From music to mutts, from chili to zombies, the first annual Rockdale Fall Music Festival will have something for everyone downtown Saturday.
Held in connection with the annual Kay Theatre Run—which this year has a zombie-Halloween theme—the festival is sponsored by the Rockdale Downtown Association.
Except for the run and wiener dog races, all the events are in the Wolf Park area, corner of Milam and Main. That block of Main (FM 908) will be closed off.
Events include a chili cookoff, live music, domino and washer tourneys, the Rockdale ISD P-TO’s annual fall carnival and capped off with a street dance from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
There’s no park entry fee—competitions have fees—and attendants may bring their own lawn chairs.
MUSIC—The heart of a music festival is, of course music, and there will be a full day of it under the Wolf Park Pavilion.
From 10 a.m. to 12-noon, various musicians will take the stage, followed by: 12-noon to 1:30 p.m., Dale and Waylon; 2 to 3 p.m., Treble Soul; 4 to 5 p.m., Joel and the Roadkillers; 6:30 to 8:30, Ryan Elise Fatheree; 8:30 to 10, Brooke Graham (street dance).
Graham is fresh off a couple of musical triumphs. Her single “Me Time” was the No. 1 countdown for three months on Florida’s radio A1A and her most recent single “Salty Situation” has been No. 1 there for the past four week with “Me Time” still at No. 7.
The Communities in Concert Band plays from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Kay Theatre.
RUN—This year the Kay event is termed a Zombie 5K Run and Trick or Treat 1K Run for the youngsters.
Costumes are encouraged for the 5K run and “definitely encouraged” for the kids 1K.
The event is set for 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
First event of the morning is the kid 1K, followed by the big 5K through the streets of Rockdale.
Entry fee is $20 until 8 p.m. Oct. 5 and $25 thereafter.
Runners and non-runners are encouraged to eat a pancake breakfast inside the Kay, $6 for adults and $3 for children.
For more info, or to sign up, go to: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Rockdale/KayTheater5KRunWalkand-KidsDash.
CHILI—There are four categories in the cookoff, chili, beans, margaritas and Bloody Marys.
Chili and beans will be judged by the public.
Wrist bands will be sold at $5 each, entitling the holder to 10 tickets, five for chili and five for beans.
Votes are cast by dropping tickets in buckets which each cooking team will receive. At the end of the day prizes will be awarded based on the number of tickets in buckets.
Margaritas and Bloody Marys will be judged by appointed officials.
WIENER DOGS—
Owners of “wiener dogs (dachsunds) and wannabe wiener dogs” (mixed dogs weighting 20 pounds or less) will race on the north side of the Kay Theatre.
Registration for the 70-foot course is from 10 to 11:15 a.m., “boot camp” dogs practice for free from 11:15 to 11:45 and races begin at 12-noon.
Entry fee is $20 per dog, $25 on race day. Forms are available at Sabal Dental, Rainbow Courts, Rockdale PAWS and Rockdale Fall Festival Facebook pages.
For more information contact Dana Pendleton, danagpendleton@sbcglobal.net or Dan Ratliff at ivr@swbell.net or 512-799-8502.
The event is a fundraiser for Rockdale PAWS (Pet Adoption Welfare Services). PAWS downtown facility at 125 North Main (west side of street between the Kay and Wolf Park) will be open on Saturday.
TOURNEYS—Registration for the washer tourney, to be held on the east side of Wolf Park, begins at noon with double-elimination play starting at 1 p.m.
Fee is $20 per person.
The domino tourney will be held in The Community Center, 109 North Main, across the street from Wolf Park.
Registration is at 8:30 a.m. with play starting at 9:30.
Entry fee is $30 per team.
PUMPKINS—There will be game booths around the park area for the Rockdale P-TO’s annual fall carnival. The RHS Golden Girls will be featured.
Also on display will be a pumpkin patch, vintage cars and campers and kiddie train rides beside the International & Great Northern Depot-Museum, located diagonally across the street from Wolf Park.
COSTUMES—Cast members from the Sherwood Forest Faire of McDade will be in medieval dress to greet music fest-goers in the Wolf-Park area Saturday.
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