Historic Downtown Kingsville will play host to several activities this Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the big Ranch Hand Festival.
Friday night’s tree lighting begins at 7 p.m. and will include hot cocoa, coffee, cookies and Christmas music. Merchants along Kleberg Avenue will remain open late Friday night, providing visitors an opportunity to shop for a variety of unique items, including custom-made leather goods, hunting and fishing gear and one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry.
The 28th annual King Ranch Ranch Hand Breakfast will celebrate 165 years in existence. Guests have the rare opportunity to spend the morning on the historic ranch, while enjoying an authentic cowboy breakfast along with roping demonstrations, cowboy poetry and storytelling.
Kinenos, also known as the Kings Men, have been a key part of ranch operations since the very beginning. They will be on hand to showcase their life on the ranch.
After the breakfast, downtown Kingsville will be filled with fun for the Ranch Hand Festival featuring live music, inflatables for the kids, archery and a live alligator. There will also be a Ranch Hand Roundup Car Show.
Make sure to also stroll through the beer garden, and then check out the steam roller printmaking artwork as it’s made during the festival.
Although the festival wraps up at 4 p.m., the fun continues at the JK Northway Coliseum with the Ranch Hand Weekend Country Concert featuring Michael Ray and sponsored in part by KRIS 6. He’ll be performing along with Cameran Nelson and Lauren Corzine.
Michael Ray’s first self-titled album earned him two number one spots on the chart with “Kiss You in the Morning” and “Think a Little Less.” His new single “One That Got Away” is climbing the charts now.
Award-winning Texas Country Music artist Cameran Nelson is also part of the concert line-up. Nelson earned Entertainer of the Year and Country Songwriter of the Year at the 2018 Texas Country Music Awards.
Rio Grande Valley artist Lauren Corzine wraps up the concert line-up and will also perform an acoustic set at this year’s annual tree lighting in historic Downtown Kingsville.
The Ranch Hand Weekend continues through Sunday with a cowboy church service at the JK Northway Coliseum, followed by a family ranch rodeo where Clifton Jansky will perform. The entire family can enjoy activities that include goat dressing, stick horse and barrel racing and a cowboy walk competition.
Tickets may be purchased at Cavender’s Boot City in Corpus Christi, Baffin Bay Seafood Co. in Riviera and The Silver Spur in Kingsville.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.ranchhandfestival.com.
