Cotton Festival Brings Fun, Community to Miles, Texas

Barbeque smoke and the aroma of brisket could be seen and smelled for blocks during Miles, Texas’ annual Cotton Festival Saturday.

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Above: The mouthwatering aroma of slow cooked beef, chicken, and pork could be smelt from blocks away. (LIVE! Photo/Megan Holmquest)

Folks from San Angelo, Ballinger, and nearby communities enjoyed a day filled with music and barbeque. On one side of the park there were dozens of campsites complete with Yeti coolers, charcoal barbeque grills, tents, and lawn chairs lined one by one as friends and families laughed and enjoyed food and drinks together. It wasn’t uncommon to see young people sitting on the tailgates of the their pickup trucks or driving around in golf carts. On the other side of the park, vendors, churches, and local businesses set up with booths to sell lemonade, sweet tea, pulled pork sandwiches, and different goodies from their various shops.

Across the park, several inflatables were full of children jumping, sliding down slides, and play-fighting with oversized, inflated bats. There was also a rock-climbing wall that children could climb with the help of their parents.

While Cotton Festival is an annual tradition for many families, there are certainly people who only attended for the first time this past weekend. One such visitor was Dale Edwards. Edwards, a native of Brazoria County, but today is a farmer near Eola. He brought his mother to enjoy the festivities in Miles. He said that Cotton Festival reminded him of the county fairs of his childhood, and was also “surprised” to see so many people there, especially children.

“I thought I’d see a bunch of old people,” Edwards laughed.

Edwards also noted that he enjoyed the camaraderie and the friendliness of the citizens of the small town. While his cousin resides there, he didn’t know many people other than family; however, he was happy that “people just came up and talked” to him, and they made him feel “as though he belonged.”

While Cotton Festival is an opportunity for local organizations to hold fundraisers, local businesses are also boosted by the event. Ken Granzin, owner of the Ideal Food Store, and Jordan Sherman, owner of Revival Ranch and Plethora in downtown Miles, both noted that their establishments are traditionally much busier than normal during the Cotton Festival. However, both Granzin and Sherman closed up shop at 5 p.m. because even they desired to enjoy the festivities.

[[{"fid":"15056","view_mode":"preview","type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"The band was Clearwater on Saturday night and hopes were high after last years early cold front took a toll on dance tickets. (LIVE! Photo/Megan Holmquest)","title":"The band was Clearwater on Saturday night and hopes were high after last years early cold front took a toll on dance tickets.(LIVE! Photo/Megan Holmquest) ","height":"2448","width":"3264","class":"media-element file-preview"}}]]Above: The band was Clearwater on Saturday night and hopes were high for a huge turnout. Last years early cold front took a toll on dance tickets. (LIVE! Photo/Megan Holmquest)

San Angelo radio personalities Boomer and Chuck Baker of KGKL and KKCN were there. Baker said that this is “one of his favorite days of the year” and he loves to come out to enjoy the atmosphere.

Thanks to organizers Paula Rankin and Donna Glass, Miles was packed for yet another successful Cotton Festival.