I am trying to put together a fig gig here in North Texas for late summer or early fall.  Hopefully we will have a 2 day event with activities for the non-figgers during both days.

I have had preliminary discussions with the City of Marshall and it looks real good for their participation.  I am attempting to line up a couple of speakers and vendors for a mini trade show.  Suggestions for events include a judged show for figs and trees, fig recipe cooking contest, a contest for adult fig beverages and family drinks, break out sessions for technical discussions.

I am in discussions with the hotels/motels for discounted rates, we have plenty of floor space for "Baptist bed guests" (for our northern friends that means sleeping on the floor on quilts), LOL

This will be a good thing and should be a lot of fun, if we can do these on a regional basis sooner or later we can do a national event.

Any help with getting vendors or sponsors for this event would be greatly appreciated.  I hope to have a tentative date by end of next week.

Strong work!  Keep us informed.  I'll try to come.

Danny,

This would be great as I always need a good excuse to travel to Texas! Keep us all updated.

Ohh neato!

What is the fee?
Insurance fee?
Vendor fee?
Tent? Size? Color?
North Texas? Like Denton, TX? Dallas? Fort Worth?

I'm already on PA (east coast) fig meet.. June something? Still in the work though...

Good luck

NEW INFORMATION

I now have City of Marshall support.  We are now on the move!  Planning an event for the second Saturday weekend of August 2013. We could possibly move the date to second Saturday of September if there were enough interest.  Events now on agenda include a registration/social mixer on Friday evening, 2 classes for Sat morning, a speaker for Sat afternoon, a judged show for fig trees, a judged cooking contest for figs, and a vendor sales/trade/info area being made available for fig/plant related products.  There will have to be a small rental fee for spaces and a small fee for a buffet lunch for Sat.

There are also a list of activities for the non figgers which will include tours of the Star Family Historical House, an art class party event and there are a couple of other Museums, (one of which is the Texas and Pacific Railroad museum) in town that will be available for visits.  The art class and the tours have small fees but are well worth the money.  Our area also includes 2 wonderful lakes with State parks and wonderful shopping in the Historic Jefferson Antique District.

We are working with the local Hotel association for discounted rates and there a couple of RV parks close to town for those wishing to camp.

We want this to work and hope this would become a stepping stone to a national event.  We are working with a well known charity for sponsorship and all proceeds to got to the charity.  I would also like to have a collection/pledge table for our Fig Foundation with Jon's approval.

Please let me hear your comments as I really don't know what I am doing.

It sounds like you are doing a damn fine job Danny. That's a lot of work already put in. Well done.

Danny, sounds great. I have put it on my calender for the weekend of August 10th, 2013. Looking forward to the "Fig Gig" in Texas. Now I have
three fig trips in the works this summer. Sounds like a figgin good summer.

THX - If you are going to attend pls let me know as soon as possible via email, also, I will have hotel info available for email on request.

Hello Danny, add me to your list of attendees. I'll send you a PM.

I hope to come but I never know. 

I will have info links posted tonight, hopefully.

For a little info on our town

http://www.visitmarshalltexas.org

Danny K:

Looks like you hit the ground, running.  Good luck with this figgy shindig.  No way, no how it can turn out bad.  You will all have a great time.

Frank

do you have the date hammered out yet?

Pretty certain the weekend of August 10, festivities to start on Friday the 9th with early registration and a social mixer.  Saturday evening, the 10th, is the regularly scheduled Vintage Car Cruise In with a lot of nice vintage cars and also some good live music as well.  This a fun street festival, plan on staying over if possible.

Danny - pretty impressive work your doing!  It's a 3 hour trip for me, I won't be able to stay overnight - but a day trip may be possible! 

JoAnn
Hope you can make it

If it still looks like it's going to be August 10th (or at least no later than the August 17th), I'll be there!  I'll bring a few trees for trade.

I think I can make it.

-jbs