Toast to Texas to move downtown

Seguin, TX, USA / Seguin Today
Cindy Aguirre

Seguin to celebrate Texas Independence Day
(Seguin) – Celebrating Texas Independence Day on March 2 will look a bit different in Seguin this year.

For years, the annual Toast to Texas program has been held on the steps of the historic Sebastopol House. However, this year, the event is moving to Central Park in downtown Seguin.

The event which raises a toast to Texas’ independence from Mexico is hosted each year by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Abishai Mercer Dickson-Seguin Chapter and the city of Seguin.

Group Vice President, Kreschendalyn Backus, says not only will the event be held downtown but this year’s celebration will include some extra guests and Lil Texan festivities beginning at 11 a.m.

“This year, it is different because it is on a Saturday, and it hasn’t been on a Saturday in years, so we decided to invite and direct some of our activities towards the youngest Texans and we’ve got some booths out. The Daughter of the Republic of Texas, our district, is sending out the traveling trunk which has artifacts and interactive items from that time period of the Republic of Texas. The Magnolia House is coming out with a booth and other historic organizations in our county along with 4H Shooting Sports will have their project on Western Heritage. The county’s Master Naturalists will have a Texas Indian exhibit that they will be bringing out and the art league is coming down to do some arts and crafts with the kids. Teatro is going to dance and perform and their Mariachi at 11:15,” said Backus.

On March 2, 1836, the Texas Declaration of Independence was voted unanimously and signed at Washington-on-the-Brazos by 59 Anglo and Tejano Delegates representing the people of Texas. Organizers say for the past 38 years, the Toast to Texas celebration has traditionally been a short program in which elected officials raise a glass of spring water in celebration of Texas Independence. Backus says this year, the occasion celebrates 188 years since settlers in Mexican Texas officially declared independence from Mexico creating the Republic of Texas.

“At 1:30, the normal ceremony will start with (State Representative) John Kuempel as our MC and Judge (Kyle) Kutscher doing the toast and the goal is always for Judge Kutscher to do the toast around 2 o’ clock. We ask that the churches ring their bell at 2 o’clock for one minute,” said Backus.

The ceremony encourages all residents to come out and celebrate this important piece of Texas history. It also is a reminder for Texans all over the world to recognize the importance of March 2, 1836.

Other participants and activities this Saturday include the Jefferson Drum Corps, the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, food trucks, plus other clubs, artists, and musicians.

To ensure a celebration for all Texans, the group will again partner with Seguin Radio KWED. The radio station will broadcast this year’s program beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The program can be heard

The Lil’ Texans portion of the event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is free.

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