DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna do my best to do it justice. Now, if you want to talk about a Texas town that knows how to throw a party — and has known since before most Texas towns even had a name — pull up a chair and let's talk about Castroville, Medina County, and a celebration called St. Louis Day.
As early as 1847, the people of Castroville were marking the twenty-fifth of August — the Catholic observance of the Feast of St. Louis. Eighteen forty-seven, folks.
That is not a typo. Early processions wound out from the priests' house right there next to St. Louis Church, and they weren't quiet about it.
Anvils clanging. The community band blaring away. You could probably hear it across the county line and nobody was sorry.
After High Mass, the church grounds filled up for a picnic, and the work that went into that picnic is worth a moment of respect. The men smoked sausage and pit-barbecued beef. The women prepared potato salad, cabbage slaw, and desserts.
Then, as if all that wasn't enough, an evening dance in a local establishment closed out the whole glorious day. The St. Louis Society — founded in 1875 — traditionally took on the job of organizing the event.
And since 1889, the celebration has been raising funds for the benefit of the parish church and school. That's not just a party. That's a community institution with a budget.
After the nineteen-twenties, the picnic and dance moved to a place called Wernette's Garden — just four blocks north-northwest of where you might be standing right now, give or take. In 1949 that site was donated to the parish and renamed Koenig Park. Then in 1953, a dance pavilion was erected there, which tells you everything you need to know about how serious these people are about the evening dance.
These days the celebration is held annually on the Sunday nearest August twenty-fifth. The procession begins at the church after Mass, winds through the city, and ends at Koenig Park — picnic lunch, evening dance, the whole program, same as it ever was. Since 1847.
Some traditions, you just don't mess with.
What the marker says
Since as early as 1847 residents of Castroville have conducted a community holiday on or about the 25th of August--the Catholic observacne of the Feast of St. Louis. Local tradition recalls that early processions escorted clergy from the priests' house adjacent to St. Louis Church, with clanging of anvils and the blare of the community band. Through the years a picnic became traditional on the church grounds following High Mass. Before the festivities, men smoked sausage and pit-barbecued beef. Women prepared potato salad, cabbage slaw, and desserts. An evening dance in a local establishment ended the day-long celebration. The St. Louis Society, founded in 1875, traditionally organized the event. Since 1889 the celebration has raised funds for the benefit of the Parish church and school. After the 1920s, the picnic and dance were held at Wernette's Garden. That site (4 blocks NNW) was donated to the parish and renamed Koenig Park in 1949. The dance pavilion there was erected in 1953. The celebration is now held annually on the Sunday nearest August 25. The procession begins at the church after Mass, and winds through the city to Koenig Park for the picnic lunch and evening dance. Texas Sesquicentinnial 1836-1986.