“It was an incredible weekend for Katy,” said City of Katy Mayor Dusty Thiele at the October 12 meeting of city council at City Hall, 901 Avenue C in Katy. “We wrapped up our most successful Katy Rice Harvest Festival on record.”

Thiele reported that the festival had experienced two consecutive record-breaking years, giving the city much to be proud of and reflecting the generosity of its residents.

The event, held in partnership with the Rotary Club of Katy and sponsored by the University of Houston Sugar Land Campus and Katy Campus, along with 60 other sponsors, raised over $160,000 for scholarships, Thiele said. The scholarship program, administered by the Rotary Club, benefits students of Katy ISD. More than 130 vendors participated in the event, along with 350 volunteers. Combined gate and carnival revenue increased by over $30,000 and beverage revenue increased by over $10,000, Thiele said.

Both Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, saw record crowds, Thiele said, with final attendance figures expected later in the week.

“Final financial totals are still being reconciled but we already know that this has been a record-breaking year,” Thiele said. “Behind those numbers are students whose dreams we can support through scholarships and organizations we can strengthen through community grants. At its heart, the Katy Rice Harvest Festival is about community.”