Discover Ennis Fall 2022

Ennis

WELCOMETOENNIS!

Welcome to Ennis, Te as where the bluebonnet spirit pervades all year long! hether you are visiting us for a short period of time or are a lifelong resident, you know what it means to truly feel welcome when you are in our town.

October is a really special time in Ennis. As the leaves begin to change, downtown Ennis comes to life with an incredible pumpkin patch and hay maze that is open and free to the public October 1st-28th. t features a pumpkin house, thrilling hay maze, cornstalk tee-pee and plenty of wonderful photo ops.

This year marks the th anniversary of Ennis Autumn Daze. hat started as a small half day event now spans a total of three full days. e have coined the term biggest little fall festival in Te as because it maintains the charm of a small town event but features big city e citement including live music by national headliners, a professionally designed pumpkin patch, 1 ton corn corral, carnival and award winning professional pumpkin carvers own in from around the country! e are beyond e cited to announce Pat reen, one of the most in uential stars in Te as country music, as our Saturday headliner. The incredible line-up also includes Bidi Bidi Banda, a tribute to Selena, The Spazmatics, ary P. unn and more! Thank you to Pegasus Dodge and all of our generous sponsors.

The holiday season is right around the corner and

preparations are underway to transform historic downtown Ennis into a destination for making holiday memories with friends and family. The season kicks o with the Lights of Ennis Parade and Block Party and Christmas Bluebonnet Market on December 1st. Downtown will come to life the remainder of the month with magical events including snow hill tubing, holiday roller skating, Lucky’s CC Car Show and Toy drive, carriage rides, and the elf seek and find game. Our beautiful downtown will look straight out of a allmark Christmas movie with stunning holiday d cor, snow and plenty of photo ops. Thank you Ennis egional Medical Center and Pegasus Dodge for your generous donations that makes these events and activities possible for our community.

Download our free mobile app, Ennis Y’all, and visit us at www.visitennis.org where you will have access to all Ennis has to o er. Follow us at Downtown Ennis T on Facebook and nstagram for additional details on downtown events.

e come to Ennis a

Ashley Colunga Marketing and Communications Director City of Ennis

pecia t anks to t e City of Ennis, Ennis e come Center, Ennis ain treet, Ennis C am er of Commerce, an Ennis n epen ent c oo District. Co er ima es an a itiona p otos co rtesy of City of Ennis an scension e ia o tions.

Disco er Fa 2 22 is a p ication of e Ennis e s. Feat res y ark ar e an an y i am. Copyri t 2 22. ri ts reser e . For more copies, contact s at e Ennis e s or o on ine to .ennis ai yne s.com.

ENNISREADIESFORFALL

utumns in Ennis are chock full of seasonal color and fam ily fun. t starts in October with the ay Maze and Pumpkin Patch, a month-long, family favorite.

hile spring in the Bluebonnet City annually celebrates Czech culture, it is still featured in the fall during October’s Czech eritage Month. The music and the food that has long been identified with Czechoslovakia ust can’t be con tained. Along with that, residents decorate their homes in harvest hues and seasonal motifs.

orth Plaza is laden with decorated hay bales and ust for good measure, a convention of pumpkins, corn stalks and photo ops perfect for shutterbugs or selfies. Don’t miss the Pumpkin Patch.

Ben yers, a local artist, adds splash and dash to autumn colors. alloween characters and images allure young and old for seasonal photo-ops. Flowers and wreaths are liber ally placed and lighting e tends the venue into the evening hours through Oct. 1.

Te as Motorple , located ust four miles northwest of downtown, draws thousands of revved up race fans who e press their need for speed. L E from E S, TE AS... the annual A Fall ationals, held each October, is televised

across the country. Add to that, the seven-month season of Saturdays at the Bluebonnet Market farmers market , comes to a great finish on . Dallas Street. t will resume in April.

are for most cities is an attraction of the arts. Yet in downtown Ennis, there are two live theatre groups within blocks of each other. Both feature local talent and high- ual ity drama in si outstanding plays per season by both groups. Ennis Public Theatre and Theatre ocks! They continue with show-busters, including Broadway classics, performed live in an intimate, black bo setting.

isitors and area citizens can learn about the overall history of the Bluebonnet City by stopping by the Ennis ailroad and Cultural eritage Museum.

nown for its hand full of festivals and carnivals, another event that grows each year is December’s Lights of Ennis. t has been held over straight years and shows no signs of letting up! The highlight is a parade downtown with vehicles, horses, fire-trucks, even members of the E-Pride Marching Band... all illuminated. Cast in the setting of LED-lit buildings and Prince ton American Elm trees wearing lights, it is a can’t miss classic.

