Longview news diary and sports
Longview is a city spread between Harrison County and Gregg County in Texas. This city is considered to be the commercial hub for the Longview Metropolitan Statistical Area and is considered one of its principle cities. Having a population of approximately 77,000 people, Longview features a majority population led by Whites, Hispanics, Native Americans, African Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asians respectively.
The Longview sports scene is fairly different and unusual. Aside from the regular college sports of football, volleyball, Baseball, golf, softball, soccer as well as other varsity games, they host several annual events that vary from boat races, balloon races, motorcycle rallies, athletic events. All these events happen through the year and celebrate some aspect of sports coupled with their culture.
In the month of January the East Texas Boat, RV and Camping Expo occurs. This 3 day event is organised on the last week of January each year. The foundation of the event was laid by way of the owners of Longview Marines, Gene Brady and Dale Clark and has been active since 1982. This expo brings RVs, yachts, boats and motorcycles, ATVs from all across East Texas in one location drawing almost over 10,000 attendees annually.
Yet another significant attraction in this area is the Annual Memorial Day Motorcycle rally. This rally brings individual bikers and motorcycle riders and such clubs from all over Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. This event began in 2006 and has been an important attraction in this region. The big event includes numerous bike games, a bikers show, music and parades and the big attraction known as the Teresi Dyno-Drag. During this interactive event, bikers test their skills in racing to see how fast they can really go in a quarter mile stretch.
One of the most interesting festivals that take place in Longview is the Alley Fest which is held at the onset of summer. This fest began in 1978 and hosts an art show, a music festival, a food contest as well as a marathon run that is a 1 mile, 5K and 10K course. The latest introduction to the fest is the Kids Marathon run where children between 5 to 12 participate in a 25.2 miles run.
The most famous amongst every one of these is the Great Texas Balloon race that is held in the month of July every year at the East Texas Regional Airport. This event is regarded as the “longest running hot-air balloon race in Texas”. This race began in 1978 during the launch of the Longview Mall as being a giant celebration. It continued thereafter and it has evolved into a competitive event of first class standards. This event is said to attract world-class hot air balloon pilots from all across the world and comprises of balloon fights and balloon glows. The added attraction in this event is always to observe how these balloons get inflated and handled. It is an event that is held in association with the North American Balloon Association and invites eighty special sport balloons.
The Longview News Journal is the major newspaper publication in this area and dates back to 187. This publication carries all the local news, sports and community details.