Our History

Brazoria County Day in Austin was established in 1973 by a small group of Brazosport Chamber of Commerce board members to demonstrate support for our state Representatives and Senators, while also promoting Brazoria County and its location along the Texas Gulf Coast to legislators across the state.

At the time, many counties showcased their regions through signature foods—barbecue, sausage, chili, and seafood. With Freeport ranking among the world’s leading ports for shrimp by tonnage, Brazoria County sought a distinctive way to capture attention. The idea, conceived by Wayne Shaw, was to bring a “boatload” of locally harvested shrimp to Austin and present the “World’s Largest Shrimp Cocktail,” complete with boiled shrimp, homemade cocktail sauce, crackers, and refreshments.

In its inaugural year, the event was organized by a modest team of approximately 10 committee members and a handful of volunteers. Preparations began early on the day of the event, with time carefully allotted to return to the hotel and prepare before welcoming legislators, the Governor, and attendees traveling from Brazoria County. Participants arrived by bus, plane, car, RV, and other means, filling the venue with energy and enthusiasm.

Once the event concluded, attendees departed as quickly as they had arrived, leaving the original team to manage the extensive cleanup—often working until midnight. While not the most glamorous aspect of the event, these early efforts laid the foundation for what Brazoria County Day would become.

Today, the event has grown significantly, with more volunteers than tasks and a shared sense of pride among participants. Over the past five decades, Brazoria County Day in Austin has evolved into a longstanding tradition for both the county and the state capital. While many similar “theme days” have come and gone, this event continues to expand, now ranking among the most well-attended legislative gatherings in terms of official participation.

Of course, there are always stories worth telling—but tradition holds that they remain in Austin. To fully experience Brazoria County Day, one simply has to be there.

And don't forget—whoever is the last to leave Brazoria County for Austin, just be sure to turn out the lights.