2013 February « Around Dripping Springs

The City of Dripping Springs proclaims Alex Dormont and Hot Texas Swing Band Week

The Academy of Western Artists 17^th annual Will Rogers Cowboy Awards took place on Saturday, Feb. 2^nd at the American Airlines Training and Conference Center in Fort Worth. The Academy honored local musician Alex Dormont with the Western Swing Male Vocalist of the Year award. Past winners of this award include Leon Rausch, who sang with Bob Wills, Curtis Potter, and Billy Mata.

“I am thrilled to receive this award. I love Western Swing Music and love to play dancehalls”, Dormont said. Dormont has been in numerous bands including Ace in the Hole and Jimmy Day’s band. He also appeared as the fiddler in the film “Lonesome Dove”.

On February 12, the City of Dripping Springs proclaimed at its City Council Meeting that February 10^th-16^thshall be known as Alex Dormont and Hot Texas Swing Band Week. Mayor Todd Purcell read the proclamation which recognized Alex Dormont and The Hot Texas Swing Band for their musical contributions to western music and to the community of Dripping Springs.

Alex lives in Dripping Springs and has played music at local events for almost 30 years. Alex and The Hot Texas Swing Band, have performed during the last year at the Wild West Fest Rodeo Dance, The Friends Foundation BBQ at the Salt Lick, the annual Heritage Gala at the Pound House, the new Mercer Street Dance Hall, the Oktoberfest Celebration on Mercer Street, and at Hill Country Care. They also play every second Sunday for “Drippin’ Daninc'” at the Barn at Bell Springs.

Visit the Hot Texas Swing Band web site at: www.HotTexasSwingBand.com or contact: Alex Dormont (512) 264-2182 AlexDormont@hillcountrytx.net

Learns more about the Academy of Western Artists awards: www.AWAawards.org

When the founding fathers of Dripping Springs pulled their dusty wagons to a stop some 30 miles west of Austin in the 1850s, and decided to call this paradise in the hills would become their home, they didn’t likely realize that thousands of future residents would still be celebrating their decision in the 21^st century. But celebrate the Founders, we do! This year’s celebration marks the 26th annual Dripping Springs Founders Day Festival. The party will be held on Mercer Street from April 19-21 this year, promising another fun-filled weekend long celebration of all things Dripping Springs.

Food, Rides, Games, Music

Pack up the whole family and come experience the sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas of the festival, one of the largest in the Texas Hill Country. Sponsored by numerous local businesses and individuals, the festival officially kicks off at 6:30pm on Friday, with the traditional hometown Grand Parade on Mercer Street. So grab your cameras and lawn chairs and stake out your spot along the route. Make sure the kids have bags for the candy that will be tossed to them from folks on the floats!

Other festival highlights include the Mighty Thomas Carnival, live music, a BBQ cook-off with contestant groups that take up three blocks, a washer-pitching contest, a chicken-clucking contest, a car bash, a live auction and lots of children’s activities.

The Dripping Springs Lions Club is proud to once again sponsor carnival rides and games, a festival favorite. Festival organizers this year also expect more than 100 arts and crafts vendors and food booths, sponsored by St. Martin de Porres Church. The DS Chamber of Commerce hosts booths for area businesses wanting to promote their companies.

The Dripping Springs Cook-Off Club, a well-known local non-profit organization that donates its profits back to the community, will serve up the cooking competitions. Festival goers can sample scrumptious selections from more than 120 cooks, including fajitas, chicken, pork, brisket, salsa, chili, and pot luck. Judge for yourself! The Cook-Off Club awards will be presented Saturday at 6:15 pm and Sunday at 4:00 pm.

Then work off the calories by dancing to live music. Bands will play Friday night and Saturday night.

Visitors can also sign up Saturday at 10:00 am for the traditional washer-pitching contest, which begins at 11:00. Experts and novices alike will compete in this popular sport. And don’t forget the Chicken-Clucking Contest on Sunday at 4:00 pm. This entertaining contest always draws a crowd.

Truly Local

The first Dripping Springs Founders Day Festival was organized by a core group of individuals – Cecil Whinery, Jerry Bielke, Ed Rios, John Henry Cauthen and Pat Lyle – along with more than 50 charter members of the Dripping Springs Founders Day Association. The Lions Club was also instrumental in promoting the event as an avenue for local sponsoring organizations and the community to raise money for worthy causes around Dripping Springs. Astonishingly, more than 2,500 visitors attended the first festival. Since then, tens of thousands have attended. The City of Dripping Springs has overseen the festival since 2002. Visit the festival website at www.foundersdayfestival.com for more information.

Read about the 2012 festival on Around Dripping Springs: https://arounddrippingsprings.wordpress.com/2012/04/18/founders-day-happy-25th/

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