Joaquin Christmas Festival
November 28th

Joaquin Christmas Festival's First Workday - November 9, 2009
Submitted By: Stacy Taylor
Photo By: Rusty Wilson

The Joaquin Christmas Committee held its first workday in preparation for the 2009 Joaquin Christmas Festival and Lighting. Volunteers worked to repair Christmas lights and decorations.The area known as "Santa Land" will have several new lighted displays this year.Members of the Joaquin Beta Club worked in the Joaquin City Park to place lights and decorations around the Park fence. The first workday was a big success thanks to all the volunteers who turned out. The second workday will be November,14. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help should meet at the Joaquin Fire Department at 10:00am. For more information contact Ann Boyett 269-3957,Gearline Dean 269-3722, or Stacy Taylor 269-3225

The ETCG want folks to know that our Toy Run-Food Drive isn't just for bikers. We invite all of the folks of Shelby County to participate in our efforts to contribute to
helping Gail Samford /Christian Services. All items and monies will be turned over to Ms.Samford to help purchase toys and pajamas!!

We will have booth set up the day of the Joaquin Festival at the cook-off sight We urge everyone to bring us a Toy and-or Canned Food. We will also have a raffle table set up selling tickets on some pretty cool items. Our Cook Team name will be ETCG (East Texas Chopper Guys) Please help us make Christmas alittle bit better for some children.

We would like to urge all the bikers to round up their buddies and come join us in the Christmas Parade.

So, please tell all your neighbors and friends, and lets make this a Christmas in Joaquin that folks will be talking about.

Joaquin Christmas Committee Meeting Results - October 20, 2009
Submitted by Stacy Taylor

The Joaquin Christmas Committee met Monday night at the Joaquin Fire Department. Those in attendance were, Gayle Samford, Brenda Hennigan, Rusty Wilson, Marleena Wilson, Perry Pugh, Gearline Dean, Mandy Cheatwood, Kevin Cheatwood, Dennis Leggett, Cricket Villalobos, Nancy Stevens, George Stevens, Tommy Boyett, and Stacy Taylor. The Committee had many items to address.

Each member of the Committee had a opportunity to express their ideas on new Christmas decorations they would like to see added this year. Kevin Cheatwood is working to obtain a Nativity scene. George Stevens and Perry Pugh volunteered to build outdoor Christmas Decorations. Mareleena Wilson stated that we needed a larger Town Christmas tree this year. Gearline Dean and Tommy Boyett addressed adding more Christmas lights and updating some of our older lights. It was also discussed of placing red bows on electric poles around town and adding light up animated decorations inside the Joaquin City Park. The Committee has 21 signs to be placed around Shelby County and Desoto Parish to promote the Christmas Festival to be held on November 28th.

The Committee voted to make the Bar-B-Que Cook off and Cake Decorating Contest a cash prize competition. The Bar-B-Que Cook off will pay a 1st place prize of $100.00, 2nd place of $75.00, 3rd place of $50.00. The Cake Decorating Contest will pay a 1st place prize of $30.00, 2nd place of $20.00, 3rd place of $10.00.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help decorate Joaquin should make plans to be at the Joaquin Fire Department the first 3 Saturdays in November. For more information contact any Committee member or Ann Boyett 936-269-3957 or Stacy Taylor 936-269-3225.

The Joaquin Christmas Festival Committee is seeking area musical talent for this years festival. We are seeking vocalists, choirs, ensembles, bands, and instrumentalists to perform during the festival. We request that the majority of your performance consist of seasonal music. If you are interested in performing please contact Rusty Wilson by email (rustyw@ymail.com) or telephone 269-3442.

Chicken to be Included in Joaquin Christmas Festival Bar-B-Que Cook-Off - October 6, 2009
Submitted By: Stacy Taylor

The Joaquin Christmas Festival by popular demand has included a chicken division in this year's Bar-B-Que Cook-Off. Entry forms may be picked up at Joaquin City Hall. For more information contact: Stacy Taylor 936-269-3225 or Ann Boyett 936-269-3957

Joaquin Christmas Festival Meeting Results - September 23, 2009
Submitted By: Stacy Taylor

The Joaquin Christmas Committee met Monday night at the Joaquin Fire Department. Those in attendance were Tommy Boyett, Ann Boyett, Kevin Cheatwood, Mindy Cheatwood, Gearline Dean, Pat Gray, Teressa Watson, Rusty Wilson, Marleena Wilson, Jeannie Taylor, Stacy Taylor, Cricket Villalobos, Dennis Leggett, Debbie Dockens, Rocky Curry, Denise Curry, George Stevens, and Nancy Stevens.

This year we have activities planned for families to enjoy all day. We will have an inflatable super slide and bouncer set up in the children's area. There will also be a Christmas train that will give rides to children during the Festival. We have vendors from all over the Ark-La-Tex calling to reserve booths. The East Texas Chopper Guys are planning a food drive for Christian Services. This year we are continuing our lighting and decorating of Joaquin with several new additions. The Christmas Parade is shaping up to be one of the largest Shelby County has ever had.

