Santa Rosa Palomino Club...Vernon Texas is
home to The World Renowned Santa Rosa Palomino Club. The Santa Rosa Palomino Club,
honored as the official "Ambassadors on Horseback" for the State of Texas, the
outstanding riding club in America, and the national drill team championship, use
precision horsemanship, matched Palomino mounts, colorful attire and unparalleled esprit
de corps to maintain its position year after year as one of the greatest non-professional
riding groups ever assembled. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 1995, the
self-supporting group draws superlatives wherever it performs.
Santa Rosa Roundup...In May, the entire Vernon community welcomes top professional rodeo contestants. Thousands of visitors travel from miles around to attend one of the top rodeos in the nation, The Santa Rosa Round-up. Performances by the Santa Rosa Palomino Club highlight the four-day event.
Doan's May Picnic...The first settlers in
Wilbarger County were the Doans family who came to the area in 1878. 
They settled on the Red River
north of Vernon near a spot where the Western Trail of the famous Chisholm Trail crossed
the Red River going north to cattle markets over this route. Judge Doan and C.F. Doan
established a trading post at this point and the old building still remains. What began as
a May Day Celebration, became known as the Doan's May Picnic. Festivities
for the event included carnivals, rodeos, airplane rides, barbecues, story telling by
early settlers, and political speeches. Stores in Vernon used to close so that all of
their employees could attend the affair. Years later, it became a two-day celebration with
Sunday morning services. Since the 95th Doan's May Picnic, it is said to be the oldest
annual affair in the State of Texas.
Vernon's Red River Valley Museum is a cultural treasure. Many of the museum's permanent exhibits feature the work of Vernon area residents who have earned national acclaim, such as the Big Game Collection of William A. Bond, the J. Henry Ray archaeological exhibit, the sculptures of Electra Waggoner Biggs, and memorabilia of jazz great Jack Teagarden.