St. Louis Day

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.

St. Louis Day is a historical marker in Castroville, Medina County, dedicated in 1986. It is one of 56 historical markers documented in Medina County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 112 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.3579, -98.8789 near Castroville. The nearest cataloged historic site is Alsatians of Texas (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include St. Louis Catholic Church, Dubuis House, and St. Louis Church.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5325005054. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.