By Sarah Franklin

It is time to start planning the annual Llano County Heritage Day Festival, which will be held Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on and around the Llano Courthouse square, sponsored by Llano Main Street.

Booth applications will be mailed out in the next couple of weeks. The festival is dedicated to Llano County history, as always, so everyone is encouraged to dress in period costume.

The Llano River Chuck Wagon Cook-off will be held that weekend, also. The east side walk way across the Llano River Bridge is now complete, and will give easy access to both sides of the river. Plans are to make this year’s festival bigger and better.

The popular Badland Texas Rangers will be attending this year with historic displays and gunfights. They will also set up a Ranger Camp on the grounds of the courthouse. This group was honored by the State of Texas last year by House Resolution H. R. No 263 as the Official Living History Group for the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.

Tentatively scheduled is a historic Llano County photo display in the courthouse or county library. There will be Red Top Jail tours throughout the day, and of course, good food and music. Main Street hopes local businesses will decorate their store fronts with early day decore.

Welcomed, of course, are new ideas, and individuals who wish to help with the festival. Please call the Main Street at 247- 4158 to volunteer. Main Street intends to make Llano a destination place this year, as people will pick and choose where they want to spend a day or weekend because of high gas prices.

There will be a meeting in the near future to begin planning this year’s event. Put this date on your calendar and help make this festival bigger and better and make Llano the place to be.