RAYMONDVILLE — Whether it’s African or domestic, whatever is wild is the focus of this weekend in Willacy County.
The 2007 Wild In Willacy Nature & Heritage Festival is expected to draw 5,000 people to the county to celebrate not only its wildlife but its human heritage as well.
Several local ranches will throw open their gates to tours. Visitors can see how these property owners protect and nurture what has grown, walked, crawled, slithered or flown across their land.
In some cases, visitors may catch glimpses of exotic animals such as African antelope like eland, kudo and sable. They have been introduced to the Yturria Ranch and help attract hunters to this area from as far away as Europe.
Other events include: live music, arts and crafts, trade show, photography contests, cook-offs, poster contest, games, and food booths set for today and Saturday at the L.E. Franks Tourist Center, 501 S 7th St. The nature tours continue through Sunday.
2007 Wild In Willacy Nature & Heritage Festival Schedule of Events
Today
7 a.m.: Punta Del Monte Ranch Tour
9 a.m.: Trade Show opens at L. E. Franks Tourist Center
2 p.m.: Corbett Ranch Tour
5:30 p.m.: Port Mansfield Trolley Tour
Saturday
7 a.m.: San Miguelito Ranch Tour
8 a.m.: Cook-off set ups
9 a.m.: Trade Show opens (L. E. Franks Tourist Center)
10 a.m.: L. C. Smith performers
10:30 a.m.: Folkloric Dancers
11 a.m.: Best Western Dressed Pet Show (L. E. Franks Tourist Center)
11:30 a.m.: Chuckwagon Dinner Plate Sale (Historical Museum)
1 p.m.: Musical Entertainment by Grupo Arkko
1 p.m.: Cake decorating contest
1:30 p.m.: Pittman performers
2 p.m.: Hunke Ranch Tour
2:30 p.m.: Musical entertainment by Phillip Thomas Kellogg; cake decorating judging (L. E. Franks Tourist Center); Tae Kwan Do
3:45 p.m.: Folkloric Dancers (L. E. Franks Tourist Center)
4 p.m.: South Texas Venom Dancers
4:30 p.m.: Musical entertainment by Invazzion
5:30 p.m.: Cook-off winners announced
Sunday
7 a.m.: Port Mansfield Wildlife Trolley Tour
