East Texas

By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer

This weekend, Hawkins residents will commemorate the era when their community was a part of a great oil boom.

Each year, the Hawkins Oil Festival brings in about 3,000-4,000 people to celebrate a key time in the town's past -- 1940.

This year marks the 28th year Hawkins has held the celebration. It is to begin at 7 a.m. Saturday with a waffle breakfast benefiting the Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department and will end at 10 p.m.

Pat Harris, with the Hawkins Area Chamber of Commerce, said this year's theme is "Hawkins � It's a Wonderful Life."

She said the annual event is a continuing effort to celebrate the legacy of the "pretty conservative little community."

"It's just a way to remind youngsters that we do have a heritage," Harris said.

Hawkins had a population of 200 in October 1940 when the first major oil discovery was made in Wood County.

"The town grew out of an oil patch," Harris said. "Overnight, the town exploded. For years, the community thrived on the oil patches so it produced more jobs. There were 10,000 more people but after the oil boom settled, the population was 3,000." Today's censes is about 1,500.

The all-day event features a parade that Harris said is the largest attraction, food booths, arts and crafts and a car show.

Free entertainment includes: Shake, Rattle and Roll, The C, Class Reunion, Praise Dancers and The Blessing. During the evening street dance, local favorite Valerie Burns will open a show that includes Hoss Huggins and the Ponderosa Band.

Bounce houses will be available for children and an all-day bracelet will be sold for $8 to cover most attractions. For more information contact the Hawkins Area Chamber of Commerce at 903-769-4482.