SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 KAPS HOSTS BLOOD DRIVE FOR COMMUNITY
TIGERS CELEBRATE VICTORY PAGE 9
PAGE 10
News-Dispatch © Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 42 • No. 51
Serving Hays County, TX
GO BIG OR GOURD HOME!
Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival returns for second year BY MEGAN WEHRING DRIPPING SPRINGS – Growing up in a family who loved the autumn season and planned their own pumpkin patches, Christopher Durst was inspired to create the Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival. The festival was created in 2021 after its founders discovered that the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead was in need of repair and renovation – the space was shuttered at the time. Durst, the festival’s principal founder, has been organizing pumpkin patches with his family for nearly 30 years. Durst considers the Farmstead to be a true Texas treasure as it was the first settlement in what is now known as the city of Dripping Springs. Durst and his team wanted to benefit both a nonprofit organization and the local community, leading them to decide to give a portion of the proceeds from the festival to the Farmstead. “[The Farmstead] is why Dripping Springs exists,” Durst explained. “The first church, the first school [and] the first medical center. It was a community gathering point. It was first settled in 1854. People rode in their wagons for a day or two to come here and all meet in
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
People of all ages are welcome at the 2022 Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival, where they will find several activities including face painting. this area. The family did a lot for the community.” While the production of the Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival is an expensive endeavor, Durst said it is all worth it in the end to see the joy on the community’s faces. “It’s certainly worth it,” Durst said. “When you see the community out here – parents, all of the kids and everybody having a good time, that’s what really makes it worth it to us.” Since the 2021 festival, Durst said his team has developed a good relationship with the city’s staff, Dripping Springs City Council, Dripping Springs Parks and Recreation
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Department and the board that oversees the Farmstead property. “We are really excited to continue it and I’m looking forward to it being an annual tradition for families,” Durst said. Opening weekend for the Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival will take place Sept. 24 and Sept. 25. The full festival will run through Monday, Oct. 31 with each weekend featuring different themes and activities. Weekend admission is $10 and weekday admission is $5. For more information about the festival, including activity and ticket details, please visit drippingsprings pumpkinfestival.com/.
Pumpkins sit in a wagon at the 2021 Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival is coming back in full swing, beginning Sept. 24, at the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead – which is the first settlement in the Dripping Springs area, nestled near heritage oak trees including one that is at least 500 years old.
SUPPORTING LOCAL MUSICIANS
Dripping Springs to host 8th annual Songwriters Festival BY MEGAN WEHRING
stages, “in-the-round” Nashville style. Attendees have the DRIPPING SPRINGS opportunity to enjoy – Fifty songwriters will be the festival for free and performing in a three-day festival in Dripping Springs. experience artfullycrafted original songs by The eighth annual amazing local, national and Dripping Springs international artists because Songwriters Festival will of the sponsors who take place from Oct. 14 underwrite the program, through Oct. 16 in historic downtown Dripping Springs according to a news release. Supporting local – the songwriters will businesses, the stages will perform on eight unique be found at Hudson’s on Mercer, Mazama’s Coffee Co, Acopon Brewing, The Barber Shop, Warehouse Courtyard, Sidecar Tasting Room, Dog ‘N’ Bone and Haus of Jayne. Both indoor and outdoor stages will be set as “listening rooms.” The Gospel Brunch will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15 at Hudson’s on Mercer. Available on a first-come, first-serve basis the gospel show will feature several songwriters performing their own tunes as well as traditional gospel favorites. “We’re proud to bring this level of rising star songwriters to the Dripping Springs area,”
said Pam Owens, President/ CEO of the DS Visitors Bureau. “Our festival has a great reputation throughout the songwriter community, and this year we had 243 talented songwriters apply – so we know we have picked 50 excellent artists to perform. They represent many genres, including country, Americana, rock, and blues. And we’re excited to bring the Headliners Concert back, too.” The Headliners Concert on Saturday night is back after a five-year hiatus with this year’s show at Mercer Dancehall featuring Aaron Barker, Leslie Satcher, and David Lee. The writers, who will be singing inthe-round, have authored songs recorded by George Strait, Willie Nelson, the Oak Ridge Boys, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, Pam Tillis, Gretchen Wilson, Patty Loveless, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks and Maren Morris. Ticket details for the headliner concert and more information about the festival can be found at destinationdrippingsprings. com/p/events/drippingsprings-songwriters-festival.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Residents are welcome to attend the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival in October.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
TEXAS ROLLER DERBY HOSTS FALL TRYOUTS – PAGE 3
The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323