Mayfest in Marble Falls features carnival, concerts and Market Day
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Rives has several challenges every second weekend in May.All because of Mayfest.
First, he has to choose which fried food he plans to eat. And second, he has to decide how much time he spends at each activity because he enjoys all of them so much.
But those challenges are a joy for the director, who is a self-proclaimed music lover and considers it a privilege to be involved in a weekend that brings so much to the area’s citizens.
This year’s Mayfest is May 9-12 at Johnson Park, 230 Ave. J South.
The carnival, open all four days, is popular for the younger citizens, and a magic show by Ronald McDonald at 11 a.m. May 11 also should bring them to the event.
Main Street Market Day remains a big attraction on Main Street, Rives added. Night Train, a quartet, will be playing throughout the day as part of Market Day.
And Rives is pleased the three concerts are free to attend.
The first one at 8 p.m. May 10 features Rey Avila y Sus Legitimos del Norte, a band that specializes in the Norteno Conjunto sound, according to events coordinator Julia Adams. The band is based in San Antonio.
“We’ve had a lot of different genres,” Rives said. “I thought it would be kind of fun to appeal to different cultures. We want to have music that reflects the makeup of our community.”
The May 11 concerts are Jeremy Steding at 7:30 p.m. and Rich O’Toole at 9:30 p.m.
Based out of Austin, Steding’s music is known as “High Octane Honky Tonk,” according to published reports. He’s had eight singles reach the Texas charts.
O’Toole’s sound simply can’t be defined, according to published reports. He is a little bit country, a little rock and a tiny bit rap.
Rives said chamber staff members spent quite a bit of time in choosing the concert artists.
“We looked at what was available, what our budget was, what was pleasing to concert-goers, and what would bring people out,” he said. “All (the artists) are on the verge of breaking out. It’s great music, and we got them to where people could see them for free.”
About the only thing left for Rives to do is decide on which fried food to eat.
“Fried Oreos or fried Twinkies?” he asked. “What else have I had that’s been sinfully delightful?”
For more information, go to www.marblefallsmayfest.com.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Mayfest
WHEN: May 9-12 — activities begin 5 p.m. May 9-10; 9 a.m. May 11; and 1 p.m. May 12
WHERE: Johnson Park, 230 Ave. J South in Marble Falls
ATTRACTIONS: Carnival, May 9-12; Main Street Market Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11; Ronald McDonald Magic Show, 11 a.m. May 11; Washer-pitching tournament, noon May 11
FREE CONCERTS: Rey Avila y Sus Legitimos del Norte, 8 p.m. May 10; Jeremy Steding, 7:30 p.m. May 11; Rich O’Toole, 9:30 p.m. May 11