A community that o ers so much to its residents that you, too, might utter the phrase, love this town!

THEATRELIVESHERE

Ennis is home to a pair of local theater organizations. Both present six productions a year and offer other entertainment on their respective stages. Ennis residents and those in the area are provided some great shows at Ennis Public Theatre and Theatre Rocks! Plus, they can even audition for a chance to be part of a production.

Theatre Rocks! Under Rhotens’ leadership

Founded in 2013, Theatre Rocks! Is a very popular venue for live plays. An intimate atmosphere with seating for approximately 75, the talent you’ll find is big and productions are unique and well-performed featuring local amateurs working alongside well-trained actors.

Theatre Rocks has produced a number of well-known hits, from “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by Tennessee Williams to Sam Shepard’s “True West” and “12 Angry Men.”

Bill Rhoten, artistic director, and Suzanne Rhoten, executive director, have teamed together in Dallas area performing arts for well over 30 years and have been active in both producing and directing in Ennis since 2002.

Located just three blocks north of downtown at 505 NW Main Street, visit TheatreRocks.com or their Facebook page or call 972-878-5126 for additional info.

Ennis Public Theatre, an Ennis Treasure

An extraordinary find in Ellis County is the live drama productions available year-round as delivered by the Ennis Public Theatre. With over a decade of plays under their belt, EPT produces superb live entertainment at a reasonable cost.

Part of the Main Street revitalization program in Ennis, EPT is located in their new downtown digs at 113 N. Dallas St., where the atmosphere and amenities are outstanding.

The theatre delights audiences of all ages with laughout-loud comedies, heart-warming dramas, lively musicals and a fantastic Young Artists Program.

A married tandem, Julie Mitchell and Markus Baldwin, serve as overall artistic directors. Dakota Russell is the house manager, while Karen Blewitt is the business manager and Brett Schmidt is responsible for community outreach. The theatre group is supported by a great board of directors and a receptive community.

For more information, a list of their shows as well as access to tickets visit www.ennispublictheatre.com or call  972-878-PLAY.

ENNISAUTUMNDAZE

The largest family-friendly Fall event in Texas, Ennis Autumn Daze, will extend to three days in 2022! Friday October 28th will kick off 20 years of the celebration with family fun free night and continue through Sunday evening! This historic fall event has been a longstanding favorite among locals and we are so excited to go even bigger this year!

The Haymaze and Pumpkin Patch will continue to be a main attraction, engineered and professionally designed by MESA, an award winning landscape architecture and ur ban design firm. The maze and pumpkin patch will be free and open to the public October 1st-28th and will become part of the festival experience October 29th and 30th.

The entertainment headliner for Saturday evening is none other than Texas Country musician, Pat Green. He is known as an instrumental part in helping put Texas Country music on the map and with three Grammy nom inations, he is still regarded as one of the most electrifying musical acts on tour. Since 1995, Green has released 13 albums (12 recorded in studio and one live), and sold more than two million records, racking up a staggering 12 Num ber Ones on the Texas Radio chart (including his most-re cent single, “Drinkin’ Days”). Green has also released ten Billboard radio hits and has placed songs like “Wave on Wave” in the Top Five of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Old pal, Gary P. Nunn will entertain the crowd prior to Green taking the stage that evening.

The Spazmatics and Bidi Bidi Banda a tribute to Selena will take the stage on Sunday adding high energy and a cultural flare to the entertainment line up. Along with these impressive headliners will be a full line-up of local talent providing a variety of unique and upbeat music. In addition to music guests will also be wowed by award win ning professional pumpkin carvers creating masterpieces live in the festival grounds.

