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NEDERLAND — The rides are rolling into town and students will be out of school for spring break next week which means it’s time for the Nederland Heritage Festival.

The festival, which is in its 52nd year, is from March 11 to March 16 on historic Boston Avenue. NHF Executive Director Shannon Hemby said they are looking forward to a great year.

“I think it will be big this year,” Hemby said, adding that Passports to Fun sold out in a record five days. The passport, which grants the holder unlimited carnival rides, goes on sale Nov. 1 for the March event. Per contract with Gold Star Amusements they can sell 3,500.

The festival grounds do not have a gate and entry is free. 

This year’s Cuisine Walk is in the square and all participants are nonprofit organizations — each one offering something different. 

The Craft & Collectible Market, held March 15 and 16, is a popular stop for visitors. Hemby said the craft market sold out early this year and will be completely full on the weekend. 

There will also be live entertainment during the event with DJ John L. Carter, Road House, Curse & the Cure, Pop Gun and Catalina Wine Mixer performing various nights.

“Come on out and listen to the free music, buy some food from a nonprofit and help them raise money for their cause,” she said. 

Cuisine Walk participants

• Nederland/Port Neches Optimist — hamburgers/cheeseburgers, hot dogs, Frito pie, curly fries
• Noon Optimist — corn dogs, fried cheese, nuggets
• Port Neches Knights of Columbus — chicken strips, taquitos, sausage-on-a-stick, egg rolls, shrimp gumbo, apple eggrolls
• Hillcrest Baptist Church — Monte Cristo sandwiches, peanut butter Cristo sandwiches, fried cinnamon balls
• St. Joseph Catholic Church — popcorn shrimp, shrimp fried rice, boudain-on-a-stick
• Nederland Knights of Columbus — shrimp etouffee Italian sausage poboy, corn on the cob, homemade fried fish, donut eclair
• Port Arthur Little Theatre — Scottish eggs, chicken strips, nachos, chili cheese fries, armadillo eggs, snow cones
• Port Neches Rainbow — funnel cakes, frozen pickle juice, pickles, fried Moon Pies, fried funnel bananas
• Nederland Masonic Lodge — hot links, chip beef sandwiches, street tacos, pull pork sandwich, brisket sandwich, smoked chicken tacos
• Boy Scouts Troop 232 —pork kabobs, chicken-on-a-stick, s’mores, pickle juice
• Noon Sertoma — fried boudain balls, blooming onions, Cajun eggrolls, smoked turkey legs
• Nederland Chamber of Commerce — funnel cakes
• Demolay — fried cookie dough, potato bites with toppings, Coke floats
• 1st Methodist Church — strawberry shortcake, pickles
• Wesley Methodist Church — Takis & cheese, Cajun beans and rice, totchos 
• Faith Tabernacle — smoked Zummo links, smoked boudain, peanut brittle, flavor teas
• Nederland Rotary Church — ice cream bars, fried Oreos
• Nederland Girls Softball — cheesecake-on-a-stick, chocolate covered strawberries, Oreo balls
• Mid-County Baptist Church — cake pops, fried pies, Rice Crispies and other baked goods

 

Schedule

Tuesday, March 11

• Carnival — 4 to 11 p.m. Special $30 Armband Day
• NHF Famous Cuisine Walk— 4 to 11 p.m.
• NHF-JK Subaru/Chevrolet Stage — 7 to 10 p.m. DJ John L. Carter

 

Wednesday, March 12

• Carnival — 4 to 11 p.m. 
• NHF Famous Cuisine Walk— 4 to 11 p.m.
• NHF-JK Subaru/Chevrolet Stage — 7 to 10 p.m. Road House

 

Thursday, March 13

• Carnival — 4 to 11 p.m. Special Armband Day $30
• NHF Famous Cuisine Walk— 4 to 11 p.m.
• NHF-JK Subaru/Chevrolet Stage — 7 to 10 p.m. Curse & The Cure

 

Friday, March 14

• Carnival — 4 to 11 p.m. Special Armband Day $30
• NHF Famous Cuisine Walk — 4 to 11 p.m.
• NHF-JK Subaru/Chevrolet Stage — 7 to 10 p.m. Pop Gun

 

Saturday, March 15

• Carnival — 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 
• NHF Famous Cuisine Walk — 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Parade — 10 a.m. Nederland Avenue to 21st Street to 12th Street to Boston Avenue
• Chili Cook-off — Cooking begins  at 8 a.m. at 13th Street and Boston Avenue. Judging will be at 1 p.m. Cups for unlimited tasting can be purchased for $3. Awards presented. 
• Motorcycle & Car Show — 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Boston Avenue between 14th and 15th streets. Awards presented.
• Craft & Collectible Market — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Characters in the Park — Characters  will greet festival guests near the kids rides at 2 and 4 p.m.
• NHF-JK Subaru/Chevrolet Stage — 7 to 10 p.m. Catalina Wine Mixer

 

Sunday, March 16

• Carnival — 12 to 6 p.m. Special $30 Armband Day
• NHF’s Famous Cuisine Walk — 12 to 6 p.m.
• Crawfish Races — Come down and pick out the fastest crawfish. 10 heats with a winner in each heat to compete for the grand championship. Registration 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., entry fee $5. First heat at noon. 
• Washer Tournament — 1 p.m. registration, $20 per team, Tex Ritter Park. Tournament starts at 2 p.m.
• Craft & Collectible Market — 12 to 5 p.m.
• Characters in the Park — Characters  will greet festival guests near the kids rides at 2 p.m.