Vendors offer variety for festival

By Chris Edwards
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WOODVILLE – For many of the visitors, both out-of-towners as well as residents, the Dogwood Festival offers more than the opportunity to relish in the coronation of a new Dogwood Queen, after all, there is also a variety of food, crafts and other goods available.

For the Western Weekend and Queen’s Weekend portions of the annual festival, vendors fill the courthouse square and hawk their wares. Lori Benthall, who serves as the vendor chair and president of Tyler County Texas Business Women, which coordinates the festival vending, said this year there will be all kinds of good stuff available to festival goers.

Benthall said that the money raised from vendor fees goes toward a scholarship fund, which is available for any Tyler County senior girls to apply for. She said that in 2023, TCTBW raised $7,000 from the vendor fees, but “this year I want to beat that goal,” she said.

During the two weekends (March 30 for Western Weekend and April 6 for Queen’s Weekend), the vendors are open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Benthall said that many favorites from years’ past have already signed up. “There’s all kinds of food. It’s just unreal as to what we’ve got,” she said.

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This year, festival favorite foods, such as funnel cakes, shrimp-on-a-stick and fried Oreos will be joined by vendors selling barbecue, tacos, gyros and a hibachi-style food truck.

As far as crafts go, Benthall said all manner of homemade goods, from soaps and jewelry to customized tumblers and knives will be available. There will also be games for kids, as well as bounce houses and a mechanical bull. “We’ll have all kinds of stuff for the kids to do,” she said.

Along with the food and craft vendors, there will also be opportunities for nonprofit organizations to set up. For nonprofits wanting to participate, the point of contact is Tyler County Clerk Donece Gregory, who can be reached at 409-283-2281.

“There’s still some room for vendors, especially for Western Weekend,” Benthall said.

The vendor fees are $45 for one weekend or $75 for both, for crafts and other goods. For food vendors, the fee is $150 for each weekend. Interested vendors can email Benthall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or can call her at 409-377-2161.