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Corks & Forks – A Downtown Lufkin Event

By on February 21, 2012 in Annual Events

The 1st annual Corks and Forks took place in downtown Lufkin on February 4th. This new event was held in Abram’s, the fabulous Main Event venue. Corks and Forks was a grand night of food, wine, music, art, and much laughter!

Lufkin’s finest chefs came out to provide samples of their best dishes to Corks and Forks attendees. Paired with these sweet and savory offerings were many different wines – red, white, and sparkling. With so many delicious items to choose from, there was plenty of food and drink for all appetites and tastes.

The Shades of Blue band performed wonderful jazz numbers that urged everyone to sway to the music and tap their toes. Local artists painted items on location, which were then auctioned off to excited bidders.

Participating restaurants included:

Stu and Abner’s Cheesecake . Posados Mexican Café . Grandough Baking Company . Milagros Tea House and Gifts . The Standpipe . Brookshire Brothers . Ralph and Kacoos . Lufkin Coca-Cola

Thanks to all who took part in the very first Corks and Forks. A HUGE thank you to our sponsors, Brookshire Brothers and The Main Event. The event was a tremendous success and served to bring the people of Lufkin together for an elegant evening of eating, drinking, and lots of merriment. We are looking forward to seeing you all next year!

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Growing Up WILD at the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin

By on February 14, 2012 in Annual Events

On January 28th, the Ellen Trout Zoo hosted a workshop for local educators called Growing Up WILD. The workshop was facilitated by Samantha Miller, and showcased an interdisciplinary curriculum promoted by Texas Parks and Wildlife. The goal of Growing Up WILD is to connect children ages 3-7 with nature and the outdoors by providing teachers with resources and ideas to incorporate into their classrooms.

After receiving books for the workshop, the teachers watched demonstrations of and participated in both indoor and outdoor hands-on activities. Ms. Miller incorporated science, art, math, and snack time into the training that day. There were eleven educators who took part in the workshop, and a wonderful time was had by all. Because Growing Up WILD is an accredited program, the attendees were able to receive professional development credit for the 3-hour workshop.

Growing Up WILD is a fantastic learning experience that presents teachers with unique resources that they may not have access to otherwise. The workshop also provides creative ideas to assist them in teaching their students about the beautiful world around them.

For more information about Growing Up Wild or the Ellen Trout Zoo, visit the zoo’s website: Lufkin Zoo, or call 936-633-0399.

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City Spotlight: Ellen Trout Zoo

By on February 1, 2012 in City Spotlight

The Ellen Trout Zoo is another one of Lufkin’s gems and we are proud to feature it on our City Spotlight today. Housing nearly 800 reptiles, birds and mammals from around the world, the zoo provides hours of educational fun for the whole family.

The zoo was founded in 1967 by Walter Trout. It is currently owned and operated by the City of Lufkin, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Animals that zoo visitors may see include DeBrazza’s Monkey, Kestrel, Russell’s Viper, Jaguar, Jamaican Fruit Bat, Galapagos Tortoise, Fly River Turtle, Bontebok, Sulcata tortoise, Ruddy Duck, Malayan Tapir, Spectacled Owl, Chilean Flamingo, Toco Toucan, Saki Monkeys, Cotton-top Tamarin, Alligator, River Otter, Hippopotamus, Bali Mynah, Clouded Leopard, Maasai Giraffe, and White Rhinoceros.

Also nearby is the Ellen Trout Lake, a small lake in Ellen Trout Park, right across from the zoo. Stocked with channel catfish by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the lake is an excellent spot for children to practice their fishing skills with cane pole.

Visitors to the zoo will also have an opportunity to ride the Z&OO Railroad, a pre-Civil War replica train that tours the grounds of the zoo and lake. Children and adults alike will enjoy this fun and exciting experience.

The zoo holds many workshops and events throughout the year, the most recent of which took place last Saturday, January 28th, and was called “Growing up WILD.” An upcoming zoo event is “The Princess and the Frog Party” on February 18th. This party gives girls an opportunity to dress up in their favorite tiaras, have teatime at the zoo, and meet a real frog!

For more information about the zoo and its events, visit the website here: Lufkin Zoo or call 936-633-0399.

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City Spotlight: Atkinson Candy Company

By on January 17, 2012 in City Spotlight

Lufkin is rich with East Texas history, and we are proud of the businesses and companies that have originated here. One of our favorite claims to fame is Atkinson Candy Company, also known as Atkinson’s Candy. Founded in 1932, Atkinson’s is renowned for producing the very popular “Chick-O-Stick” candy. Specializing in peanut butter and peppermint candies, Atkinson’s list of favorites also includes Coconut Long Boys, mint twists, Peanut Butter Bars, and Gemstone Candies. Under family ownership for four generations, Atkinson Candy Company is steeped in tradition. 80 years later, they continue to produce sweet treats, enjoyed by many all over the world.

