The 39th Annual Burnet Bluebonnet Festival, which draws approximately 30,000 visitors to town annually, will be in full swing April 8-10.

Allison McKee, Burnet Chamber Executive Director states, “Bluebonnet Festival is an exciting event for the entire community. Our Grand Parade was on hiatus for 2021 due to gathering precautions, so we are excited to have it back and better than ever, as it is one of the big highlights of the weekend.”

Pre-festival activities begin Thursday, April 7, with the opening of the Mighty Thomas Carnival at 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 8. Vendors begin lining the streets of the square downtown with various foods, arts, crafts, and unique wares, followed by the opening ceremonies and Highland Lakes CAF fly-over to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Live music begins Friday, with free concerts Friday evening, Saturday during the day, and Sunday. Saturday night’s opening act, Braedon Barnhill, will take the main stage at 8:00 p.m., followed by Reckless Kelly at 9:45 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person with a $5 cooler fee and can be purchased on the event’s website.

For runners of all ages, the Kids K, 5k, 10k and Senior 2K will take place on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Runners and walkers can register early online or take advantage of same-day registration and packet pick up by the main stage on the square. 5K and 10K participants will be chip-timed and all participants receive an event t-shirt with their registration. Kids K is $12 until April 3 and $15 after. 5K and 10K are $25 until April 3, then the price increases to $30 after April 3 and to $35 on race day. Senior 2K is $12 until April 3 and $15 after. Children in strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome to accompany runners/walkers.

The festival is full of family-friendly events including a classic car display, pet parade, kids bicycle-decorating contest, dance performances, demolition derby, corn hole tournament, and wiener dog race.

“The wiener dog races are a popular Sunday afternoon event that really help bring the essence of the Bluebonnet Festival to a fun close,” notes McKee. “The dogs line up in front of the main stage and emerge out of a chute toward the finish line, or wherever their attention lands, which is entertaining by its very nature.”

For more event information and to see the entire schedule of events, go to www.bluebonnetfestival.org.