiences, and all economic backgrounds. People weren’t arguing about politics, they weren’t complaining about prices, and they weren’t upset. The Iron Horse Heritage Festival is honestly about the community gathering together for some good, lighthearted fun. And that’s something you just don’t see too often anymore—that is, unless you’re in Wood County, Texas!