The bloom of Wildfiower Trails Festival ushers in Spring

Rain or shine, the Wildfiower Trails Festival bloomed from April 25 - 27 and East Texans gathered in Hughes Springs to usher in a new season.

For those not familiar with the area, the Wildfiower Trails Festival is celebrated in Hughes Springs, Avinger, and Linden. According to the City of Hughes Springs, it all began in the early 1970s. An East Texan botanist, Peggy Amerson, shared her love of photographing wildflowers in the Hughes Springs, Linden, and Avinger areas. After sharing her slides with the Historical society, she made a statement about wishing that a wildfiower trail would be established.

From there, as East Texans do, people got together to make it happen. Through non profits and charity work, luncheons and organizing, it was on June 30,1970 that the charter for the first Wildfiower Trails of Texas was accepted. The purpose was 'to promote the preservation of native plants for the pleasure of area residents and for tourists in the 3-town triangle in Cass County.”

The first festival was scheduled to be April 28 to May 7,1971. Now, 53 years later, the annual Wildfiower Trails continues.

On Saturday, the festivities came to a peak. The carnival opened, vendors and food trucks galore, the Wildfiower Trails parade made its annual march through downtown, and people came from all over to enjoy every moment.

Not only does the festival bring attention to the flora of East Texas, local businesses get to set up and make a profit to boost the town’s economy. Peyton Mayberry and her sisters started up The Blue Eyed Butterfly three months ago and said she looks forward to Wildfiower Trails every year, especially for food. But she was especially excited for this year, now that she gets to take part, ‘We love meeting everybody. We love seeing new faces and old faces.”

The Blue Eyed Butterfly sells mainly women’s clothes, from sizes small to 2XL. Mayberry said they love selling bright colors and something for every age and size. Their bright pink tent seems to catch every eye at any event they pop up at. Mayberry said their next pop up will be at Cinco de Mayo in Mt. Pleasant.

Another business called Amber’s Bead Box is owned by Amber Caillat, a native of Hughes Springs. Caillat said she makes all her jewelry herself and started her business in 2013. She said it’s her second time setting up at Wildflower Trails and she enjoys being a part of the community event, “It feels good. A lot of local people have kind of noticed me, since I also work with the school locally. It feels good helping the community because you know that what we pay goes to our city and the city uses those funds to help us too.”

If you didn’t get to check out the Wildflower Trails Festival this year, it’s never too late. The event has been going on for over 50 years and not going anywhere. Just like the wildflowers of Texas, East Texans will find a way to bloom in Spring.