The Angelina County Chamber of Commerce began the Texas State Forest Festival in 1938, which was held as an annual county fair event until 1953. With the existing Chamber sponsoring the Youth Fair as part of the event, the Texas State Forest Festival was held on the 30+ acres where Lufkin Middle School is currently located, and drew crowds reaching 8,000!
In 1984, the Chamber board reviewed and revised the Texas State Forest Festival as an annual event, and merged its activitieis with the Southern Hushpuppy Championships in May, 1985. The Texas State Forest Festival moved to its Spetember date in 1988.
Currently, the Texas State Forest Festival draws crowds approaching 30,000 and generates a net profit of $60,000 per year - a tremendous accomplishment for an event less than twenty-five years old!
Annually, the Texas State Forest Festival requires over 300 volunteers working about 2,500 hours to stage the event, and continues to become of the premier annual events in East Texas.
