SCHULENBURG – It’s time once again for the annual Schulenburg Festival, also known as the “National Party of Texas”. From Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 3, there is a full weekend of events with something for everyone. Activities include continuous live music, rodeo, cook-offs, carnival and kids' inflatables, parade, arts & crafts vendors, cornhole, kiddie parade, tricycle races, softball, basketball, fun run, golf, cow chip and egg toss, dunking board, and class reunions.
Friday’s nighttime music headliner is Logan Ryan Band, Desert Highway, and Erica Daniels. Headlining on Saturday night is Tanner Usrey and Texas Unlimited Band. Saturday afternoon’s music lineup starts with The Barditch Hippies, Texas Sundown Band and The Matt Bonner Band.
Music continues on Sunday after the parade. The Czechaholics lead off the afternoon, the Black Cat Choir from Round Top, and finally, the Texas Un limited will close out the weekend. “Sunday will be a fun mix of polkas, classic rock, feel-good music, country – lots of music for dancing and singing. The carnival and Kid Zone will still be going strong, so Sunday is a great day for a family, or a friend group, to start with the parade and end at Wolters Park,” says Michalke.
Both activities will be inside the festival grounds, so if you choose to attend on Friday night or on Saturday after 5 p.m., everyone aged 13 and up will have to purchase a festival ticket to enter the park and then access the carnival or the Kid Zone.
Thursday night there is no admission charge, so you can visit the carnival and Kid Zone, watch the rodeo slack, and enjoy some refreshments. Performing on stage will be Dawson DeBord and Southpaw.
The Festival CPRA/UPRA Rodeo takes place on Friday and Saturday night at 7:30, p.m. with bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, breakaway, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, and tie down. Mutton bustin’ will take place both nights. Also, the County Calf Scramble, with 12 students trying to catch a calf to earn a certificate towards an FFA project.
Wolters Park sure smells great on Saturday as several cook-offs are going on, including both IBCA and CASI-sanctioned barbecue and chili contests, as well as local competition for barbecue, chili, beans, Bloody Mary, and salsa. Plus, a kids’ cook-off is a newer addition to the lineup. Teams can still sign up to participate.
The festival parade on Sunday morning never disappoints. With dozens of entries, the parade marches through downtown Schulenburg, displaying floats from area towns, comical entries,
class reunion floats, patriotic and musical entries, fire trucks, and the ever-popular Shriners parade unit.
The Navidad Valley Cattlewomen Fun Run kicks off early Saturday morning, and the Young Farmers annual Egg Toss and Cow Chip Throwing contests are fun to watch or join. The cheerleader dunking booth always has a crowd. Younger patrons can enter the tricycle races and the kiddie parade, which take place on Saturday. Dozens of arts and crafts vendors will be set up near the pavilion for shopping as well. Class reunions will be going on under the pavilion on Saturday afternoon for several Schulenburg and Bishop Forest High School graduates.
Gate admission for all activities is $20 for Friday night, and $25 on Saturday evening after 5 p.m. Admission on Thursday and Sunday is free, and there is no charge to enter the park before 5 p.m. on Saturday. There is no admission charge for children 12 and under at any time.
Detailed information, including entry forms, can be found on the festival website: www. schulenburgfestival.org. The festival also has active social media to keep everyone up to date.
Profits from the festival go back into the community in the form of improvements, donations to local organizations, and scholar- ships. Many non-profits use the festival as a fundraiser as well. According to Michalke, “Over half a million dollars have been directly donated by the festival through the years, so it’s all for a good cause. The festival directors work year-round, but we couldn’t host it alone. We truly appreciate the support and efforts of our sponsors, the City of Schulenburg, Chamber of Commerce, and local law enforcement. Come on out and join us!”
It’s the National Party of Texas, and everyone’s invited!
