Dripping Springs’ annual hometown birthday is just around the corner, and this year’s Founders Day Festival is shaping up to be another celebratory event. Whether it’s your first Founders Day outing or you’ve been going for decades, it’s arguably one of the city’s most popular events and one you won’t want to miss.
What, Where, and When
This long-running tradition has been going on for 35 years and this year’s event takes place April 26-28.
Like previous years, festival events will occur in the downtown area starting with the Grand Parade on Mercer Street on Friday at 6:30 PM. The celebration will draw to a close on Sunday evening, but there are plenty of activities and events to enjoy in between.
Admission to the festival is free for everyone, and all proceeds generated from the festival will go back into the community through the support of various civic programs, non-profits, churches, youth groups, and charities.
Grab a Seat for the Parade
If you plan on attending the Friday parade, be sure to bring a lawn chair to set up along the parade route so you can cheer on the various floats and civic groups as they weave through downtown.
You’ll want to hang around after the parade finishes, though, because there will be plenty of food and drink vendors, as well as live music, carnival rides, and artisan booths selling handmade gifts and crafts.
The action picks up again on Saturday at 10:30 in the morning before wrapping up just before midnight. In addition to the food and craft vendors, attendees can expect more live music, as well as street dances and cook-off competitions. There will also be community church service on Sunday at 10 AM before the festival re-opens again at 11.
The Festival 411
The festival draws thousands of attendees each year so knowing a few helpful tips will help to ensure that everyone has a safe and fun experience.
Attendance is free, but you will need to purchase tickets for carnival rides.
The festival’s official operation times are:
- Friday: 4 PM – Midnight
- Saturday: 10 AM – Midnight
- Sunday: 11 AM – 5 PM (Carnival ends at 7 PM)
RR12, from Mercer Street to Old Fitzhugh Road, will be a closed “no parking-tow away zone.” Previous years have offered shuttle parking at the high school, so check the website as the date gets closer.
Beer will be sold at the festival, but no glass bottles are allowed. Attendees can, however, bring in water bottles and are encouraged to bring sunscreen. First aid stations will be located throughout the festival.
Attendees are encouraged to leave all non-service animals at home. The downtown asphalt can get pretty hot in the middle of the day.
We’d be remiss not to mention that this festival depends on volunteers for its continued success. If you’d like to help make this year’s festivities another hit, check out the contact information on the festival’s website.
Caliterra is a Silver Sponsor of Founders Day. The Founders Day Festival is a prime example of downtown’s vibrancy, and the community spirit contributes to Dripping Springs being one of the best towns in Texas. If you’d like to find the perfect home here, reach out to the Caliterra team today.
