The Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin has opened a new exhibition called "Texas Festivals," running through September 27. The show features artifacts from 27 festivals across the state, including a gown from Fiesta San Antonio, a sand sculpture from Sandfest in Port Aransas, an art car honoring Stevie Ray Vaughan from Houston's Art Car Parade, and mascots from the Texas Onion Fest, Hogeye Festival, and Texas State Forest Festival. The exhibition is divided into three sections exploring how festivals create community, and includes a short documentary, interactive activities, and a talk with historian Dr. Michaele Thurgood Haynes on May 3.
The exhibition matters because it highlights the cultural diversity and heritage of Texas through its festivals, contrasting Austin's modern, metropolitan celebrations with more traditional, rural traditions from across the state. By presenting artifacts in both English and Spanish and offering online access to hundreds of items, the museum makes Texas festival history broadly accessible. The show also marks the Bullock Museum's 25th anniversary and reflects a staff-driven choice to create a unifying, celebratory exhibit that underscores the economic and social importance of festivals to Texas communities.