Kids will have a blast in the free kids craft area where they can get creative and use their imagination! They can also enjoy fun sensory play in the giant corn pit! Talley Amusements, the carnival provider for the State Fair of Texas and Ft. Worth Stock Show, will be bringing in carnival rides appealing to both thrill seekers and small children.

The event will also feature a corn hole tournament with a $1,000 CASH PRIZE, beer garden, food, and unique shopping vendors. This event is truly a family experience with fun for ALL ages!

Friday October 28th, kickoff admission is free! Ticket price for Saturday October 29th is $5 until 4pm, after

4pm $10 for anyone 13 and up. Ticket prices for Sunday October 30th is $5 for anyone 13 and up, children 12 and under are free. All proceeds go to Ennis Main Street, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is committed to providing free, educational, social and cultural programming in Historic Downtown Ennis.

Thank you to Title Sponsor Pegasus Dodge and other community sponsors for making this event possible. With their help, families are able to create wonderful memories in Ennis, Texas.

Download the free Ennis Y’all mobile app for more details on Ennis’ year round events and activities. Contact the Ennis Welcome Center at 972-878-4748 or www.visitennis.org for more information. Follow us on social media at Downtown Ennis Tx for the latest events and updates.

TEXASMOTORPLEX

The Te as Motorple is known na tionwide for being the host of the presti gious Te as Fall ationals Stampede of Speed Oct. -1 , event each fall, but it’s also a year-round racing center, located about two miles west of Ennis.

Events start in February and run through ovember, among them ational ot od Diesel Association events, mport Face O s, car shows, and Fast Fridays.

Fast Fridays give people a chance to take their own cars to the strip to

give drag racing a try. t’s a way for people to legally satisfy their need for speed, and for a very reasonable fee. Anyone can head to the track and race unlimited times.

ome of the world speed record of

. mph, the Te as Motorple is considered one of the finest one- uarter mile drag racing facilities in the nation.

Constructed in 1 by Billy Meyer, the Te as Motorple is known across the country as the ultimate drag racing facility both by drivers

and the fans alike. The Motorple hosts over events each year, with , fans visiting the race track annually. Ennis welcomes the racers and race fans with open arms.

f you are ust visiting or planning to come back, be sure to get your hotel reservations early. Ennis is blessed with great lodging, and accommodations fill up as fast as a dragster on the strip.

www.texasmotorplex.com

Texas Motorplex hosts a National Hot Rod Event each racing season which draws fans from across the globe.

KATOLICKA JEDNOTA TEXASKA SOCIETY NO. 35

Members: Approximately 1,250 Community Outreach & Activities: KJT youth program, scholarships for KJT members who are graduating seniors

History: KJT Society began so that Czech immigrants could bond with each other after coming to the United States. The Ennis chapter was founded in 1900. KJT began accepting women members in 1980. Although it started out as an exclusively Catholic organization, in 2008, KJT opened membership to all Christians.

SOKOL

Members: Approximately 300 Community Outreach & Activities: Sokol provides gymnastics and tness classes for all and a twirling program. Facilities can be used for community functions, weddings, and other parties.

History: Sokol, which means falcon in Czech, was founded in 1862 in Prague, and brought to the United States by Czech immigrants to preserve their heritage. The Ennis unit was formed in 1908.

SPJST LODGE #25

Members: Approximately 700 Community Outreach & Activities: SPJST #25 Youth Program; Scholarships for SPJST Members who are graduating seniors; SPJST Lodge #25 Bar open every Wednesday Night from 5pm-10pm; Kitchen/Dining Room, Bar, and Hall available for bookings for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holiday parties and special occasions.

Facebook / Instagram: @spjstennistx

History:

SPJST stands for Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas which translates to Slavonic Bene t Order of the State of Texas. SPJST Lodge #25 was established in 1897.

ENNISEVENTSCALENDAR

Apr – Oct Bluebonnet Market (formerly Farmers Market) 100 N Dallas St, Saturdays, 8am – noon

June – Oct Mornings at Minnie: family friendly entertainment at Minnie McDowal Park, 119 N Dallas St, Saturdays 10am

C ER 2 22

Oct 1-27 Hay Maze & Pumpkin Patch, FREE! Becomes a part of Autmn Daze on 10/28* North Plaza Parking Lot, 302 N Dallas St

Oct 7-16 Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex, Tickets at www.texasmotorplex.com

Oct 15 Cars & Coffee, S. Dallas St.

