Each year Port Aransas celebrates its roots with an Old Town Festival. This year due to the rain the popular parade had to be canceled. Also, the sand pumpkin carving contest was postponed Other events went on as scheduled. Here is a photo review of the goings-on.
The sign points the way.
The first stop is The eighth annual Expression Session Surfing Contest. Here you seem some boards waiting for surfers.
The Texas Gulf Surfing Association is here.
A big tent with hot dogs and T-shirts and loud music.
A surfer coming in from the cold under the Horace Caldwell Pier. The Gulf temperature is in the low 70’s
More contestants going out.
A shot of the surfers using the iPhone zoom.
Wading into the cold water.
Have to have a VW camper which doubles as a kissing booth.
Here is the kisser. A little too stiff for my taste. (a manikin)
Type A surfers.
Some young folks getting ready to surf.
An old folk pretty much done for the day.
There is also The Pawesome Doggie Surfing Contest but it had not begun yet. Here are a trio of spectators.
The next stop is the Port Aransas Hurricane Tree Recovery Campaign.
Native Texas tree plantings are free.
Some of the varieties.
More.
All you do is sign in and pick out which trees you would like.
Here is a shot of the Museum where a special surfing exhibit is on display. The sign points to the community center where storytellers are relating Wild Sea Stories which are tales of Port Aransas’ past.
Here is a shot of the community center where the stories are being told and a lunch is being served.
Here is a photo of the Farley Boat Works which was the location for the Barn Dance Saturday night. In addition to a band, there was red or white clams linguine served.
All in all the rain did not put a damper of the Festival.
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Fiction Favorites 
Can’t have a surfing event without the dog category. 😜
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Seems that way.
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I used to surf when I was young and i don’t see any large waves, did they improve during the day? It’s a shame the parade was cancelled, I’ll bet some people plan for that most of the year!!
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The waves were not all that big.
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Great views of the neighborhood, John. I especially love the photo of The Kisser; it’s a classic. The 1972 license brings it all home — oh yes, I remember those days. Thank you for sharing. Hopefully, today is sunny. 🙂
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Thanks, Gwen. There are some who can’t remember those days as well. 😀
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So much to see and do. I love that they give away the trees…that’s nice. Love the old guy! Happy Sunday, John!
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Thanks, Jill.
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It seems like the Gulf temperature is down quite a bit from its summer high. No pictures of food. Shall I assume you skipped lunch and hot dogs? I love how there’s always something going on.
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The temp went down with a cold front.
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A tree giveaway! What a great idea! Storms take their toll on trees and one has to suppose that replanting is something that comes to mind late in the recovery process.
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It is a good idea for sure.
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Free trees. Now that is wonderful! Love the skeleton in the chair. Sign me up for the storytelling!
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I thought of you when I saw the agenda with storytelling included. 😀
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I’m so glad you did. Thanks, John 😀
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And, there I sat in a chair! The cold weather bothered not a hair! ♥
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Billy Ray.
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If a hurricane can’t keep Port A down, then a little rain can’t wash out a festival. I love the community spirit, John. This is such a fun post. Have a sublime Sunday. Hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. Hugs
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Looks fun! Great pics I felt like I was there. The kissing booth cracked me up! Great dolphin statue:)
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I thought you would like the statue. Thanks, Denise.
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🙂
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Another of the many fun events in Port Aransas! It seems like something is going on nearly ever weekend.
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Yes, there is something every weekend.
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It’s been so cold here, I can’t even imagine surfing… then I remembered you were way further south than I 😉 Still temps below the 70’s ain’t that bad…
Love that they give out trees! What a great thing!
Thanks for the tour.
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In your neck of the woods cold is as cold does.
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There is that. You deal with your 100+ in the summer and we deal with our Minus Freeze-Your-Arse-Off!
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…in the winter. As for summer, we’ve been hit with high 90’s and über-humidity….
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The tree giveaway reminded me of the replanting that took place in Galveston after Ike. This time, they got smart and opted for trees more suited to a barrier island than live oak. I loved that skeleton. There’s a jeep running around town here that has a skeleton wrapped around the spare tire on the back. Every time I see it, I laugh. Good to see the water temps down, too. The surfers don’t care, but it sure does mean an end to hurricane season — thank goodness!
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Yes, we love 70 degree water. Thanks, Linda.
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Boss,
Your town has a lot of festivals . . very cool.
And I’m not gonna lie, I thought the kissing booth bandit was a real person! Buahahaha! And I was thinking she looked a lot like Darryl Hannah.
Love the doggie surfing and that tree giveaway is awesome. Wish they would’ve been able to host the sand pumpkin carving . . .
Thank you Mr. Tour Guide!
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Thanks for coming along with me, Marc.
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Always a great time . .
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There’s always something interesting to see and do in your neighborhood, John. Love the idea of free trees — should help immensely if folks will care for them properly. And I got a kick out of that skeleton! Water in the 70s might be considered “warm,” but no way would I want to be in the Gulf on a surfboard at this time of year!
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I would not be in the Gulf no matter what this time of year. Thin blood for sure.
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And I used to love it when I was a kid … before I knew about sharks and undertow!
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I don’t worry about those. Cold water is not my friend.
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HaHa, then Lake Michigan wasn’t a hangout for you, right?!!
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I went in there once. Lasted twenty seconds.
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Looks like a good time. Linguini sounds awesome.
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Especially with a choice of sauces
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Good pictures, John. Those are hardy people surfing in cold water. I’d prefer to watch. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Some did not have wetsuits. Don’t know how they did it. Thanks, Suzanne.
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Love the idea of a kissing booth, John. maybe I should set something up along the lines of ‘hug booth?’ Great to see people being encouraged to plant trees which are free. If only we all planted at least one tree every year. Just imagine how many trees we’d replace.
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Great idea, Hugh.
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Laughed out loud at the type A surfers comment, John!
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I was going to title it “anal retentive surfers” but thought there might have been a loss in the translation. Thanks, Teri
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Awesome photos!! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Jan
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Still looking good, Port A! I like that trees were being given away.
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Port A strong as they say.
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Cute surfer van! Love the old surfer, too. Beach living can be tiring, for sure.
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Sometimes we need a break from the fun. Thanks, Audrey.
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