EDIE ZUVANICH Special to the Press
One of Taylor’s signature events is getting a facelift. Blackland Prairie Days will now be called Taylor Fest after the Taylor City Council approved the name change Thursday night.
“What we’re hoping to do with this is make a name that fits our town, but will also grow with the festival. When you say Taylor, people know what you’re talking about, they know where it is, they know who it’s associated with,” said Ruby Fisher, Main Street special events coordinator for the city. “The other side of it is Blackland Prairie Days refers to multiple days for a festival that only lasts one day.”
Council member Robert Garcia wondered why names such as Duck Days or Taylor Cultural Days weren’t considered, but allowed that an earlier conversation with Curie Humphreys, a member of the Main Street Advisory Board, changed his mind in favor of the new name.
“Taylor symbolizes so many cultures that have been here for decades and there’s so many cultures moving here in the future,” Garcia said.
He also said the idea of highlighting different cultures through their foods and music would show the world the positive things that created Taylor.
The city’s spring festival has previously been called The Cotton-Picking Festival, Zest Fest and The Blooming Festival. Since 2018, it had been known as Blackland Prairie Days.
The rebranding as Taylor Fest includes a new logo for the event, which depicts the recently-restored Howard Theater.
“My hope is that as Taylor Fest continues through the years, the section of town inside of the logo can change to highlight different parts of our Main Street that are growing, that we’re proud of, that are becoming landmarks,” Fisher said. “I think that when you see the Howard you think of Taylor. We have some beautiful architecture on our Main Street and I really want to highlight this in the logo. I really want to celebrate our town.”
The event will still be held on its traditional date of the first Saturday in May, which will be May 4 this year.
