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“Half Moon Holidays started 29 years ago as a fundraiser for the hospital. A contest to name the event was held and ‘Half Moon Holidays’ was chosen because it best represented the history of our city,” said Irene Cerny, a member of the Shiner Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Shiner began as a railroad stop built in 1887 through land donated by Henry B. Shiner. A post office called “Half Moon,” after an Indian camp site, was moved to the present site. On March 1, 1888, the official name of “Shiner” was given to this establishment.
Half Moon Holidays actually is a continuation from a previously held Independence Day parade and celebration.
“The originators of Half Moon Holidays capitalized on this tradition and it has been expanded first by the Main Street Program and then the chamber of commerce. The parade, live music, cook-offs, kids activities, booths, tractor and car shows, and a fantastic fireworks display sponsored by Spoetzl Brewery all make this event one of the year's highlights,” said Cerny.
This year’s event kicks off on Friday under the shade trees at Green-Dickson Park, a 148-acre facility located at the northwest edge of town on North Avenue B. There will be food and crafts booths, as well as several cook-offs. The jackpot beans cook-off starts at 11 a.m., followed by an open chili cook-off at 12:30 p.m. and a Chili Appreciation Society International sanctioned cook-off at 2 p.m.
Other events during the day include a youth fishing tournament from 1:30 to 4 p.m., a pie contest at 4 p.m., and a pie auction at 6 p.m.
That night revelers can take to the dance floor at the American Legion Hall with music by the Original Moods from 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $10.
Saturday begins with a 10:30 a.m. parade in downtown Shiner. In the park, food and crafts booths will be available and a car show, tractor show, washer tournament and 5K run will also take place. In addition, for the kids there will be pony rides, a petting zoo and games.
The cook-offs also continue. At noon it’s giblet rice, at 1 p.m. is chicken, followed by pork ribs at 2:30 p.m., brisket at 4 p.m. and CASI chili at 6 p.m.
Of course, an Independence Day celebration wouldn’t be the same without fireworks. The fireworks show is scheduled for 9:15 p.m.
Sonny Long is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. He can be reached at 361-580-6585, by e-mail at slong@vicad.com, or comment on this story at VictoriaAdvocate.com.