Oct 22 Painting at the Patch, Food Trucks, The Shed at the Hay Maze & Pumpkin Patch

Oct 28-30 Ennis Autumn Daze Festival, www.VisitEnnis.org

Live entertainment, carnival, hay maze, pumpkin patch, vendors, and more!

Oct 31 Carnival & Trunk or Treat at the Hay Maze & Pumpkin Patch

EM ER 2 22

Nov 26 Small Business Saturday, a downtown Ennis shopping event

DECEM ER 2 22

Dec 1 Lights of Ennis Parade & Block Party in downtown Ennis

Dec 1 Christmas Market, 5-8pm

Dec 1-31 Lights of Ennis events in downtown Ennis: includes horse drawn carriage and wagon rides, Elf Seek and Find game, a giant snow hill, photo ops, and more! Details TBA as they boecome available.

Dec 3 Lucky’s Car Club Car Show & Toy Drive, Ennis Main Street on Facebook for details

FE

Feb 11 Mardi Gras Masquerade at SPJST Presented by Ennis Chamber of Commerce

Feb 18 Ennis Czech Music Festival www.ennisczechmusicfestival.com

APRIL

Apr 1-30 Ennis Bluebonnet Trails www.visitennis.org

Apr 14-16 Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival www.visitennis.org

MA

May 7

Cinco de Mayo Cultural Celebration www.visitennis.org

May 26-28 National Polka Festival www.nationalpolkafestival.com

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Jun 10 Blues on Main www.visitennis.org

Jun 24 Ennis Freedom Fest www.visitennis.org

Nightly Movies at Galaxy Drive Theatre-In www.galaxydriveintheatre.com Weekly Races at Big O Speedway www.bigospeedway.com and the Texas Motorplex www.texasmotorplex.com Weekly Karaoke & 8 Ball Tournaments at The Gameroom, www.ennisgameroom.com Weekly Music & Wine at Sugar Ridge Winery www.sugarridgewine.com Monthly Public Antique Auction at the Ennis Auction House www.landmark-auction.com Bi-Monthly Live Theatre at Ennis Public Theatre www.ennispublictheatre.com Bi-Monthly Live Theatre at Theatre Rocks! www.theatrerocks.com

ENNISCARES

The Ennis CA ES Program was born as a response to community needs identified during the CO D-1 pandemic in March of . Ennis C.A. .E.S. serves our C)ommunity by providing A)ssistance and (R)esources, through E)ngagement and S)ervices while focusing on long term solutions for people and families in need.

Ennis CA ES serves as the resource hub for the City of Ennis, all while working alongside other agencies, orga nizations and churches, by providing charitable, benevo lent, civic, educational, social and societal services to the community of Ennis to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. The Ennis CA ES Program identifies a need in the community and looks for ways to address those needs.

To date, the Ennis CA ES Program has assisted with initiatives such as the urricane Laura Evacuation Center, E treme Cold eather Emergency Shelter, Emergency ater Distribution, CO D-1 orking roup, Ellis County accination ub, Ennis accination ub, Ellis County Mobile accination Team n- ome , Mobile Food Pantry Events, Community Thanksgiving Meal and Angel Tree Programs. The non-emergency Bluebonnet Call

Center serves the Ennis and Ennis SD area and is a great resource to citizens needing help with running errands for the homebound, picking up a prescription, financial assis tance with a bill, welfare checks, prayer or ust someone to talk to.

