Longneck Wildlife Festival opens for 3 days in Baytown

BAYTOWN – This weekend will see the first annual Longneck Wildlife Festival take place in three different locations, according to Carl Burg, one of the directors of the Festival. Burg spoke to the Highlands Rotary club last week, as part of the promotion of the new event.

He explained that a citizen’s group had decided to stage a large, city-wide spring festival, to promote the idea that Baytown had a lot to offer, and was more of a community than just a “refinery town.”

The volunteer group known as Baytown Outdoor Inc. started planning a year ago, and enlisted a large board of citizens.

The goals of BOI are to promote tourism, and raise money to improve existing outdoor facilities, and to give scholarships to students interested in pursuing field of study related to outdoor professions.

The Festival has been organized around three “venue” areas, which are the Wetlands Center, the Brownwood Nature Center, and the complex around Baytown City Hall and Convention Center on Market Street.

The idea of the show is to combine entertainment and exhibits, and to have family involvement.

The Festival will take place over a three day period, Friday through Sunday, May 13 to 15th.

Family events, exhibits and amusements will be at the Wetlands Center and the Nature Center on Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is free.

The Concerts and Cook-offs will take place at the Community Center and adjacent park, and admission will be $10 per event, or $25 for a 3 day pass.

Concerts and cook-off start Friday from 6 pm to 11 pm, and continue Saturday from 11 am to 10:30 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm.