Explore Orange

08/16/2024

3 Bros Running Company is hosting The Big Pumpkin Run 5K during Orangetober Festival weekend! This run will take you through the historic streets of downtown Orange, past the Sabine River, The W.H. Stark House, Lutcher Theater, Stark Museum of Art, Orange Train Depot Museum, and more! After you finish, enjoy a great post-race party with pumpkin treats at the Orangetober Festival at Riverside Pavilion!

Sign up for the Big Pumpkin Run at the following link: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Orange/TheBigPumpkinRun

08/15/2024

Whether you’re day-tripping, ready for a weekend getaway, or a local looking for something fun to do, come Explore Orange with us!

The Explore Orange Convention & Visitors Bureau is excited to present the 4th Annual Orangetober Festival! This event will be held October 4th – 6th at the Riverside Pavilion, located at 708 Simmons Drive, Orange, Texas.

The Orangetober Festival is sure to provide fun for the entire family with a great variety of events, activities, and photo opportunities! Festivalgoers can enjoy tours of the Pumpkin Village with over 10,000 pumpkins, a vendor market, gumbo cook-off, pumpkin pie eating contest, co****le tournament, movie night featuring "Coco," The Big Pumpkin Run 5k, food vendors, craft beer, frozen sangria from Free State Cellars, and live entertainment on the Riverside Pavilion stage by PaperChase, Drew Parker, and headliner Wade Bowen! To close out the weekend there is a Pumpkin Scramble, where eventgoers are encouraged to bring pumpkins home for FREE!

Admission and parking for this event is free, including the live concerts! No dogs, pets, or coolers, but chairs are welcome and encouraged.

For additional information, please contact the Explore Orange Convention and Visitors Bureau at 409-883-1011 or online at https://orangetexas.gov/411/Orangetober-Festival. Follow on social media to stay up to date on all things Orangetober!

Come out for a GOURD time and FALL in love with Orange, Texas!

08/15/2024

The Southeast Texas Arts Council presents “What’s It Worth?”

This Antique Roadshow style appraisal event is taking place on Saturday, August 24th from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Orange County Convention and Expo Center, located at 11475 FM 1442. Appraisers covering a multitude of categories including heirlooms, jewelry, silver, glass, collectibles, fi****ms, documents, furs, memorabilia, and more will be on hand to offer verbal valuations for items presented! Presentations from the experts will be offered throughout the day on a variety of subjects covering preservation, restoration, and identifying items of value. Heritage House of Orange County volunteers will be serving breakfast and lunch concession items available for purchase during the event!

This event is funded in part by Texas Commission on the Arts. For more information about this event, visit the Southeast Texas Arts Council website at:

What's it Worth is an Antiques Road Show type of appraisal event at the Orange County Expo Center, August 24, 2024

08/15/2024

It’s a GOURD time to book your hotel in Orange, Texas for the Orangetober Festival!

On October 4th - 6th, enjoy a pumpkin village, vendor market, live entertainment, and so much more!

08/14/2024

We don’t need a “Mood Ring” to know we’re excited to see Wade Bowen LIVE in concert at the Orangetober Festival! Join us at the Riverside Pavilion on Saturday, October 5th and enjoy live entertainment by PaperChase, Drew Parker, and headliner Wade Bowen!

08/14/2024

Join Free State Cellars Winery on Saturday, August 24th for their annual Community Harvest!

Become a part of the Free State Cellars Family as you enjoy this hands-on experience learning about grape harvesting on a working farm. After some grape picking and grape stomping, savor a tasty brunch and relax with live music in the vineyard.

Visit the Free State Cellars Winery event page for more information on what is sure to be a GRAPE event!
https://www.facebook.com/events/457643873851145

08/14/2024

You better be-leaf it, the Orangetober Festival is featured in the Only In Your State Ultimate Guide to Fall Attractions and Activities in Texas!

Here's your guide for things to do in Texas in the fall, from peeping colorful foliage and punkin' pickin' to can't miss festivals.

08/13/2024

The 4th annual Orangetober Festival is just around the corner, and we couldn't be more thrilled to start making announcements! To kick things off, we have a fun challenge for you. Can you guess who the headliner for this year's Orangetober Festival is? Here are three clues to help you out:

1. Academic Roots: This artist graduated from Texas Tech University in 2001 and performed their first gig while they were in Lubbock, Texas at Stubbs BBQ.
2. Early Career: This Texas country artist released their first album in May of 2002.
3. Recent Work: This artist released their newest album in May of 2024.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates, and get ready to celebrate with us at the Orangetober Festival!

08/13/2024

Join us for a GOURD time and compete in the United Way of Orange County Co****le Tournament during the Orangetober Festival!

Learn more here: https://www.uwoctx.org/upcoming-events

08/12/2024

Carve out some time October 4 - 6 and head to the Riverside Pavilion!

The Orangetober Festival features 11,000 pumpkins, photo ops, kids activities, gumbo, live entertainment, and SO MUCH MORE!

08/10/2024

A pumpkin a day keeps the witches away – spooky season is coming up and we’re kicking it off with the 4th annual Orangetober Festival!

Join us in Orange, Texas at the Riverside Pavilion October 4-6.

08/09/2024

Sign up today for Big Pumpkin Run 5k during the Orangetober Festival weekend!

08/09/2024

In 2013, a local non-profit group raised the funds to restore the train depot building to its original condition. Work crews built a new roof on the structure, exposed the cross-hatched windows on the second story, and returned the building to its original brick color and green trim. The restoration efforts allow the historic Orange Train Depot Museum to be enjoyed by Orange-area citizens and visitors alike!

08/08/2024

Orangetober Festival is looking for retail market vendors!

The Orange Texas Rotary Club will be hosting a retail vendor market on Saturday, October 5th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm during the Orangetober Festival at Riverside Pavilion! To register as a retail vendor, complete and return the vendor application and payment to the Rotary Club of Orange by Friday, September 20, 2024 to P.O. Box 195, Orange, TX 77631-0195. Applications and payment may also be dropped off with the Explore Orange team at City Hall, located at 812 N. 16th Street.

- Rotary Orangetober Festival Vendor Letter: https://loom.ly/vmYMiF4
- Rotary Orangetober Festival Vendor Registration Form: https://loom.ly/s57BEvs

For more information about the retail market, please contact Heather Montagne with the Orange Texas Rotary Club at [email protected].

**The Explore Orange team is aware of scammers posting about Orangetober Festival vendor openings and applications. These accounts are not affiliated with Explore Orange or Orangetober Festival. Explore Orange will not ask for electronic payments, and any information involving Orangetober Festival will come directly from Explore Orange.**

For questions or information about Explore Orange events, please contact us at 409-883-1011.

08/08/2024

Join Free State Cellars Winery on Saturday, August 10th and August 24th for their annual Community Harvest!

Become a part of the Free State Cellars Family as you enjoy this hands-on experience learning about grape harvesting on a working farm. After some grape picking and grape stomping, savor a tasty brunch and relax with live music in the vineyard.

Visit the Free State Cellars event page for more information on what is sure to be a GRAPE event!
https://www.facebook.com/events/431300139887496

08/07/2024

Get ready for some live music this Saturday, August 10th at Blues Fest!

Hosted by the Stars of Gate City # 57 and Gate City Guild # 42, this event is free and fun for the whole family! Head out to the Riverside Pavilion at 708 Simmons Drive for the Wipe & Shine Car Show and a full day of live music!

Visit the Blues Festival 2024 event page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/741648981127218/?ref=newsfeed

08/06/2024

Is your little pumpkin the cutest in the patch?

Show us photos below of you and your little pumpkins from last year – be sure to snap a few more in 2024 to see how much they’ve grown!

08/04/2024

Hosted by 3 Bros Running Company, the Big Pumpkin Run 5K will take you through the historic streets of Orange. You will see such sites as the Sabine River, the historic Stark House, Lutcher Theater, Stark museum, and the Orange Train Depot Museum on this one looped course.

After you finish enjoy a great post race party with pumpkin treats at the Riverside Pavilion.

