Sunday, June 15, 2003
11:30am to 5:30pm

click here for a .pdf image of the invitation
with event details or see schedule below

Please note: park regulations do not permit us to take payments in the park; please call or write today for your advance tickets!

Fort Hunt Park, Alexandria, VA

Next to Black Tie & Boots, nothing is closer to the hearts of Texas State Society members than the annual Father's Day Picnic.  This year's honorary Picnic Chairman is a newly elected member of the delegation from the 31^st district, Congressman John "Judge" Carter of Round Rock.  Picnic Directors are Julie Hooks of Huntsville and Sandra Hill of Donna, and they are planning a great Sunday for all D.C.-area Texas expatriates to enjoy.  Rain or shine, the Society will serve authentic Texas-style barbecue from Texan-owned Capital Q Barbecue.  Enjoy that down-home-flavored chicken, brisket, and sausage-with all the fixins' and plenty of iced tea-but be sure to save room for the very special dessert we have lined up: Texas Heritage Provisions Company apple pie ("Best Apple Pie in the U.S.A." in the "Super Gourmet" Category at the 2002 National Pie Championships), topped off with Blue Bell ice cream -- first in our hearts for ice cream.  Beer, lemonade, soda and iced tea will be served all day.

            Fort Hunt Park will be transformed into a friend-filled Texas County Fair on Father's Day.  You can spend the afternoon with a round of bingo or a twirl around the dance floor.  The kids will love the face painting, games, and a new attraction this year:  a petting zoo.  And for those "older" kids, the Father's Day Picnic would not be complete without the annual softball tournament, games of nine-hole mini-golf, or a chance to improve your skills at the mechanical calf roping.  We'll also have volleyball and horseshoes.  And stay for the raffle prizes!

            David Vernon and The Dixie Rebels will make an encore performance by playing some of the national music of Texas and accompanying the annual dance contest.  So put on your dancin' boots and get ready to cut a rug!

            The Society is once again privileged to have Lockheed Martin as the sponsor for the annual softball tournament.  Anyone interested in signing up a team for the tournament should contact Eric Fox at 817.777.8585 or via email at eric.v.fox@lmco.com.

            We have added a Volleyball tournament to this year's picnic so get 6-8 members of your family, office, alma mater or hometown and sign up a team.  For more information, contact Julie Leake or Brooke McWhirter at 202-225-3864 or julie.leake@mail.house.gov.

            The advance ticket price (before June 6) is $10 per adult and $5 per child aged 5 through 11 years ($15 and $7, respectively, after June 6).  Children under 5 years will be admitted free of charge.  The admission price includes all you can eat and drink, as long as supplies last.   The mailing address is: Texas State Society of Washington, D.C., Post Office Box 1368, Bowie, Maryland  20718-1368.  Again, please send money as soon as possible to keep us out of trouble with the Park Service, which forbids payment at the door.

            Fort Hunt Park is located approximately 6 miles south of the last traffic light in Olde Towne (Alexandria), traveling south on the George Washington Parkway (or Washington Street, as it is known within Olde Towne) going toward Mount Vernon. 

           Contact Julie Hooks for more picnic information or if you are interested in volunteering at 202-225-0131 or julie.hooks@mail.house.gov

click here,  print the reply card and send it in now!

Sponsors (as of June 2nd)

Schedule of Events:

10:00 Softball Tournament begins
11:00 Volleyball Tournament begins
11:30 Registration begins
12:00 Bingo Bonanza - First round
12:00 - 4:00 Lunch
12:00 - 4:00 Family activities:
                        Petting Zoo, Miniature Golf, and
                        Mechanical Calf Roping
1:00 Forty-two Tournament begins
1:00 Horseshoe Tournament begins
1:00 Dixie Rebels at the main pavilion
2:00 - 4:00 Face Painting
2:00 - 4:00 Sno-Cones and Cotton Candy
2:30 Bingo Bonanza - Second round
4:30 Dance Contest
5:00 Raffle Round-Up