I miss our Festivals (Houston, West: neighborhood, buy, live) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

Thaskateguy · 10-13-2009, 10:43 AM

I miss the old "Houston Festivals" that covered much of downtown, and were Free, and big fun. I miss the old "Westheimer Street festivals", that went from Bagby to past Waugh. I always enjoyed the "Urban Animal Joust." And now, I miss the "Heights festival." I bought My youngest Sons first handmade Hobby horse there. --I have to wonder how things that were so much fun, and drew hundreds of thousands of People just faded away. The "Houston art Car Parade" is about all we have left. And it has changed radically from the first one. We no longer even have an "Art Car Ball" Sad really, but what can ya do?

westres1 · 10-13-2009, 11:16 AM

We still have the Greek,Bayou city Art,Childrens Festival,International Fest,Lights in the Heights,Dickens on the Strand,Mardi Gras and many other smaller fests. Some may not be free but they are out there and alot of fun.
ITA I do miss the original Westheimer Arts but there is no way they would block off Westheimer for an entire weekend anymore.

What happened to my favorite the Italian Fest that was at St Annes?

Oildog · 10-13-2009, 11:34 AM

Neighborhood festivals are great, I miss that from Chicago. Economics are part of it, with all the $$ you need to spend for security and blocking off the streets. Clean up is a big expense too.

Thaskateguy · 10-13-2009, 11:56 AM

Oildog, you seem like a person after my on Heart. Good food, does often a Festival make. Be well.

DJboutit · 10-13-2009, 12:00 PM

There is west fest Free Press Houston it is a decented event if your into punk alternative rock & local dj mixin it up

Thaskateguy · 10-13-2009, 12:17 PM

I like all kinds of stuff. I'm old now, but still young at heart. I just hate to see good things fade away. ---Money is always an issue. But just remember, when we all started those festivals, there was no money to begin with. We all just did them. Streets were not "offically" closed on Westeimer, for several years. People just had a Festival. The "Art Car Parade", was never about money, until the last few years. We all just spent our own money, with no thought of getting it back. The idea, was to share the Joy that is Houston, with Our Neighbors. "Money changes everything"--and not always for the better.

Oildog · 10-13-2009, 12:31 PM

^^Thats what I thought...back in the 90s it seemed like a number of like minded business on Westheimer allowed artists to post their wares in the parking lots of their stores. Streets were not blocked off, and if you wanted a cool drink you went in the restaurants and bars. Win for all. A few artists had live music, usually acoustic, then it grew where there were stages and bands and vendors booths. Sometimes the simple stuff is best.

HookTheBrotherUp · 10-13-2009, 01:26 PM

Too bad it is run by Bill White, and not Italians.

Well, you know what I mean.

This used to be one of my favorites when it was hosted at St. Anne's Catholic Church on Westheimer years ago. Of course, I recall once passing by one of the large buildings where they get food 'prepared'... I peered though the windows and saw huge aluminum trays of lasagna, but next to the trays was a stack of boxes of Jolly Green Giant Lasagna.. probably from SAMS at the time. Oh well, after a bottle of wine, it was very tasty.

Oh, and yes, it was FREE to enter.

EasilyAmused · 10-13-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Too bad it is run by Bill White, and not Italians.

Well, you know what I mean.

This used to be one of my favorites when it was hosted at St. Anne's Catholic Church on Westheimer years ago. Of course, I recall once passing by one of the large buildings where they get food 'prepared'... I peered though the windows and saw huge aluminum trays of lasagna, but next to the trays was a stack of boxes of Jolly Green Giant Lasagna.. probably from SAMS at the time. Oh well, after a bottle of wine, it was very tasty.

Oh, and yes, it was FREE to enter.

LOl. I was going to say the Italian Festival is this weekend at St. Thomas.

Thaskateguy · 10-13-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oildog

^^Thats what I thought...back in the 90s it seemed like a number of like minded business on Westheimer allowed artists to post their wares in the parking lots of their stores. Streets were not blocked off, and if you wanted a cool drink you went in the restaurants and bars. Win for all. A few artists had live music, usually acoustic, then it grew where there were stages and bands and vendors booths. Sometimes the simple stuff is best.

Exactly so. there was also competive pricing. If you didn't like the price of a turkey leg at one place, you were free to shop for lower prices elsewhere. . Good old fashioned competition. Now days prices are set, (and how) and there is no competition. The whole thing is controled by a single Entity. Even discovery Green is like that. Expensive drinks, but yet you must buy theirs. One can not bring their own. I must ask, what difference does it make where we buy our supplies? Somebody is making a little honest profit, due to competition, not a monopoly. ---these are little things, I know, but speak to the intent of the event planners. Festivals were once Celebrations of the People. Now they have become profit makers for the promoters.