In the finest traditions of the former Boerne Berges Fest, Father’s Day weekend will again have a two-day festival and Hill Country Mile parade to celebrate.
“I’m so excited. I’ve been working on this for so long. I’m so thrilled,” said Veronica Brown, owner of Salvador Dobbs and one of the founding directors of Das Festival of Kendall, which kicks off Saturday, June 15, with a parade down the Hill Country Mile.
The parade kicks off the busy Das Festival of Kendall weekend, with events and an evening of music planned, through midnight, at Random Beer Garden on Upper Cibolo Road. Events pick up at noon Sunday at Random and continue through 8 p.m.
“We have been working on this for two years, meeting once a month, trying to create this as we envisioned it,” Brown said.
Parade director Michael Ethridge said he hopes to set a parade-entry record by attracting 100 entries.
“We want everyone to come. Bands, little leagues, dance groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, kids on bike, businesses, area officials — we want everyone to come and be a part,” he said.
Brown said Berges Fest as a name is still an entity of its own. “There was so much going on we finally said, ‘Let’s just change the name.’” Brown, a Boerne native, said it took her two years to accept the fact that the festival would have a different name.
“It wasn’t until about six weeks ago when I was like, ‘Alright, I’m ready. Das Festival, let’s go,’” she said.
The Das Festival organizers couldn’t advertise a kickoff parade until receiving approval from the Boerne Police Department, which happened on May 16.
“I couldn’t introduce ourselves the way I wanted to, until I had the word parade,” she said. “The biggest thing about this entire venture is starting off with a kickoff parade.”
Parade lineup begins well before the 10 a.m. start at North Street and proceed down Main to Hosack Street.
The rest of the weekend’s events take place at Random on Upper Cibolo Road, near Boerne Lake.
“We chose that destination because, in our first venture, they have everything we need: a stage, a bar, a liquor license, fields, parking. It just makes sense,” she said.
Events run 1-6 p.m. June 15 and 16, including egg toss, watermelon eating contest, blind-folded wheelbarrow races, the Dachshund races, sack races and day-long beer stein-holding contests.
Six bands — including the Boerne Village Band —take the Random stage on Saturday from 1 to 10:30 p.m., while five bands are set for Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
Future plans are to raise funds for scholarships, but this year, Das Festival organizers have chosen four area charities to receive proceeds: Kendall County Women’s Shelter, Heartland Children’s Home, Comfort Table and Food Pantry and Comfort Golden Age Center.
“Just show up, we’re going to have fun,” Brown said. “The Dachshund races require signup, but it’s going to be family fun.” Admission is $5 for adults (cash only at the gate), free for children 12 and under.
To enter the parade or to sign up for the Dachshund races, go to the group’s website, at: dasfestival.org. There is also a link for individuals who would like to volunteer.
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