This year, Burnet is celebrating its 35th year of hosting the Bluebonnet Festival! If you've never attended, make 2018 the year you do. It's an incredibly fun weekend, even when the bluebonnets are sparse. We at XLR8 would love to see you there and have compiled the schedule, as well as a few of our favorite tips for the best experience.
XLR8 Tip#1 – Go by the Burnet Chamber of Commerce booth located by the Main
Stage on the square and snag a copy of the event schedule. While you're there, purchase a t-shirt or two. XLR8 makes them for the Chamber of Commerce and
we don’t like leftovers! There's also a 35th anniversary special this year -- for $35.00, you can get a special basket with an anniversary shirt, Vino wine glass, bluebonnet seeds, and a ticket to the concert. It's a great deal!
XLR8 Tip#2 – We’re in Texas, y’all! You never know what the weather will be like,
so prepare for anything. Bring an umbrella (for rain or sun) or rain gear and a
sweater or lightweight jacket. Don't forget comfortable walking shoes!
XLR8 Tip#3 – Just like your mama always told you, be sure to wear sunscreen, chapstick, and a cap or hat. Don't forget to hydrate!
XLR8 Tip #4 – Parking is a premium, so go early to get a closer spot. Also, traffic is heavy on Hwy 29 and 281, so expect travel time to be slower.
XLR8 Tip #5 – Shopping! Our favorite…..bring a reusable tote or rolling cart/bag.
We’ve even seen mamas take their babies out of their strollers to put their buys in!
Your car will be parked fairly far away, so purchases can get heavy and bulky.
Make sure your cell phone is fully charged so you can take pictures of booth
numbers to remember which ones to purchase from. XLR8 IS AT BOOTHS P23 and P25 (directly across from the Burnet County Appraisal District) -- memorize this, y’all! Also some booths won’t be taking credit cards so make sure you have your checkbook and good old cash. There will be around 150 vendors, but don’t forget about the stores on the square, too! We’ve got some awesome places to shop.
XLR8 Tip #6 – Bathrooms are the festival Port-A-Potties, so bring hand sanitizer and maybe some wipes, too!
XLR8 Tip#7 – Come hungry...oh my gosh, y’all! The bluebonnet festival has some of the best food – about 25 different food vendors – or more. We can already taste the funnel cakes, corn on the cob, popcorn, turkey legs, hamburgers, etc. Don’t worry -- you’ll walk it off! In addition to the festival vendors, the local Kiwanis sponsors an All You Can Eat Pancake breakfast! See the schedule for date and time. AND, if you want some adult beverages, come by the Biergarten on Jackson Street sponsored by……you guessed it – XLR8! Times and dates are: Friday, April 13 th – 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 14 th – 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 15 th – 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Please drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive)!
XLR8 Tip#8 – If you have children, the Mighty Thomas Carnival is awesome! They
have been coming to the Festival for many years and have some fun rides and
booths. Make sure you have plenty of CASH on hand. Your kids will love this.
There are also many activities for children, such as The Pet Parade, Kids K run, Fun Run and Games, Bluebonnet Bicycle Decorating Contest, Rubber Ducky Race, and the Wiener Dog Race. Also, the Hill Country Flyer
(steam train) arrives on Saturday. Lots of fun things to do with children!
XLR8 Tip#9 – Who doesn’t love a parade? Burnet is fortunate to have one of the
BEST festival parades in the entire state – seriously. Many people brag about our
parade, and thousands of people come to watch it each year. Times are on the
schedule, but get to the square or parade route early to claim your spot.
XLR8 Tip#10 – If you love music, the Bluebonnet Festival is the place for you! Live
music begins on Friday evening, and there are music performers on several stages
with a concert on Friday evening and Saturday evening along with a street dance.
Gotta love living in a small town, ya’ll!
XLR8 Tip#11 – Bluebonnets! The best way to see them is to just get on Hwy 29
and head west, or on Hwy 281 and drive north or south. They are heartier in some
locations than others. Most folks are alright with you getting out of your car and
taking pictures in their yards. If you take pictures on the side of the road, please
get completely off the shoulder to take them. Be careful, and happy shooting!
