CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It's all in the name: when times get tough, Bee County gets busy and a-buzzing.
That's how Western Week – an 86-year-old Beeville tradition – got its wings back just a week after it was cancelled by the Chamber of Commerce.
Anna Marie Silvas, organizer of the closely-associated Bee County Miss Western Week Scholarship Pageant, told 3NEWS that her team – consisting of city council people and other city leaders – was blindsided by the cancellation. By the time word reached them, plans were already set for this year's pageant.
"We were saddened by it because, for one, Miss Western Week is a part of it," Silvas said. "And since COVID has occurred, there's a lot of things that people are trying to rebuild."
Spurred on by determination to keep the tradition alive, the Miss Western Week board set off to rally the troops for a renewed Western Week.
And so far, the makeshift Western Week planning committee's efforts have proven successful.
In just one week, business owners have donated money to cover event costs; artists have taken up the planning of children's activities; country artist Robert Ray has offered to headline the parade day dance, which owners of the Grand Dance Hall have, in turn, offered to host; and of course, phones have rung off the wall with calls from prospective community volunteers. Moreover, the mayor of Beeville and the Chamber of Commerce have both given the event's new organizers their support and blessings.
Alongside the work of putting on Western Week itself, though, is the need to gather a committee dedicated to making sure it continues in the future.
According to Silvas, a Western Week nonprofit akin to Corpus Christi's Buccaneer Commission exists in Bee County, but lacks the people to keep it active. Over the years, the responsibility of planning Western Week ultimately fell to the Bee County Chamber of Commerce.
Silvas, however, is optimistic about Western Week's future.
"I'm very excited now that there is hope for this tradition of Bee County to continue," Silvas said. "There is a new generation coming in, wanting to continue it . . . volunteers that are willing to come forward."
The Bee County Miss Western Week Scholarship Pageant is set to kick off the week's festivities on Oct. 6. The week will then wrap up on Saturday, Oct. 12, with a parade in the morning and a community dance in the evening.
The Miss Western Week organizers are still accepting participants, volunteers and donations for the pageant, parade and community dance. Ideas for other festivities and community activities throughout the week are welcome as well.
You can reach out to event organizers in the following ways:
- Email: Misswesternweekbee@gmail.com
- Phone (Parade): (361) 319-4224 or (361) 358-2000
- Phone (Miss Western Week Pageant): (361) 343-0299
- Facebook message
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