The Katy Rice Festival has gone virtual this year as a means of keeping the tradition alive while allowing for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival began this morning and goes through Sunday.

“We understand that things are going to look a little bit different and it’s been a challenging year for all of us but we’re going to make the best of it,” said Kayce Reina, the city of Katy’s director of tourism, marketing and public relations in a social media announcement.

Access to the virtual festival which celebrates Katy's heritage as a rice farming community is being facilitated through the festival’s website, Reina said. This includes access to live-streamed concerts, a scavenger hunt, photo contest, a fun run to support the Katy Rotary Club’s scholarship programs and nearly 60 vendors.

“All of our vendors will be listed (at katyricefestival.com) so hop on, browse – do some shopping. Whether it’s for yourself or for your family – Christmas – we encourage you to support these local vendors and businesses,” Reina said.

Festival organizers have linked up with Keep Katy Beautiful to ensure one of the traditions of the festival – taking photos in front of Katy City Hall’s fall décor – continues. KKB has placed decorations at city hall and is sponsoring a photo contest that runs a few extra days with submissions due by Oct. 13 at noon. Entries are submitted through Facebook by tagging “Keep Katy Beautiful” and using the hashtags #keepkatybeautiful and #kkbfallphotocontest. Prizes include KKB-themed items and gift cards for Salt and Sugar Texas.

Concerts will be live-streamed on Facebook through the Katy Rice Festival and city of Katy pages as well as on the festival’s website at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Both shows will feature local musical acts starting with Hayden Baker Friday afternoon and Breakfast at Tiffany’s Saturday.

“2020 is going to be a year of great need and with so many things having to go virtual, it’s been a challenge to raise donations, so we encourage you to participate whether it’s you running or sponsoring your kiddo or you want to just make a donation, the fun run link is live on our website,” Reyna said.