SCHULENBURG — When the calendar turns to July, the whole town of Schulenburg starts gearing up for the annual Schulenburg Festival, also known as the “National Party of Texas”.
This year’s event will be held from Thursday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 4. Most events will take place in downtown Wolters Park.
Events include live music, rodeo, cook-offs, parade, kids’ in- flatables, arts and crafts vendors, kiddie parade, tricycle races, softball, golf, basketball, fun run, cornhole and more.
Headlining this year’s musical entertainment is Dos Borrachos, featuring Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager.
Texas Unlimited Band (TUB) will play before and after Dos Borrachos to get the party started, and then round out the night as they have for many years. “A few years ago we named TUB 'The Official Band of the Na tional Party of Texas’ for what they are able to do, keeping the crowd pumped up and engaged. It’s just one thing you must experience in person,” Festival President Michael Zweschper said.
Friday night’s lineup features other Texas country artists. Saturday afternoon’s music lineup starts at noon with The Barditch Hippies, a trio from the Luling area.
Broken Alibi from Hallettsville will play from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Music on Sunday is for dancing, and the festival usually kicks off Sunday with some polka music.
This year, The Czechaholics will bring their own unique, more contemporary style of polka music to the pavilion.
TUB will close out the festival with their Sunday afternoon mix of 80s rock and country, plus contemporary hits and feel-good music.
“Sunday afternoon has such a great vibe. It’s a cross between a big family wedding, a church picnic and a piano bar. A lot of people head to the park after the parade and spend the afternoon enjoying the music and refreshments, with friends and family of all ages”, said Michalke.
The Schulenburg Festival is much more than just live music. The rodeo, cook-offs and parade are also big draws.
Rodeo fans can look forward to two nights of full CPRA/ UPRA rodeo action, with eight events at the arena in Wolters Park.
The rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. Mutton bustin’ will take place both nights, so kids can join the cowboy action too.
The festival cook-off continues to grow. Cooks can showcase their talents in the chili, barbecue, beans, and bloody Mary contests, plus this year, there is a salsa competition.
The festival includes both CASI and IBCA-sanctioned chili and barbecue competitions for cooks wishing to earn points in those areas and local contests open to everyone.
The Sunday morning parade, from downtown Schulenburg to Wolters Park, features beautiful floats from area towns, comical entries, class reunion floats, pa - triotic and musical entries, fire trucks, and the ever-popular Shriners parade unit.
Other attractions include the annual Young Farmers Cow Chip & Egg Toss contests, the cheerleader dunking board, the second annual cornhole tournament, and the arts and crafts show, featuring dozens of vendors with various items for sale.
Young festival attendees can enter the kiddie parade and the tricycle races. The festival will set up a “Kid Zone” on the ball field in the southwest corner of Wolters Park. The area will have several inflatables, including some with water slides, operated by B&B Big Bounce of Hallettsville.
Four different sports contests, golf, softball, basketball, a fun run, and class reunions for Schulenburg and Bishop Forest high school graduates round out the festival.
Gate admission for all activities is $20 on Friday night and $30 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. Also, there is no admission charge for children 12 and under at any time.
The festival website, www. schulenburgfestival.org, provides detailed information on dates and times for music and entertainment, including entry forms. The festival also has active social media to keep everyone up to date. The festival directors invite everyone to the party that they work year-round to plan. “We are constantly trying to improve the festival and are so grateful for all the community support that makes this event possible,” said Zweschper.
"We appreciate the financial support of our sponsors, plus the efforts by the City of Schulenburg, local law enforcement, chamber, and volunteer workers to get this off the ground. Many local non-profits participate in and benefit from the festival as
well, which truly makes this a community affair." Profits from the festival are put back into the community in the form of improvements, scholarships and donations.