For assistance or information on how YOU can help those in need, call the Bluebonnet Call Center at -or email BBCC ennist .gov. Donations can be made to the Ennis CA ES 1 c by going to www.ennist . gov enniscares. Thank you for helping us care for our community!

are here for Y because

KEEPENNISBEAUTIFUL

eep Ennis Beautiful EB is a City of Ennis a liation with eep Te as Beautiful. The mission of EB is to cultivate community pride through volunteerism and education focused on creating a healthy, beautiful, and sustainable environment. Our goals are 1. To inspire, initiate, plan, direct, and coordinate pro grams for litter control and prevention

. To encourage the planting and preservation of trees, owers, plants and shrubbery

. To initiate programs that promote a cleaner, safer, healthier, and more beautiful community

. To stimulate interest and action toward conservation of resources.

n a nutshell we dig in the dirt, we pick up trash, we try not to waste, and we encourage others to do the same. e believe that our words and our actions should create an environment that we can be proud of. Since its creation in 1 , EB volunteers have put their love for our com munity in action by spending countless hours picking up litter, planting trees, and encouraging others to respect the planet and all of the organisms that we share it with. e A E the change!

oin us in making Ennis the most beautiful city in the great state of Te as.

National

When fall rolls around T F takes on a spirited meaning, and its color is maroon. Friday night lights shine brightly for Ennis igh School and has for decades. n fact, the game of football has been played on Fridays here for over a century.

Five times the Lions have advanced to the state championship game, winning every time, most recently in 1 before , at AT T Stadium. A long pass, from B Devin Smith to Donta Thompson, ended in the game-winning, last-minute touchdown in a - triumph over Cedar Park. The game was also broadcast on television. t was the second straight year the Lions won 1 games, both under C ack Alvarez.

Lion ation, like most small-towns, loves high school football, and when the team is winning they travel like a herd to whatever stadium the Lions are playing.

hile donning the colors of the Lions is pretty near re uired, the only mistake one can make is to be seen in green or royal blue. A rival school 1 -miles to the west a ahachie wears green, while a school -miles to the south Corsicana , sports the blue.

At home in the friendly confines of Lion Memorial Stadium, which seats 1 , fans, the team averages appro imately five-to-eight thousand fans.

The school has produced scores of award-winning teams, college-bound athletes, and for the last years, a superior-rated marching band. The atmosphere they create can only be capped with the hand-shaped letter L, and a fight song that must be memorized to attend first grade. Almost, but you get the idea.

Cheer teams are rousing up fans who need little rousing. Plus, the Lionettes dance troupe has over

years under their wide white belts and cowgirl hats. The good news is - there is always room on the bandwagon for newcomers.

Traditions carry strong meaning in this town, where conservative family values, a strong work ethic and a living faith will bring automatic respect, and a Czech name will bring honor.

Few places in this country circle the wagons in support of the military, the colors wa ing on a ag pole and especially the heart of meeting the needs of their own, than Ennis. esidents give generously to its organizations, civic groups, heritage halls, veterans service organizations, elping ands, ive-A- id-AChance and churches, to name a few.

t is no wonder they have such pride for those who call the Bluebonnet City their home.

maroon and return here to live a er college.

t truly is a wonderful town to grow a family, operate a business and the stage shines brightest on Fridays. To follow all things maroon, subscribe to o fo o a t in s maroon, isit Ennis ions.or .

Ennis ions chedule

Aug. a ahachie Sept. s. Midlothian Senior ight Sept. s. Colleyville eritage Sept. 1 Corsicana Sept. s. Everman Oct. oshua Oct. 1 Midlothian eritage Oct. 1 s. Arlington Seguin omecoming Oct. Burleson ov. s. Mansfield Summit Band ight

ames e in at 7 p.m. ead oach am arrell

with C Sam a second has made

And when Friday’s in the fall arrive, late August through ovember, and in special seasons it stretches into middle December for playo s, everyone is either at the game or tuning in to the radio. Everybody loves a winner and Ennis has had their share. Starting in 1 under C ack Alvarez and through 1 all-of-Fame arrell, back for go-around, the team the playo s for 1 years and counting.

As for being coronated Lion ings, the first was in 1 under the late C Don Essary. arrell won -in- -years and Alvarez notched the fi h in 1 . n the process, Ennis has been a haven for a uality education, athletics that instill values worth learning and living, and being a city that makes for the best in small-town Americana. o wonder so many keep wearing

ENNIS:HISTORYLIVESHERE

The Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum is located on Northeast Main Street, along the railroad tracks, on Ennis Avenue.

e City of Ennis was established as a town in 1872 and was named a er Cornelius Ennis, director of the Houston & Texas Central (H&TC) Railroad. Much of its history can be found at the museum.

