Thrall ISD and the Thrall Community celebrated the 2025 Harvest Festival, sponsored by the Thrall Community Education Foundation, in November with great support and significant money raised once again to aid the district’s mission to further the education of its students.
The Harvest Festival Carnival had a record-breaking evening, with over $7,700 raised from the Carnival games alone. The Harvest Festival overall raised almost $45,000.
The 2025 Thrall Harvest Festival was held Nov. 7th. Pleasant weather led to a great turnout. Every grade level was represented in the 2025 Harvest Festival Court. Hayden Teague and Adelyn Adams from the 6th grade were named Harvest Festival King and Queen.
Abigail Gola is the Thrall ISD Academic Dean and School Liaison for the Thrall Community Education Foundation. She noted that the district and the community truly came together to support the Festival.
Gola said the Festival had a number of patrons that took part in the Festival both by enjoying the festivities and aiding the efforts to put on the event. “They supported the Festival by playing games and bringing their kids, or donating things to the silent auction.”
Patrons took part in carnival games and attractions such as a cake walk, Plinko, a ring toss, miniature haunted houses in trailers managed by the Thrall ISD band, a small tractor train operated by the FFA, a turkey dinner and much more.
All proceeds from the event go to the Thrall Community Education Foundation, and the money from there provides scholarship funds for students as well as grants for teachers to improve the quality of the education experience for students. The TCEF provides $1,000 scholarships to assist students in their post-graduation pursuits, whether furthering their education in college or trade schools, or entering the military. The proceeds also go toward fall and spring teacher grants that teachers have used for things such as a “book vending machine,” microscopes or other items for classrooms.
Gola lauded the hard work put in by teachers who ran the various booths at the event, as well as upperclassmen student volunteers who assisted.
The Harvest Festival is a historical event that goes back about a century, hearkening back to the agricultural roots of the rural community. The event has been a mainstay for Thrall ISD and the Thrall Community. The Festival was placed on a brief hiatus in the mid 2010’s as changes handed down from the State Legislature meant that the District had to make some adjustments to the annual fundraiser. The Harvest Festival was revived in 2014, and has provided funds to assist both students and teachers.
The district has taken time to review this year’s festival and assess what went well and consider adjustments that might make future Harvest Festivals even better. A follow up survey was sent out to gain feedback from the public. Planning for next year’s Harvest Festival will get underway in early spring, and the work to prepare for the Festival will go into full gear in the summer months.
Gola said the Harvest Festival is a signature event for the community and the school district.
“It’s something I think that’s built into our school calendar every year. It’s a tradition, and I think part of the culture.”