The Schulenburg Festival is also known as the “National Party of Texas”, and this year’s festival will be a PARTY to remember. From the first notes on Thursday night to the last song on Sunday evening, Wolters Park in Schulenburg is the place to be from August 4th through August 7th, for live music all weekend, two nights of rodeo action, cookoffs, parade, carnival, and more.

 

Headlining this year’s Schulenburg Festival is “Dos Borrachos”, featuring Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager. These two performers got the idea for this partnership while on a songwriting trip in Mexico.  They have recorded several songs together and will entertain the crowd with those tunes, along with each singer performing his own songs. 

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“Each of these entertainers on their own would be, and have been, bona fide headliners for our festival.  Having them here together, at the same time, will be a show like no other,” according to Nicole Michalke, Advertising Director.  Fowler has performed at the Schulenburg Festival 4 times, most recently in 2012, while Creager was an annual performer from 2000 through 2005, and his most recent appearance was in 2015.  “We are so looking forward to having them both back here again, so the crowd can sing along with all their favorites from these two.  Their show will provide the party atmosphere we strive for,” says Michallke.

 

Listening to all of the hits from Fowler and Creager would take hours, but some of the most popular songs from Kevin Fowler include “Long Line of Losers”, “Hard Man to Love”, “100% Texan”, “Ain’t Drinkin Anymore”, “Don’t Touch My Willie”, and crowd favorite “Beer, Bait and Ammo”.  Roger Creager’s top hits include “Love”, “The Everclear Song”, “Things Look Good Around Here”, “L.A. Freeway”, “Long Way to Mexico”, “River Song”, and of course, “Fun All Wrong”.

The 2019 Dos Borrachos album included the pair’s take on country classics such as Tom T. Hall’s “I Like Beer” and Merle Haggard’s “Barroom Buddies”, along with original songs such as “Salt” and “Drunk Again”.

 

Fowler and Creager will take the stage on Saturday night from 9 to 11 pm.  Warming up the crowd for the show, and then continuing the party again afterwards, will be Texas Unlimited Band (TUB).  “It’s hard for us to put into words what TUB means to the Festival,” says longtime President Michael Zweschper.  “They are second to none in how they can energize a crowd, and keep them dancing and singing. They have helped put the ‘Party’ in the National Party of Texas.  It’s one of those things you just need to experience in person”.

 

Friday night of Festival weekend will be a party in and of itself as well.  Musical entertainment kicks off with The Triumphs, making their return to the Festival stage.  The band endured an 18-month hibernation due to COVID, but they are ready to ‘Bring Back the Times' once again. The Triumphs’ mainstay is still tunes from the 1960s, but they also include some ‘70s and ‘80s music, and a few from way back as well.  All music lovers are sure to know at least every other song they play, if not more.

 

The second half of Friday’s show brings some fairly new music, from a young Texas Country star, Carson Jeffrey, making his Festival debut.  Jeffrey hails from nearby Cat Spring, and grew up listening to a variety of Texas music.  A bona fide cowboy, with years of roping under his belt, he started writing some songs in high school.  After playing some acoustic shows in college, he realized he had a following.  His music is full of raw, honest emotion, and his lyrics are relatable to just about anyone. 

 

Sunday is full of live music as well.  Texas Dream plays from 12:30 to 3:30 pm, and Texas Unlimited Band will close out Sunday from 4 to 8 pm. “Sunday is always a great day for families to enjoy the Festival.  Watch the parade, then head to the park for lunch and some great music that everyone can dance to.  The carnival will be open for the kids, the arts & crafts vendors are set up for some shopping, and the fans under the Pavilion keep things relatively cool for August,” says Michalke.

 

Thursday evening is another option for live entertainment and a family night.  “Several years ago, we realized that more and more people were coming to the park on Thursday evening, the night before things really got started.  Many of our locals volunteer in several Festival booths, and Thursday was a good night to relax with their families, before the busy weekend.  So we started adding various musical acts, and we have enjoyed having Southbound 955 here for the past few years.  These talented area young folks are a perfect fit for our Thursday stage,” says Zweschper.  On Thursday night, along with the music, the carnival (sponsored by the Schulenburg Lions Club) will be open, as well as various food and drink booths.  The rodeo will have their slack contestants performing, and you can watch that action for free that evening.

 

The Schulenburg Festival is much more than just live music.  The rodeo, cookoffs, and parade are also big draws.  Rodeo fans can look forward to two nights of full CPRA/UPRA rodeo action, with 8 events (bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, breakaway, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, and tie down), at the arena in Wolters Park.  The rodeo starts at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday evening.

 

Cooks can test their skills in the chili, BBQ, beans, and bloody Mary contests.  The Festival includes both CASI and IBCA-sanctioned chili and BBQ competitions, for cooks wishing to earn points in those areas, and also local contests open to everyone.

 

The Sunday morning parade, from downtown Schulenburg to Wolters Park, features beautiful floats from area towns, comical entries, class reunion floats, patriotic and musical entries, fire trucks, and the ever-popular Shriners parade unit. 

 

Other attractions include the annual Young Farmers Cow Chip & Egg Toss contests, the cheerleader dunking board, and the arts and crafts show, featuring dozens of vendors with various items for sale. 

 

Young Festival attendees can enter the ever-popular kiddie parade and the tricycle races, and can visit the carnival for rides and other activities.

 

Rounding out the Festival are 4 different sports contests (golf, softball-men's and women's, basketball, and a fun run), along with class reunions for graduates from Schulenburg and Bishop Forest high schools.

 

Gate admission for all activities is $20 for Friday night, and $25 on Saturday evening after 5 pm.  Admission on Sunday is free, and there is no charge to enter the park before 5 pm on Saturday.  There are no presale tickets this year.  Also, there is no admission charge for children 12 and under at any time.

 

Detailed information, including entry forms, can be found on the Festival website: www.schulenburgfestival.org.  The Festival also has active social media to keep everyone up to date.

 

The Festival Directors invite everyone to come enjoy themselves all weekend.  “Last year, we were so glad to have a Festival again, after skipping 2020 due to COVID, but an uptick in cases last year in July kept a lot of people away.  We are hoping for a large crowd this year, as we have been preparing for this since last August,” according to Michalke.  The Festival wishes to thank all of their generous sponsors, who help support the event, which aims to raise funds for various community activities and needs.

 

Whether you want to get “Loose, Loud & Crazy” with Kevin Fowler, “Turn It Up” with Roger Creager, get “Hooked On a Feeling” with The Triumphs, dance with your “Ranch Girl Dream” to Carson Jeffrey, or just belt out “Sweet Caroline” with TUB and a couple thousand friends, the Schulenburg Festival has got you covered.  It’s the National Party of Texas, and YOU are invited!!