Burnet's 34th Annual Bluebonnet Festival arrives this weekend
By Amy Prayer
Highland Lakes Newspapers
Visitors numbering more than 30,000 each year won't have to wait any longer. The 34th Annual Bluebonnet Festival is here.
The Burnet Chamber of Commerce will begin closing off the Historic Downtown Square of Burnet on Thursday evening, April 6.
Kim Winkler, executive director of the Burnet County Chamber of Commerce, expects this to be a spectacular year.
“We sold out of spots for venders extremely fast and we had a lot of new entries for the parade,” said Winkler. “The weather is supposed to be nice, so that should bring a lot of visitors to Burnet. This is going to be a really good year.”
Whether festival goers enjoy rides, games, food, or good, old-fashioned fun, The Mighty Thomas Carnival will be on the corner of Boundary and League streets, open for enjoyment to the public with wristband/family night from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 6.
From 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 7, the Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast kicks off the weekend of fun. It will be held at the Masonic Lodge, 311 South Main Street.
Shortly following will be the Highland Lakes Birding & Wildflower Show, Biergarten and the Pet Parade Sign-up, located at the Herman Brown Library.
Bluebonnet Festival opening ceremonies will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, at the courthouse square. The Burnet Bulletin's very own Pet Parade will start at 5:45 p.m., and will star some of Burnet residents' cutest furry friends.
The Law Office of Cody Henson will host the Miss Burnet Bluebonnet Scholarship Pageant on the Main Stage at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Why not end an eventful day by attending the live music kick-off Street Dance with a performance by Josh Ward from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Main Stage?
There will be a $10 admissions fee as well as a $5 cooler fee when attending the live music.
A full day is set for Saturday, April 8, as activities and races will start bright and early with the YMCA of the Highland Lakes 5K & 10K. Registration is at 6:30 a.m. and will be at the Main Stage. Races will begin promptly at 7:45 a.m.
Throughout the day the festivities will continue, including the annual Bluebonnet Festival Parade, Old West gunfights, arts and crafts vendors, the carnival and much more.
To view the full schedule on what this year's festival will include, go online to bluebonnetfestival.org.