We are encouraging anyone who would like to participate in this years Christmas Festival to attend our next meeting October,19 at 6:30pm. We have 3 Saturdays in November planned as workdays to decorate the town. The dates are November 7,14,and 21. We will meet at the Joaquin Fire Department around 9:00am.

For more information contact any Christmas Committee member or call Ann Boyett 936-269-3957

Christmas Festival Dates and Times
11-27-09
Open bar-b-que area for participants to set up their bar-b-que pits
Open vendor area for vendors to start setting up their booths
11-28-09
7:00am- Allow participants in the bar-b-que cook off to begin cooking
7:00am- Vendor booths open
8:00am- Sound stage opens
8:30am- Exhibitors may bring their classic automobile,tractor or motorcycle to the designated exhibition area
9:00am- Participants in cake decorating contest may submit their entries
9:00am- Joaquin Christmas Pageant
10:00am-Participants in art contest may submit entries
11:00am-Joaquin Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will start selling hamburger plates
11:30am- Judging of cake decorating contest
12:00pm-
1:00pm-Judging of art contest
2:00pm- Participants in bar-b-que cook off submit their entries for judging
2:00pm -Participants in ginger bread house contest may start submitting their entries
2:00pm- Area will open for children to make their own ginger bread house
3:00pm-Joaquin Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will start selling bar-b-que ribs,chicken,and pinto beans
3:30pm-Judging of ginger bread house entries
4:00pm- Christmas Parade
5:00pm- Awards Ceremony
6:00pm Turn on Christmas lights

2009 Joaquin Christmas Festival Bar-B-Que Rib Cook-Off Rules and Entry Form - August 31, 2009
Submitted by Stacey Taylor

Cooking Rules
Date: Saturday, November 28
Location: Down Town Joaquin,TX
Set-up: Friday, November 27, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Cookers must supply their own pork and beef ribs. All ribs must be turned in by 2:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: 5:00p.m. November 27, 2009

There will be Trophy's awarded to 1st, 2nd,and 3rd place winners in the beef rib and pork rib categories.

1. Teams may start their pits at anytime but no cooking can begin till 7:00 a.m.
2. Cookers may use any type of fuel and charcoal desired.
3. All food is to be handled in a sanitary manner using cooking utensils.
4. Cookers provide all seasonings and “special” ingredients.
5. Cooking teams are responsible for providing any equipment they will need to participate in the cook off.
6. Cooking teams are responsible for cleaning their cooking area before they leave Saturday.
7.At 2:00p.m. all teams must turn in 1 rack of beef ribs and 1 rack of pork ribs to be judged.

Judging Rules

• All ribs must be turned in to judges by 2:00 p.m.

1. Ribs will be judged on appearance, doneness, tenderness and taste.
Judging is double-blind – Names of cooking teams will not be identified to judges.
2. Cookers will pick up an official container by 1:00 p.m. from the judging area . Ribs to be judged will be placed in this container.
3. Deliver ribs to judges at 2:00 p.m.

• This is a blind contest -- the 3 judges will not know the identity of cooking teams. Containers will have two envelopes taped to the outside. Both envelopes contain the same number. Do not open either envelope until told to do so at the awards ceremony at the main stage.
• Opening the envelope prior to this time will result in disqualification.

4. Cookers will bring sealed envelopes to the main stage at 5:00 p.m. Winners will be announced by team number. Do not open envelope until told to do so by contest official.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2009 Official Entry Form

Team Name:_________________________________

Company Sponsor: ___________________________ Head Cook: _________________________________

Email address: _______________________________

Address: ___________________________________

Phone: ____________________________________

Date: Saturday, November 28, 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Downtown Joaquin,Texas
Set-up: Friday, November 27, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Cooking time: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: 5:00pm Friday, November 27, 2009
$25 entry fee

I will enter and agree to be judged in 2 categories Beef Rib and Pork Rib _________.

Contestant agrees to indemnify and hold City of Joaquin, Joaquin Christmas Festival, and its volunteers harmless from any and all claims made against the Joaquin Christmas Festival, including without limitation, all costs, liabilities, judgments, expenses, damages, and attorneys’ fees, arising out of or in connection with (1) any structure erected by entrant, (2) any apparatus, equipment, or personal property used by entrant, (3) any act or omission to act of entrant, its agents, invitees, participants, representatives, employees, servants, and agents, and (4) any claims made on account or resulting from entrant’s participation in the contest.

Head Cook (signature): _________________________________ Date: ________

Mail entry form and $25.00 fee to:
City of Joaquin
PO Box 237
Joaquin,TX 75954

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO CITY OF JOAQUIN

Entry forms may be picked up at Joaquin City Hall on 124 N Preston Street
For Information Call: Stacy Taylor 936-269-3225 or Ann Boyett 936-269-3957

Joaquin Christmas Festival Vendor Booths - August 27, 2009
Submitted by Stacy Taylor

The Joaquin Christmas Festival Committee has vendor booths available for this years Christmas Festival on November 28th. Anyone who would like to reserve a booth should contact Committee member Debbie Dockens at 936-269-3301 or Ann Boyett 936-269-3957