Hours are TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays 1-4 p.m. Mondays are open only by appointment for group tours. Please call 972875-1901 or 972-878-4748 at least one week in advance for reservations.

e museum is housed in a former Van Noy restaurant building built in 1915. e restaurant served customers from the 10 passenger trains a day that once stopped in Ennis. e yellow wood-frame building to the north of the museum served as the ticket of ce and baggage building a er the original two-story depot was destroyed by re in the late 1930s. Located to the south of the museum is the former Wells Fargo freight o ce.

e City of Ennis acquired the museum building from the Southern Paci c Railroad in 1991.

In 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, a forerunner of the Southern Paci c Railroad, purchased 647 acres of land in Ellis County at a price of $5.00 per acre, establishing the line’s northern terminus. It was on June 8, 1872 that the site was established as the City of Ennis.

Ennis was the banking and agricultural center of east Ellis County by the 1880s. Ennis National Bank, with capital of $100,000, held the title of the largest bank in the county in 1883. Many of the early settlers of this area were people from the East and South who were attracted by the rich Blackland Prairie soil, the railroad, and other business opportunities. In 1873, Jacob Shebasta, an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, was the rst of many Eastern Europeans to make this area his home. Ennis retains a strong Czechoslovakian in uence, and today is home to four Czech social halls as well as the annual National Polka Festival each May.

In 1891, the Texas & New Orleans Railroad, a part of the Southern Paci c system, established a division point in Ennis, leading to the construction of shops and a roundhouse.

e citizens of Ennis contributed $25,000, 90 acres of land, and a 43 acre lake toward the project. A contract was drawn up stating that the railroad could not move its shops

out of town as long as the City of Ennis was able to provide water for the railroad’s use. e railroad was the key to the development of Ennis as an agricultural, commercial, and later, an industrial center. According to early resident Joseph Baldridge, “If Ennis had not obtained the shops and the superintendent’s o ces, it would have remained only a small agricultural center.”

Ennis was able to successfully combine the natural resources of its rich farm land with the transportation advantages o ered by the railroad.

In May 1930, Ennis had become known as the place

“Where Railroads and Cotton Fields Meet.” From its founding, various cultures have shaped the development of the City.

In its earlier days, Ennis was a settlement town with a “wild west” reputation. At one time, the City had 13 saloons and six beer halls. e town also served as a stopping place for outlaw gangs including those of Cole Younger and Sam Bass; and the family of gun ghter John Wesley Hardin was among the city’s pioneers.

Other cultures have also contributed to the history of Ennis. For example, Robert Martinez drove 3,200 head of cattle from Ennis to Montana along the Chisolm Trail in the late 19th century. Also, during the 1920s, Ennis resident Dr. Armour Rogers became one of the rst practicing African American doctors in Ellis County.

About our history:

• The City of Ennis was established in 1872.

• A record-making Texas League game with 8 homeruns was played in Ennis in 1902.

• Author and educator Katie Daffan, the first woman to head a state agency in Texas, lived in Ennis.

• In 1920 a total of 152,601 bales of cotton were ginned in Ellis County, the most of any county in America.

• Ennis is known as the Bluebonnet City because of the springtime beauty and abundance of the state ower in and around the city.

• U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, born in Ennis, posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in World War II. Lummus, a former Baylor University and New York Giants football star, was one of only two National Football League players to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, and he was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor in 2015.

ENNISVETERANSMEMORIAL

Ennis eterans Memorial Park, located at 1 Ennis Pkwy, was dedicated to those who are serving, have served, and gave up their lives to protect American freedom. The eterans Memorial monuments honor veterans from each th and 1st Century U.S. military con ict. n addition to the memorial site, there are three lighted competition football soccer fields for league play and si youth soccer fields, available for use by reservation.

There is also a building for concession and restroom facilities, a . mile of walking paths, picnic tables and a children’s playground.

eterans Memorial Park has been open to the public since August 11, and many have en oyed its recreational amenities since then. A salute in brick and mortar to the men and women of America’s Armed Forces, the memorial has been the backdrop for many local patriotic events.

ietnam ar veteran erry right has referenced how the AO Agent Orange monument erected at the Ennis site inspired him in his work to change the law governing health coverage for AO survivors. The memorial is now known nationally due to his campaign to secure better medical care for fellow su erers of AO.

The memorial takes the form of a circular promenade with a centerpiece devoted to veterans and surrounding sections dedicated to specific con icts, from orld ar to the current ar on Terror.

The stewards of the Ennis eterans Memorial are pleased to incorporate the ack Lummus Memorial, formerly located on the grounds of the old Ennis Chamber of Commerce property, and the new e Ain’t eavy, e’s My Brother’ bronze monument, which represents such a well-known scene carried out on so many battlefields over the years, to the Memorial.

This eterans Memorial has been blessed as allowed round, and therefore the City of Ennis and the Ennis eterans Memorial Committee attempts to honor all eterans of the past, present, and future with this premiere eterans Memorial, says Commandant obert Bell, of the Ellis County Marine Corps League, and Ennis eterans Memorial Committee member.

For more information, contact City of Ennis Parks Department at 972-875-1234.

LIGHTSOFENNIS

Holiday fun is on the way between Thanksgiving and Christmas in Ennis.

Though a wonderful place to be year-round, Downtown Ennis comes to life during the holidays! Our hometown is failthful to provide tons of fun and events to Light Up the Y’all in you all. Families will create great holiday memories this year! Try these on for size. A handful of the most popular activities return, so plan ahead.

The magic begins with the Lights of Ennis Parade and Block Party and Christmas Bluebonnet Market on December 1st and continues throughout the month with many more events including snow hill tubing, holiday roller skating, Lucky’s CC Car Show and Toy drive, carriage rides, and the elf seek and find game.

Visit www.visitennis.org, follow Downtown Ennis Tx on Facebook and Instagram or download the free mobile app Ennis Y’all for all updates. updates.

LAKEBARDWELLRESERVOIR

Ellis County is home to one of the largest recreational facilities in North Texas – Lake Bardwell Reservoir. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in the county. ousands of residents and tourists visit the 3,500acre lake each year, enjoying shing, boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, biking, and just about any other outdoor activity within and along its 25 miles of shoreline. It is more than 5 miles long and more than 1 mile wide at its largest point.

Both the lake and surrounding campgrounds are maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which features a marina and several boat ramps. You can reach the marina at 972-646-5330.

Camping reservations or additional information is available at 972-875-5711 or recreation.gov. Congress authorized construction of the reservoir of the Bardwell Reservoir on March 31, 1960. Construction began in September 1963. Impoundment of water at the lake, which provides ood control and conservation platform for area water, began in November 1965. It cost more than $12 million to build.

FUN&GAMESGALORE

• Bluebonnet Park: On Ennis Pkwy, west of Hwy 287, and follow the signs. Facility includes eight lighted ball elds, acres of recreational open space, a two-acre shing la e, and a .7-mile ogging path. vailable for softball and baseball to rnaments and attracts teams from all across the tate.

• Community theaters – Ennis blic heatre, . Dallas t., 972-878-7529, www.ennisp blictheatre. com, and heatre oc s!, 5 5 ain t., 972-8785 26, www.theatreroc s.com. ee page for more infomation.

• Disc golf located ad acent to the dam on the so th end of a e Clar , at . Ennis ve.

• Big O Speedway: Located east of Ennis, the facility offers dirt trac racing on wee ends arch- ctober.

• E.I.S.D. Tennis Center: 9 championship ality tennis co rts indoors , snac bar, and pro shop.

• Lions Lanes – 2 . Ennis ve.

• Galaxy Drive-In Theatre feat res seven screens.

• The Gameroom - 8 7 . a e ardwell Dr., 69-8822

• Golf is open to the p blic at ed a alley Golf Cl b in ed a and the ld ric yard co rse in erris.

• Highview Park at Lake Bardwell: icnic and or swim. his par re ires a facility se fee per carload. or camping reservations, please call 972-875-57 or go to recreation.gov.

• Highview Marina at Lake Bardwell: 972-6 6-5 .

