Madisonville, Texas, is a town of roughly 4,200 residents that's conveniently located halfway between Dallas and Houston. It’s a prime fall vacation destination with a low key vibe, modern activites, and can't miss community events.
The spectrum of things to do in Madisonville is diverse. Madison Lake Park is a must if you're a fan of outdoor recreation. It covers 246 lush acres, including the 75-acre Madison Lake, which is great for scenic boat trips or fishing. You’ll also find great community facilities here like baseball diamonds and a large pavilion area that is available with a reservation. Madison County Museum is a great spot to learn more about the history of the area. This museum is packed full of information and offers you the chance to see how Madison County was formed and changed over the years. The exhibits are hands-on and the museum offers some fresh at various points throughout the year. Even if you’re only mildly interested in history, this is an interesting museum to visit.
Another great aspect to Madisonville is its selection of restaurants. The Texas Legends Steakhouse is a local favorite that brings people in from far and wide. You can enjoy steakhouse favorites, plus delicious seafood entrees and classic southern cuisine. With good pricing and customer service, a trip here is suggested for any foodie. Walker's Cafe is another eating establishment popular with residents that’s a throwback to the classic 50’s-style diners. Its menu contains a wide range of options including burgers, salads, sandwiches, and classic southern dishes. The atmosphere of the cafe is unique with the checkerboard floor tiles, classic table adornments, and vibrant wall decorations. Whether you stop in for a classic milk shake or for a full meal, Walkers Cafe won't disappoint.
Madisonville plays host to a series of great events and festivals throughout the year and one of them, the Texas Mushroom Festival, is returning for its 15th year in the “Mushroom Capital of Texas”. This event brings in over 24,000 people each year from all around the world and has something for everyone who attends. A 5k run/walk is held at 8:00 am sponsored by Texas Pride Trailer and Chi St Joseph Medical Center. You’ll encounter cooking demonstrations where talented culinary purveyors will be showcasing many different mushroom themed meals. A massive artisan/food vendor area will be up and running with over 200 different booths. Auto Showcase will be back this year and you’ll find a variety of different automobiles on display ranging from classic to exotic. This is only a taste of what the event has to offer! Make the journey and find out for yourself why tens of thousands of people annually participate. ResortsandLodges.com got the oppotunity to interview Laura Lawrenz, representative for the festival, to talk about this fungus themed event.
RAL: How long has the event been running?
LL: This year is our 15th year doing the Texas Mushroom Festival. It is an annual event held in October.
RAL: How many annual participants do you draw?
LL: In one day, we draw over 24,000 visitors. People come from all around the world to participate in our event.
RAL: What is the typical demographic makeup of the event?
LL: The event draws draws all ages. We see singles, couples, groups of friends, and families.
RAL: What makes this event unique?
LL: We are the Mushroom Capital of Texas, and that alone sets us apart. We have cooking demonstrations using locally grown mushrooms and a wine tasting area featuring Texas wineries. There will also be a biergarten that serves Texas local brewed ales and beers. This is a celebration of Texas, our community, and of course mushrooms.
RAL: What can attendees expect for activities?
LL: You can start your day with a 5k Shiitake Run/Walk at 8:00 am. As the run/walk is wrapping up, we begin the old-time street festival. We will have live entertainment throughout the festival, over 200 unique food and craft vendors, and an auto showcase that features cars from the 1940’s through 2016. You can vote for your favorite car with the people’s choice award before heading to the quilt show, art and photography contest exhibit, and chef’s cooking showcase.
Make sure to participate in a grape stomp, take your children to the Kids Zone, or stop by the photo booth for a souvenir picture. We will have the wine tasting area where you can sample some of the showcased wines. Admission to the Biergarten or Wine Tasting area is $20/each area or $25 for both. Admission includes a commemorative wine glass and/or beer glass.
RAL: What is the environment like?
LL: The festival is held outdoors in our downtown square and it takes place rain or shine. It’s a safe and friendly environment to enjoy our great festival.
RAL: Our travelers are a segment of the market that seek out unique accommodations...is this what they will find when they come to your event?
LL: We have two local bed and breakfasts: Cabin at Fossil Tree Farm and the Woodbine Hotel. We also have five other hotels in the area.
RAL: Does lodging hit max occupancy during the event?
LL: Yes, the local hotels and bed and breakfasts usually sell out for this event.
RAL: What does this event mean to the community?
LL: This event is tourism at its best. It helps to bring visitors to our area, which most likely would never stop by. We hope that visitors enjoy the community so much that they will come back year after year.
RAL: Does the event support a special cause in the community? (School funds, etc.)
LL: Yes, The Texas Mushroom Festival offers scholarships for local students.
For more information about the Texas Mushroom Festival, please visit their website.