Hopkins County Dairy Festival 2025

As I mentioned in my previous post. there was lots to do while we were waylaid in Sulphur Springs, Texas. One of the most exciting events was the Hopkins County Dairy Festival 2025 because it included a Hot Air Ballon Rally!

Our friends Sandee and Mack, that we were staying with have lived in Hopkins County for about 12 years. They have become involved with community events and this one was no exception. Lucky for us, they invited us to join in the fun.

The annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival celebrates the rich heritage of Hopkins County. The dairy industry began there in the 1930’s. It continues to be Hopkins County’s number one agriculture enterprise.  The event is a salute to all of the hard working dairy farmers and their families, who contribute so generously to the local economy.

The Hopkins County Dairy Festival was established in 1959. The festivities include talented young ladies competing for the crown of Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, hot air balloons dotting the skies and cows are still hand milked beneath the shade trees in the milking contest.  There’s also a Dairy Festival Parade which winds its way down the streets of Sulphur Springs and a 5K run.

By far one of the community’s favorite activities is the State Champion Homemade Ice Cream Contest. This event brings visitors from all over to sample the rich, cooling yumminess of everyone’s favorite summer delight and then choose the best ice cream maker in the county!

It was the early settlers in this area that created the Hopkins County Dairy. Families arrived with a family milk cow fastened to the back of the wagon to provide the family with milk, butter and cheese.  The industry grew and has sustained generations.  We can only imagine the hardships that fresh churned butter, milk in the cistern and hand cranked ice cream eased, as the settlers looked forward to creating a better life in Texas.

The development of the dairy industry in the area was boosted when the Carnation Milk Company decided to locate in Sulphur Springs back in the 1930’s. This provided an economic outlet for commercial production of milk and dairy products.

Farmers established and nurtured an industry that today boasts of the most modern in technology. They now have computerized identification, modern milking and cooling systems, speedy transportation of milk for processing and some of the most scientific adaptation of breeding, feeding and recycling known to mankind.

The Annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival is an 8 day event that culminates with the crowning of the festival queen. We participated in the first weekend of the Hot Air Balloon Rally and the Parade.

Steve became part of the Rally Ground Crew and had so much fun, along with Mack, helping to get the balloons set up. Friday evening Sandee and I arrived after our men had already done their work. I drove up and parked right in front of the best balloon ever! It was an enormous Ladybug on a giant flower. I don’t think I stopped smiling the entire night.

The next night I joined the guys and got to see, first hand, what set up was like. The baskets hold only 2 people and you need to climb in. The balloon is carefully folded and transported in a very small bag. It was astonishing to watch it all come together.

Steve was thrilled to be in the basket (or gondola) and actually leave the ground. He only went up about 6-inches, but it was exciting nonetheless. He also was able to assist with the “Glow Up” where the balloons are lit by the propane flames in time to music. It was beautiful and oh so very cool!!!