DRIPPING SPRINGS BABBLE: DRIPPING WEEKEND: ALL FOUNDERS ALL THE TIME

DRIPPING WEEKEND: ALL FOUNDERS ALL THE TIME

After much planning and hard work by members of our community (shout out to our friend Pun), Dripping's biggest event, the annual Founders Day Festival, kicks off this evening and lasts until Sunday. The good times start with the carnival at 4:00PM on Friday, and then at 6:30PM it's the Grand Parade down Mercer Street. The parade will happen rain or shine. A little rain did not deter those founding families in 1853 from their wagon trail, and it certainly won't deter the Trophy Wives of Texas (and those who cannot wait to see their getups this year). Carnival rides and food vendors will be in full swing on Friday. Live music and the street dance start at 7:30PM.

On Saturday, the Tiger 5K Run starts at 9:00AM. Carnival rides, arts/crafts business booths, music and entertainment, cook off competitions, food and beer will have Mercer bustling by 10:00AM. The first band hits the stage at 10:30AM, which is also when sign up for the washer pitching tournament begins (tournament starts at 11:30AM). The City of Dripping Springs Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department is holding Hill Country Tastings from Noon - 8:00PM in downtown Dripping (across from Rippy's Feed Store).

Also on Saturday, to celebrate all things Founders, the docents at the Dr. Pound Pioneer Farmstead, from Noon - 3:00PM, will be Marjorie Owens and daughter Wanda Mauldin. Marjorie is Dr. Joseph and Sarah Pound's great-granddaughter. She lived in the home until graduation from high school, and she has many wonderful and vivid memories of life at the farmstead. If you are planning to become a docent, this is a wonderful opportunity to visit with a direct descendant who lived in the home. Additionally, Jim Ferrell of Sparkling Ironworks will give a blacksmith demonstration in the farmstead's barn.

On Sunday, festival events begin at 11:00AM, with bands on stage at Noon, the chicken clucking contest at 4:00PM, followed by the cook-off awards. The festival winds down at 5:30PM.

A complete guide to the festival, including everything from band schedule to parking information, is included in the April Hill Country Sun, is available around town (we were just at Print Plus and picked up a copy) and can also be downloaded on the festival's official website here.

Also, pre-sale carnival ticket sales are available for purchase now at Print Plus, Super S, Cattleman's, Cedar Valley Grocery, Wells Fargo, and City Hall.

See y'all at the festival!