As if the blooms blanketing the countryside weren’t enough reason to take a springtime drive through the Hill Country, Burnet hosts its annual Bluebonnet Festival on the second weekend in April to celebrate the state flower.
The event kicks off Friday with a pancake breakfast, carnival, arts-and-crafts booths, a flyover by the Highland Lakes Commemorative Air Force, a pageant and street dance to close out the evening.
Saturday is the main day of activity, adding the grand parade, a day full of live entertainment and a destruction derby to the mix.
The Bluebonnet Festival Flyer offers a unique way for passengers near Austin to arrive at the event via steam train from Cedar Park on Saturday morning and enjoy the festival for a few hours before heading back. Details and tickets for the train can be found at www.austinsteamtrain.org.
There’s even a place for four-legged friends at the festival—the pet parade Friday evening is always a hit, and Sunday’s activities include wiener-dog races and runners towing decorated doghouses across the finish line.
This year’s Bluebonnet Festival is April 8-10. For more information, visit www.bluebonnetfestival.org, or contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 512/756-4297.
