Iron Horse Heritage Festival 2025

The high school squad for Dance Dimensions performs in front of the downtown gazebo (above) for a packed crowd Friday at the Iron Horse Heritage Festival in Mineola. Pictured are, first row, Gracie Russom, Addy Blackwell, Bree Warren; second row, Jordan Pearson, Stella Straznicki, Addison Miller. The dancers are under the direction of Dance Dimensions owner and lead choreographer Koni Riley and her team.

Oscar (center) brought his own cheer squad, with at least a dozen members of the audience chanting his name before his big run at the Weenie Dog Race, the culminating event of the festival.

lacksmith Ashton White of North Tyler shows off his metalwork at the Iron Horse Heritage Festival in Mineola Saturday, Sept. 27.

Members of The Historic Select Theater & Lake Country Playhouse stage a train robbery at the caboose. Pictured are, front row from left, John Rupe, Chris Moore, Randy Gilbert, Rebecca Brown, Lane Gregory and Sharon Matthews; and back row, George Jones, Jordan Hall and Greg Souser.

Parents look on as the kids of the youth division in the watermelon eating contest finish their round. Milan won the youth division, and Kira won the adult division

At left, parents look on as the kids of the youth division in the watermelon eating contest finish their round. Milan won the youth division, and Kira won the adult division. Above, a mother and son dance to the Todd Brewer Band.

Rylann Davis holds her cat, Melvin, after he is crowned the winner of the Cutest Pet Contest, hosted by the Pilot Club of Mineola. Before the festival, Melvin had never seen a dog, and he was equal parts curious and terrified of his new canine companions at the contest.

A mother and son dance to the Todd Brewer Band.

Olga Hudgens picks up a few gifts from Henry’s Treasure Trove in Mineola (210 W. Broad St., 430-288-3884) during their vendor appreciation day Saturday, Sept. 27. Monica Ayala (left) is the general manager of The Trove, and said thanks to the increased traffic from the Iron Horse Heritage Festival and their advertising in The Wood County Monitor, sales were exceptional at more than 900 transactions for the day. Also pictured are Yelonda Guthrie and Bettye Martin, vendors at The Trove. Hudgens is a massage therapist who will soon offer her services alongside Lynn Sanders at Magic Fingers, located in The Corner Store in Mineola.