Atkinson Candy Company, located on 1608 Frank Avenue, is open Monday thru Friday, 8am-5pm. Should you wish to stop by and see Atkinson’s for yourself, or perhaps pick up a fresh batch of peanut brittle, visitors and patrons are welcome. While tours are not permitted at this time, the store showcases a live feed of the production area, so that visitors are able to watch the candy as it is made.

There are many fun and interesting locations in Lufkin, and Atkinson’s Candy Company is no exception. For more information about the candy company or to order some Chick-O-Sticks for yourself, visit their website, or call 936-639-2333.

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City Spotlight: The Museum of East Texas

By on December 28, 2011 in City Spotlight

The Museum of East Texas is committed to bringing cultural development and art education to the City of Lufkin. Through their many programs and exhibits, the MET offers a charmingly creative element to our city.

The Museum of East Texas was founded in 1976, and has continued to grow ever since. In 1972, seven women had the vision and inspiration to renovate the oldest church in Lufkin, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, into a beautiful place for adults and children to celebrate art and history. Built in 1905, the church in which the museum resides is rich with stories of Lufkin’s past, present, and future. The museum’s anthology of paintings and sculptures are the work of a wide range of talent. The locations of these artists range from here in East Texas to all over America, Latin America, and Europe.

Along with art displays, the museum offers quite a few educational programs. Art Camp, a program designed for children to experience hands-on creativity, is offered during the summer months. Super Saturdays are free to the public and provide safe, fun, and family-friendly events such as the Pumpkin Party and Family Day. For students who are unable to travel to the museum, they offer themed Traveling Trunks, which are full exhibits in containers available to educational groups at no charge. Throughout the year, the MET presents an assortment of public lectures and programs for all ages.

Visitors to the Museum of East Texas will be dazzled by its beautiful grounds, gorgeous interior, and masterful art collection. The MET adds another dimension of beauty and culture to the City of Lufkin, and we are proud to call it ours. For more information, call (936) 639-4434 or visit their website, metlufkin.org.

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Texas Forestry Museum: Christmas at the Company Store

By on December 21, 2011 in Annual Events

Lufkin has really been getting into the Christmas spirit this month. Many of Lufkin’s businesses are finding their own unique ways to celebrate in the holiday season and get the community involved.

 

On December 9th, the Texas Forestry Museum hosted its annual “Christmas at the Company Store,” which lasted from 10am-6pm. Patrons received 10% off all purchases, with museum members and volunteers experiencing additional savings. Those who made gift shop purchases were also entered to win a drawing for the grand prize of a gift basket full of holiday treats.

Carolers from Coston Elementary came to participate in the festivities and put everyone in the mood for Christmas with their beautiful songs. Delicious holiday snacks were served all day to shoppers and museum visitors.

The Texas Forestry Museum is a huge part of Lufkin, and all of East Texas. It is a non-profit organization that depends on its members and donors. Events like Christmas at the Company Store help keep the museum open, so that it can be enjoyed by our community. For more information on the museum, visit their website: Texas Forestry Museum or give them a call: 936-632-9535.

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Festival of Trees 2011

By on December 14, 2011 in Annual Events

If you think the only way to ornament a Christmas tree is in traditional red and green, think again. The Museum of East Texas is currently hosting the 17th annual Festival of Trees. In the halls of the museum, you will see every color of the rainbow adorning 90 fully decorated Christmas trees.

Every year during the Festival of Trees, the museum is transformed into a beautiful Christmas tree forest. Each tree is bedecked with baubles galore. The trees vary in size – anywhere from three to 12 feet tall – and are uniquely decorated specifically for or by the tree’s sponsor. Trees can be sponsored by local families, individuals, or businesses. The Lufkin Daily News, Atkinson’s Candies, and Popeye’s are just a few of the businesses represented by their own tree this year.

The Festival of Trees is one of the museum’s largest fundraisers. Donations are accepted and go towards scholarships for Art Camp, as well as other needs the museum may have throughout the year. Children who may not otherwise be able to afford attendance to Art Camp will now have the opportunity, thanks to Festival contributions.

If you’re looking to get into the Christmas spirit, head to the Museum of East Texas. Walking through the halls filled with gorgeously embellished Christmas trees is sure to warm your heart and put a holiday smile on your face.

The Festival will continue from now until January 3rd. For more information, such as hours of operation, visit the Museum of East Texas website or call (936) 639-4434.