Sign up here!
https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Orange/TheBigPumpkinRun

08/02/2024

From the b-autumn of our hearts, you won’t want to miss the Orangetober Festival this fall.

07/30/2024

Hey gourd-geous, don't leaf it to chance! Plan your visit to Orange, Texas this October!

Book your trip October 4-6 and join us for the 4th annual Orangetober Festival!

07/26/2024

FALL-elujah! The Orangetober Festival is coming back to downtown Orange this October!

Mark your calendars for October 4-6, it’s sure to be a gourd time.

07/23/2024

Orangetober is coming back bigger and better than ever in 2024! Carve out some time to have a little fun in the pumpkin village.

Pumpkin village, the Big Pumpkin Run, vendor market, gumbo cookoff, co****le tournament, pumpkin pie eating contest, and so much more.

Stay tuned for additional details in the weeks to come!

07/21/2024

Hey pumpkin, there is still PLENTY of time to plan your visit to Orange, Texas!

Book your trip October 4 - 6 and join us for the 4th annual Orangetober Festival!

07/19/2024

The Orangetober Festival is calling you to gourdgeous Orange, Texas this fall!

07/11/2024

Congratulations, Ronnie!

On July 9th, City Council unanimously voted to appoint Ronnie A.E. Crockett to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board. This advisory board assists the City in the proper operation of the CVB by making recommendations for the expenditure of hotel/motel tax revenues to encourage tourism within the City of Orange. As the Head Pastor at Mt. Olive Baptist Church and a resident of Orange for 35 years, Ronnie is a community leader and mentor and has provided guidance and support to many in the community.

Congratulations, Ronnie!

Pictured L to R: Rev. Ronnie Crockett and Dr. Suzanne Crockett

07/11/2024

United Way of Orange County presents Pete’s Dueling Pianos!

Join United Way of Orange County for live entertainment with Pete’s Dueling Pianos, a delicious meal catered by Old Orange Cafe, and a live and silent auction! This fun event will be held on Saturday, July 20th at 6:30 pm at the VFW Post 2775 - Orange TX - All American Post at 5195 N. 16th Street (Hwy 87) in Orange. Tickets will not be sold at the door, so call 409-883-3591 or email [email protected] by July 15th to reserve your $100 individual ticket. Visit www.uwoctx.org for more information about this event!

07/10/2024

Reminder: Applications are due this Friday, July 12th!

The City of Orange Hotel/Motel Tax committee has released applications for non-profit entities within the City of Orange to apply for a portion of the City’s Hotel/Motel Tax funds. Any 501 (C) organization in the City of Orange that attracts visitors to the City of Orange, Texas can submit applications to the committee. Under Section 351.101 (b) of the Texas Tax Code, revenue from the municipal hotel occupancy tax may be used ONLY to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry.

The application and guidelines are available on the City of Orange website at https://orangetexas.gov/157/Convention-Visitors-Bureau. Applications will be accepted May 20, 2024 through July 12, 2024 at 5 P.M. Applied funds must be for activities occurring October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.

For additional information, please contact Divon Williams at 409-221-3344 or by email at [email protected].

07/10/2024

Congratulations, Brittney!

On July 9th, City Council unanimously voted to appoint Brittney Chandler to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board. This advisory board assists the City in the proper operation of the CVB by making recommendations for the expenditure of hotel/motel tax revenues to encourage tourism within the City of Orange. Brittney serves as the Executive Pastor at Life Church and has made significant contributions to other boards in the community, including Meals on Wheels.

Congratulations Brittney!

05/10/2024

The Rock the River and DSRA Boat Races weekend was awesome!

Mayor Larry Spears Jr. and representatives from DSRA made opening remarks to launch the 3-day event, with a live music concert lineup, drag boat races, tasty food, and family-friendly activities, making for a perfect weekend by the water!

Throughout the weekend, event-goers rocked to the rhythm of live music, ranging from zydeco and beach beats to country and rock ‘n roll, while savoring delicious food from various food vendors and experiencing the thrill of high-speed drag boat races! Thank you to everyone who participated and rocked the river with us!

DSRA Boat Racing photos by Heather Ledet