Published: October 10, 2008 09:35 am         

29th Annual Crazy Water Festival Saturday

A beautiful autumn day is forecast for Saturday's 29th Annual Crazy Water Festival on the streets of downtown Mineral Wells, beginning at 9 a.m.

Organizers say some 130 vendors will be on hand with food, arts and crafts, games and information. The Brazos River Gunslingers are back, staging their shootouts and running the jail - so be careful or you'll find yourself behind bars for a short spell.

The car and bike show begins today and continues Saturday in the Lynch Building parking lot.

Musical performances will come from two stages - the main Baker Stage and the Garrett Stage.

Once again, Palo Pinto General Hospital will be providing flu shots at the Woman's Club building, cost is $20 or proof of Medicare. If you can't make it inside the building, they will come to you.

Many of the downtown merchants will be open on Saturday, so be sure and browse their stores.

Besides all the activities taking place on the main festival streets, there are activities taking place on the festival's periphery, as well as the two-day Garden Train Festival and 5K run and 2-mile walk at Clark Gardens Botanical Park. Here is a look at some those events and attractions:

FUMC going Crazy
First United Methodist Church Crazy Water Festival. Stop by and check out what we have to offer! Giveaways on the hour! Barbecue lunch, country store, bounce house and kids activities, raffle. There will be something for everyone!

Rock School Museum
The Little Rock School Museum will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. during the Crazy Water Festival on Oct. 11. The museum is located at 105 N.W. 5th Ave., behind the old MWHS building on West Hubbard Street. The museum includes lots of historic artifacts and memorabilia, including a large-scale model of the Hexagon House. Handicap access through the back door.

Creative Art Center
The Creative Art Center will be open Oct. 11, displaying the works of local artists. The center is located at 215 N.W. 5th Ave. Call 325-0829 for more information.

Quilt Show
The Crazy Water Festival is just around the corner. The Mineral Wells Senior Center quilters will host a quilt show for the public that day featuring the products of the “Willing Workers” quilting group.

This will be a fundraiser as well as a treat to the eyes of quilt lovers everywhere. The center will charge a fee of $5 per person for viewing the beautiful “artwork” of the quilters.

The Mineral Wells Senior Center is located adjacent to the historic former high school building, rock schoolhouse and Creative Art Center.

Clark Gardens Botanical Park
Clark Gardens Botanical Park is hosting a fall festival featuring a G-Scale Model Train Show and 5K Garden Run and 2K Fun Walk. It takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, at the gardens located at 567 Maddux Road.

The train show will include hundreds of feet of track and trains provided and operated by the North Texas Railway Club. There will also be showings of classic train movies in the chapel.

The Annetta Valley Livestream Club will have on display their collection of 7.5-gauge scale steam engines located next to Clark Station, home of Clark Garden's permanent garden train attraction that includes 1,200 feet of indoor and outdoor track.

Additionally there will be attractions for children including a pumpkin patch, pumpkin golf and pumpkin painting.

Of course, all of the park's 35 magical acres will be open for touring.

All attractions are free with admission of $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children over the age of 5. Children ages 5 and under are free. The park is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

You must register to participate in the 5K run. Runners and walkers start at 9 a.m. The run starts and finishes in Clark Gardens. Entry fee is $25.

The 2K Fun Walk does not require pre-registration. The $5 participation fee is donated to PTOs of local schools. The walk and run takes places on paved walkways.

To register for the Garden Run or for more information about the run, walk or the attractions and events throughout the weekend, go to www.clarkgardens.com.