Hallsville preps to celebrate its 150th anniversary

HALLSVILLE — The city of Hallsville is gearing up for a big birthday celebration in 2019 as it celebrates its sesquicentennial.

A committee is working to raise funds for the 150th anniversary event, set for Oct. 25-27, 2019.

“It will be a weekend-long event,” said committee member Laura Welch. “A group of us community members have been meeting since spring to begin planning this but we’re really just now kind of getting started on the fundraising.”

The group held a kickoff Gumbo Gala fundraiser Sept. 25 to begin raising money and hosted a booth at this weekend’s Hallsville’s Western Days event as well.

“We are taking tax-deductible donations and people can contact us through our event Facebook page,” Welch said.

The group is conducting planning meetings at 6 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month at Hallsville City Hall, and, Welch said: “Anyone is invited to come to those meetings.”

The celebrations will be at both Hallsville City Park and the open land area across the street from Hallsville City Hall where Shiver’s Snow Cones currently sits.

“We want everything to have the historical aspect in honor of our city’s 150th anniversary,” Welch said. “We plan to have the Native American dancers, antique tractors, a parade, and we will host events with old games and old candy from that era.”

Welch said the committee is still looking for entertainment for the event, such as a live band.

For more information, visit its Facebook page. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to the Hallsville Sesquicentennial Celebration at P.O. Box 116, Hallsville, TX 75650.

Planners have also been working on planning Longview's sesquicentennial celebration, dubbed Longview 150, in the first half of 2020.