Houston School is at 9830 N. County Road 750W, Norman.
Submitted photo
Where else in Jackson County can you find a greased pig contest, horse and wagon rides and a tractor drive all in one place?
The Houston Fall Festival will offer those activities and more Oct. 8 as the small northwestern Jackson County community hosts its annual event.
The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the former school at 9830 N. County Road 750W, Norman.
There also will be food, craft and vendor booths, a bake sale, a raffle booth, shirt sales and music throughout the day.
“There will be a variety of vendor booths at this year’s festival — homemade crafts, rugs, home decor, direct sales companies and flea market booths,” said one of the event organizers, Alisha Griffin.
Vendor spots are still available. To reserve one, call Kodi Clipp at 812-341-1251 or Dulsie Allen at 812-350-2085.
“There is always good food, which is the festival’s main way of raising money to preserve the schoolhouse,” Griffin said.
The tractor drive is set for 10 a.m. For information, call Clint Mann at 812-521-6565.
Register for the greased pig contest at 12:30 p.m. The action will start at 1 p.m.
Plus, a veterans program is planned for 2 p.m. at the shelter house.
The current Houston School building was built in 1910, and the school closed in 1967, Griffin said. The first Houston Fall Festival was in 1995. The year prior, a movie film company approached Houston Christian Church, which owns the schoolhouse, and offered $1,000 for the school so they could burn it down for a movie.
Members of the church voted against selling the schoolhouse and decided to start a festival to raise funds to restore the structure.
“Over the years, windows, ceilings, classrooms, kitchen and restrooms have all been restored,” Griffin said. “Currently, the festival committee’s goal is to repair the roof and the floors.”
The schoolhouse also is available to rent. It has been rented for several family reunions, bridal showers, baby showers and graduation parties and even hosted a couple of weddings.
For rental information, call 812-497-2725 or 801-927-8622.
For other information about the festival, call 812-530-9788.