• Lake Clark Park: o nd on the west end of aldridge

treet, it is a perfect place to have a picnic, to sh, to play on the playgro nd, or to ta e a wal with a la e view. Chec o t achina rairie and the bison stat e there.

• Lions Park: Corner of all and ampasas streets.

• Meadow View Nature Area: 972-878- 7 8 for ho rs.

• Minnie McDowal Park is a ni e gathering spot for families located at 9 . Dallas feat ring a ga ebo, art wall and water feat re.

• Opry: ocated in the old ristol chool, abo t 5 min tes east of Ennis, the pry feat res local talent performing live on stage. he show goes on the fo rth at rday of each month at 7 p.m., e cept in December. he ardwell pry, located in the ardwell Comm nity Center, is every fth at rday.

• Puppy Patch Dog Park: 2 . Dallas t., is s re to be a favorite stop for the dog in yo r family!

• Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum: 972-875- 9 .

• Rotary Park: 2 ar t. At 35.5 acres, it is the largest community park in Ennis. Features a splash pad, National Fitness Center Fitness Court, pickleball/tennis courts, baseball practice diamond, gazebos, and playground.

Connects to Kiwanis Park via 3/4 mile Ivan Goodwin Walking trail. Fishing allowed with proper license.

• Sugar Ridge Winery in ristol offers local wines, a private tasting room, and reception area.

• Texas Motorplex: 972-878-26 .

• Veterans Memorial Park at 2 Ennis ar way feat res a veterans memorial and athletic elds. Yo th soccer is a favorite.

• Xtreme Raceway Park Ferris: Info on Facebook.

Ennis, 972-875-1234

Department, 972-875-4462

Fire Department / Ambulance Service, 972-875-3473

Station #2, 972-875-6151

Station #3, 972-895-3313

Center, 972-875-0900

Chamber of Commerce, 972-878-2625

Ennis

Center, 972-878-4748

Development, 972-878-4748

Ennis Health & Inspections, 972-878-6442

Independent School District, 972-872-7000

Ennis News, 972-875-3801

Main Street Program, 972-878-4748

Public Library, 972-875-5360

Municipal Airport, 972-875-4279

Cares, 972-695-3524

to www.visitennis.org,

contact the Ennis Chamber of Commerce at 972-878-2625 or www. ennis-chamber.com.

the free mobile app, Ennis Y’all,

Ennis information and where to shop, stay, do and see!

Angeline Juenemann

Jake Holland

Pruitt

Raburn

Watson

Honza

or years the hopes of a city whose downtown was seriously damaged and, faced with the likelihood of never coming back, had a fresh vision born in the hearts of people. Pacing back and forth like a new father, the revitalization of the Bluebonnet City came to blooming life. Nearly 20,000 residents have witnessed the growth of new housing sectors and incoming businesses. ey have sprung up along the I-45 corridor and in downtown, a mile west of the interstate.

May 13, 2013 was the date when 13 local twisters ravaged the area, including one that strolled down midtown toward the east on Ennis Avenue. Once the e ects, which included the loss of vitality between McKinney and Main, had taken their toll, what rose from the collapsed heap of bricks was a new-found purpose. Ideas of rebuilding and restoring began to outnumber thoughts of vacating and starting over elsewhere.

Right in the middle of it all the Historical Society

helped foster a desire to parlay seeming defeat into a spirit of revival.

Even old buildings that had perhaps outlived their usefulness have seen investors step in to do much more than a face-li . Work has been completed on Dallas Street, including a huge undertaking beneath the ve blocks of North and South Dallas.

Minnie McDowal Park, formerly a theatre downtown, has been a huge benefactor. So have plans for new restaurants and night life, retail, o ces, apartments and lo s, banking and a fenced in dog park at North Plaza. e city’s heartbeat is alive and well.

Festivals and wholesome events that ll the calendar make Ennis a growing destination for families. A multi-cultural mesh give credence to sustaining that life for years to come. Most of the venues bring thousands of people, and then there are the 40,000 that ock to Memorial Weekend’s National Polka Festival.

e magnetic appeal of Ennis is related directly to the vibrant life of this community. It’s alive, and contagious.