XLR8 Tip#12 – The Highland Lake Confederate Air Force Fly Over will be on Friday, April 13 th from 5:30-6:00 p.m. If you are an aviation enthusiast, you’ll love this. The Burnet Gunfighter’s Shoot Out is also a favorite. There will be several of
these performances. See the schedule for exact times.
Here are some of the other events at the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival:
- Highland Lakes 5 and 10 K Run
- Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Show
- KBEY Radio 103.9 Live Remote
- Lakes Area Rod & Classic Car Display
- Studio 29 Dance Center Performances
- KITY Live Remote
- Mounted 1 st Cavalry Demonstration
- Clickety Cloggers Dance Club
- Contemporary Praise and Worship on Sunday Morning
- XLR8 is located in Burnet and Marble Falls, TX
- Burnet – 1102 N. Water St. 512 756-0930
- Marble Falls – 2409 B Commerce St. 830 693-0082
Bluebonnet Festival Schedule:
Thursday April 12, 2018
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
- Mighty Thomas Carnival Wrist Band/Family Night
- Corner of Boundary & League
Friday, April 13, 2018
6:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Kiwanis All You Can Eat Pancakes
- Masonic Lodge, 311 S. Main
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Show
- Herman Brown Free Library - Corner of Washington & Main Street
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- Arts & Crafts Vendors
- Burnet & 39s Historic Square & Jackson Street
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Biergarten
- Jackson Street
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
- KBEY Radio 103.9 Live Remote
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
- Burnet Bulletin Pet Parade Sign-Up
- In Front of Herman Brown Free Library
5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
- Mighty Thomas Carnival
- Corner of Boundary & League
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
- Bluebonnet Festival Opening Ceremonies
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
- Highland Lakes CAF Fly Over
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
- Burnet Bulletin Pet Parade
- Around Burnet & 39s Historic Square
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
- Live Music – Kick-off Street Dance with Bobby Flores
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
Saturday, April 14, 2018
8:00 am - 8:30 am
Kids K
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
8:15 am - 8:15 am
- YMCA of the Highland Lakes 5K & 10K
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Arts & Crafts Vendors
- Burnet & 39s Historic Square & Jackson Street
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Highland Lakes Birding & Wildflower Show
- Herman Brown Free Library - Corner of Washington & Main Street
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
- Lakes Area Rod & Classic Car Display
- Next to the Jackson Street Stage
9:30 am - 10:00 am
- Children’s Activities – Fun Run – Games
- North Side of Burnet & 39s Historic Square
10:00 am - 10:30 am
- Children’s Bluebonnet Bicycle Decorating Contest
- North Side of Burnet & 39s Historic Square
10:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Biergarten
- Jackson Street
10:30 am - 10:30 am
- Hill Country Flyer Arrives
- Train Depot
10:30 am - 11:00 am
- Studio 29 Dance Center Performance
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Bluebonnet Festival Grand Parade
- Burnet & 39s Historic Square
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
- Mighty Thomas Carnival
- Corner of Boundary & League
12:00 pm - 12:00 pm
- KITY Live Remote
12:00 pm - 12:00 pm
- Mounted 1st Cavalry Demontration
- Wallace Riddell Park
12:30 pm - 12:30 pm
- Rubber Ducky Race Sponsored by Literacy Highland Lakes
- Hamilton Creek
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
- Live Music – Ben Watson & The Hired Guns
- Main Stage on Burnet & Historic Square
1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
- Live Music – Brittany Nemec
- Jackson Street Stage
1:45 pm - 2:15 pm
- Clickety Cloggers Dance Club
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
- Burnet Gunfighter’s Shoot-Out
- Old West Town
2:15 pm - 3:45 pm
- Live Music – Big Anton & The Alley Cats
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
- Live Music – Shane Schilling
- Jackson Street Stage
3:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- Hill Country Flyer Departs
- Train Depot
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
- Burnet Gunfighter’s Shoot-Out
- Old West Town
4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
- Live Music – Andrew Ham
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
- Live Music – Allen Ray
- Jackson Street Stage
7:45 pm - 8:15 pm
- Live Music – Texas Crossing
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
8:30 pm - 9:45 pm
- Live Music – Kody West
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
10:15 pm - 11:45 pm
- Live Music – Radney Foster
- Main Stage on Burnet & 39s Historic Square
We hope to see you at the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival!