BEEVILLE, Texas — A beloved tradition in Beeville is not coming back this October.
Bee County Western Week was canceled this year because there was not enough volunteers and funding, according to officials.
It was once a huge event that people traveled from all over to Beeville for. Now, the Bee County Chamber of Commerce -- who run the event -- is deciding what the best way forward is.
The event used to bring thousands of people to the streets of Beeville for a parade. There was a flyover, hundreds of floats, rodeo, live music, carnival rides and more.
City officials -- some having gone to Western Week since they were kids -- described what will happen now that it was canceled this year.
"It was huge, it was our main event of our community, it was the highlight of the year," Beeville City Council Member Benny Puente said.
Puente said Western Week was one of multiple canceled events this year because of a lack of participation, including some on the Fourth of July.
He said the Bee County Chamber of Commerce has an online questionnaire he encourages people to fill out so they can plan what will become of Western Week in the future.
"They want country music, let's bring country music, they want a, you know, a rock band over here, let's do it, you know." Puente said. "It's going to be something that they want, but they have to participate."
Donna Richmond owns Barbara's Corner Marketplace and moved to Beeville for college in 1979. She said she remembers going to Western Week back then, selling hot dogs with her club.
"That's the Western Week I remember, a parade, a rodeo, a carnival, vendors," Richmond said.
She said organizers of last year's Western Week tried to make it what it used to be, but there were not enough volunteers. She said a new committee could organize the event, which was how it used to be run.
"Look at everything that went right, support that, and be a part of the things that didn't go quite right, helping to make them right the next year," Richmond said.
She said the key to Western Week working again in the future is finding a core group of volunteers from Beeville. She said she would be happy to be one of them.
"I love Beeville, I love downtown, I love community, I love service. I could not say no to that," Richmond said.