MayFest features carnival, concerts, Market Days, more
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — MayFest 2015 begins with a schedule change — and that’s just one of a few changes organizers believe will better benefit attendees.
Most of the May 6-9 event takes place at Johnson Park, 230 Ave. J South.
This year’s carnival will begin at 5 p.m. May 6, a day earlier than in past years. Julia Adams, special events coordinator of the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, said the reason is simple.
“(May 10) is Mother’s Day,” she said. “People weren’t coming to the carnival. The carnival organizers suggested opening (May 6) instead. We said that’s a great idea.”
The carnival also opens at 5 p.m. May 7-8 and noon May 9. It closes at midnight all four days.
In addition, ArtFrog Academy is presenting a new feature for the young and young at heart. Starting at 10 a.m. May 9, participants can create boats using biodegradable paper to float down Backbone Creek at the park. There’s no cost to build a boat or launch it.
“People can come down and make (boats) out of natural resources,” Adams said. “There’s no harm to the environment. They’ll use sticks, leaves and natural features.”
While details of the contest are still being worked out, the coordinator said the person with the best boat gets a carnival wristband good for May 9.
Some activities will remain the same such as Main Street Market Day, which is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 9 on Main Street, and a washer pitching double-elimination tournament at the park. Signups begin at 11 a.m., and the tournament starts at noon near the Backbone Creek bridge. The cost to play is $10 per person.
And don’t forget about the free concerts at the Johnson Park amphitheater.
One of the challenges for booking the concerts, Adams said, is the Highland Lakes is home to diverse communities. And that means finding entertainers who most people will enjoy, she added.
“We always try to find things to bring people together and bring people to the park when the carnival isn’t open,” she said. “My membership coordinator said, ‘We have to get people down there during the day.’”
And that meant creating two different musical lineups May 8-9.
May 8 is being called “diverse night” and begins with the Latin/Salsa trio Cuba-va from 6-9:30 p.m. Then, DJ Freddie Martinez closes the night with his assorted playlist that covers country, rock, pop, Tejano and songs from movies.
Adams said Martinez, who has played at various dance halls and private parties, answers the question, “What can we do that’s a little more flexible?” And his music brings together the community because he doesn’t zero in on one kind of genre.
“Freddie’s playlist is diverse and has the ability to unite the community,” the coordinator said.
May 9 is what the chamber is calling an Open Mic Saturday and begins at 10 a.m.:
• 1 Foot N, 10 a.m.-noon — Rock and classic rock from the 1970s through the 2000s
• Joelton Mayfield, noon-1 p.m. — Faith Academy of Marble Falls senior who plays Americana, gospel, folk and country music
• Kassidie James, 1-1:30 p.m. — contemporary with a twist
• Michelle Dodd, 1:30-2 p.m. — contemporary with a twist
• The AintNeverBeens, 2-3 p.m. — a rock ’n’ roll to country pickin’
• The Magma Jets, 3-4 p.m. — all genres of music
The goal wasn’t to provide entertainers for specific audiences, Adams said. So if attendees see a wide range of genres, that’s done on purpose, she added.
“The open mic is local talent,” she said. “We have some who are older. 1 Foot N is an older trio, and some are in their teens and in their 20s. We have a little bit of country and some run-of-the-mill gambits.”
Later that night, the band Rewind Retro Rock n Roll, which specializes in music from the 1960s-1980s, takes the stage at 7 p.m. followed by William Lucas Pell at 9:30 p.m.
“William Lucas Pell played at the LakeFest (in Marble Falls) last year,” Adams said. “Saturday night has always been country night.”
Admission to the park is free, but carnival wristbands are $20 on May 6-7 and $25 on May 8-9. Carnival-goers also may purchase ride tokens for $1 each (most rides take more than one token.) Lawn chairs, food and non-alcoholic beverages may be taken to the concerts. No outside alcoholic drinks are permitted in the park, but a beer tent will be on site.
For more information about MayFest, go to marblefallsmayfest.com or call (830) 693-2815.
jfierro@thepicayune.com