57th Annual Texas Rice Festival

2026 Schedule of Events

TRF GOLF CLASSIC
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
Shotgun Start at 8:00 a.m.
Bayou Din Golf Course

6TH ANNUAL TRACTOR TECH CONTEST
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
In the Winnie Agricultural Historical Museum
Starts at 9:00 a.m.

BBQ WEEKEND SPONSORED BY WHATABURGER
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026

12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . BBQ Cook-Off Check-in
8:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jackpot Fajita Judging

BBQ COOK-OFF – AN IBCA SANCTIONED EVENT
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2026

9:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rice Cooking Contest (in Community Building)
11:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BBQ Judging Begins
12:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cornhole Tournament (Winnie/Stowell Park)
3:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washer Pitching Tournament (Winnie/Stowell Park)
6:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2026 Senior Queen Coronation (EC High School Auditorium)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026

5:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gospel Singing Jubilee (Cornerstone Church, Winnie, Texas)

FESTIVAL BEGINS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026

9:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Welding Contest at LIT
5:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vendor Booths Open
5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . Carnival Midway Open
6:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Blessing of the Crops
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Louisiana Landfall
9:00 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Travis Matte

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

4:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Livestock/Ag Mech/Breeding Beef Check In
5:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vendor Booths Open
5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . Carnival Midway Open
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Jarrod Birmingham
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Carson Jeffrey
10:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. . . . . . . . .Dos Borrachos

WHATABURGER PRESENTS “YOUTH DAY”
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026

8:00a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-H & FFA Livestock Show: Steer & Breeding Beef Show
9:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Opening Ceremonies
9:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Diaper Derby
10:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Little Rice Tot
10:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vendor Booths Open
10:55 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Poster Contest Winners
11:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hamshire-Fannett Golden Girls
11:20 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Little Rice King Contest
12:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miss La Petite Pageant
1:00 p.m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . East Chambers Buccadears
1:20 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Little Rice Sweetheart Pageant
2:00 p.m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Junior Queen Pageant
2:45 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Day Parade
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . .Matt Sebastian
8:00 p.m – 9:30 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . .Bottomland
10:00 p.m.- 11:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . Tyler Halverson

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
**YOUTH DAY** EVENTS NOT ON STAGE

8:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . Old Timer’s Breakfast (in Community Building)
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Art & Photography Exhibit (in Community Building)
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . Rice Education Exhibit (in Community Building)
10:00 a.m. – Midnight . . . . . . . . . . Carnival Midway Open

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026
ACTIVITIES IN NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE PARK

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . Doodlebug Face Painting, Hay Play and a variety of free Children’s Games & Activities
1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . Ice Cream Eating Contest

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026

9:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Opening Ceremonies
10:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Parade
10:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vendor Booths Open
11:30 a.m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction of Honorees
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . American Cancer Society Auction
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . .Wayne Toups
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Logan Ryan
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.. . . . . . . . . . . William Beckmann
10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. . . . . . . . .Bag of Donuts

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026
EVENTS NOT ON STAGE

8:30 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Livestock Judging
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Antique Car Show (Northwest Corner)
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Art & Photography Exhibit (in Community Building)
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . Rice Education Exhibit (in Community Building)
10:00 a.m. – Midnight . . . . . . . . . . Carnival Midway Open