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pumping Unit 2011

By on November 29, 2011 in Annual Events
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Pumping Unit is a Lufkin Christmas ritual steeped in holiday cheer and East Texas tradition. For over 40 years, crowds have gathered to watch the lighting of the festive pumping unit, decorated to look like Santa’s favorite reindeer.

 

Brought to us by Lufkin Industries, Rudolph is a full-size Mark 640 oil pumping unit. The unit is fully operational; however, the red paint job is a special touch reserved only for the holiday season. It takes nearly three days for a crew to get Rudolph moved in to his holiday spot in the Lufkin mall parking lot. It takes an electrician about four days to set up the 1,000+ 7-watt lights that adorn Rudolph. When the unit is fully extended, it is 45 feet from top to bottom. Talk about a Christmas miracle! Attached to Rudolph is a 38-foot dump trailer decorated to look like Santa’s sleigh, complete with a wooden cutout of Santa and all of his gifts for the good boys and girls of Lufkin.

 

 

This year, there was a holiday warmth in the air as people interacted with one another in the time leading up to Rudolph’s lighting. The Christmas spirit was palpable and clearly showed in the expectant faces of the children taking in the sights and sounds. Santa was available in the parking lot for photos, and as the children saw him, their faces lit up and there were many squeals of excitement. To bring even more festivity to the event, there were fun foam reindeer antlers for the kids to wear. Santa’s favorite snack, milk and cookies, were provided to everyone by Foremost. As children munched on cookies and craned their necks for glimpses of Santa, Christmastime officially settled over the city of Lufkin.

 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Fuel Pump has become known as the kick-off to the Angelina County holiday season. As an exciting, family-friendly event, the lighting of Rudolph brings the whole community together to begin the celebration of the Christmas season. Let the holidays begin!

 

Photo credit: JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News

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Welcome to our new blog!

By on November 29, 2011 in General

Greetings from Lufkin! We would like to welcome you to our new blog, where we will be posting regularly about our community and the events that are taking place here.

Lufkin is the regional hub of East Texas. Home of many amazing attractions, Lufkin is the perfect place to visit or stay. With a full range of hotels, bed and breakfasts, and camping options, Lufkin can accommodate any kind of trip or vacation. Visitors and locals need never wonder what to do; with our active community event calendar, there’s always something going on in Lufkin!

If the outdoors is your thing, Lufkin boasts gorgeous nature: hiking and biking trails, parks, and more. If you would rather shop than hike, Lufkin has a wide variety

of shopping options, from fun flea market finds all the way to high-end merchandise. For our business travelers, Lufkin has different options to accommodate meetings of all sizes. There are also lots of attractions for the kids, including the Ellen Trout Zoo, with nearly 800 wild and exotic creatures from all over the world. Children and adults alike will love riding the pre-Civil War replica train around the zoo and lake.

A growing retirement population is developing here, and many are choosing Lufkin as the location to enjoy their retirement. Lake Sam Rayburn is the ideal place to fish or enjoy the water. Crown Colony, Lufkin’s beautiful country club, was rated by Golf Digest as the #1 golf destination in the state of Texas. There are plenty of things to see and do.

Thanks for visiting our new blog. We are very excited to highlight the exciting events and hidden treasures of our city. Check back often for news and updates!

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Super Saturday Pumpkin Party 2011

By on November 14, 2011 in Annual Events

On Saturday, October 29, the Museum of East Texas hosted the Super Saturday Pumpkin Party from 1 to 3 p.m. A Halloween-themed event, the Pumpkin Party was a delightful experience for the whole family. Some even came to the museum dressed in their Halloween costumes, ready for fall frivolity!

The museum did a fantastic job of converting their outdoor space into a festival-type area, with multiple stations. There were hauntingly fun games, such as Ghostbusters Bowling and Jack-O-Lantern Bean Bag Toss. If you were looking for the ideal Halloween photo opportunity, there was a ghostly photo board with space to take a comic Halloween photo. The museum also provided refreshments, lemonade and cookies, which were perfect for the sunny day.

The Museum of East Texas strives to offer family-friendly events allowing children to use their creativity, and the Pumpkin Party was no exception. Children were encouraged to tap into their inner artist through face painting, and many enhanced their Halloween costumes through imaginative designs. There was also a sugar cookie decorating station, where children were able to decorate plain sugar cookies with a variety of icing, sprinkles, and other decorations. There were a lot of designers sampling their work! The most exciting part of this event was the pumpkin decorating. Children were able to select a pumpkin and use a variety of craft supplies to give their pumpkin personality and character. There were many different styles of pumpkins, all original and unique!

The weather was gorgeous and there was a great turnout for this event. Thank you, Museum of East Texas, for hosting the Pumpkin Party. This event was open to the public and completely free of charge. Hoping everyone had a safe and spooky Halloween!

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