In a July Facebook post, the Museum of the Southwest announced the approach of its 2023 annual SeptemberFest. The event is scheduled to take place the weekend of Sunday, Oct. 1.
"SeptemberFest will be here before we know it!" the post said. "New dates! September 29th to October 1st! Mark your calendars!"
The Museum of the Southwest's website also announced this year's SeptemberFest occasion. The event, which has been in operation for more than 50 years, will entail many different shops and activities, such as glassblowing and ceramics, all situated in front of the historic Turner Mansion. The event will also reportedly feature art demonstrations with artists from the local and regional areas as well as national artists, making SeptemberFest one of the "oldest and most revered" festivals of art in West Texas.
More information about the event, as well as a short video about it, can be found on the Museum of the Southwest website.
The Museum of the Southwest was opened in 1966 through the efforts of the Junior League of Midland, the website's history page said. It was moved in the summer of 1968 to the Turner Mansion. There it was renovated over the years to create more space, and eventually a Children's Museum there was established nearby. The museum is currently run by a board of trustees and a staff of approximately 20 people.
The Mansion was previously owned by the Turner family, the website said. Fred Turner, who was able to gain ownership of the property from the State of Texas, became hugely successful off the land, which at that time reportedly contained the largest known oil reserves on the planet. Eventually, along with various other property investments, he erected the mansion. After Turner and his wife's deaths, their heirs gifted the house to the museum for the enjoyment of the Midland citizens.