Natalia’s “Golden Age of Bluebonnets” March 29-31

The 2018 Natalia Bluebonnet Court is Queen Juliana Sanchez, King Christian Contreras, Princess Natalie Rodriguez, Prince Logan Martinez, and Duchess Maisee Wulff.

The 2018 Natalia Bluebonnet Festival and Parade is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Natalia. The festival is held annually the last weekend of March. This year’s theme “The Golden Age of Bluebonnets” commemorates the golden anniversary of the City’s incorporation. Members of the Natalia Bluebonnet Festival Committee are drawn from all over town. There are members from the Natalia Veteran’s Memorial Library, the Natalia Public Library Foundation, the City of Natalia, Natalia Police Department, the Municipal Development District and the community at large. Throughout the year various members are tasked with parade and vendor coordination, entertainment, fundraising and more. Plans for this year’s celebration began last April, right after last year’s festival ended. With the start of 2018, members hit the ground to gather up loose ends, all with the result of creating a wonderful golden anniversary party for the City. The festival features concerts with Country Western and Tejano bands, dancing, a carnival, food, drinks and craft vendors. There is something for the whole family!
Events kick off Thursday evening, March 29th with the opening of the carnival, provided by Garry Moore Amusements. On Friday, at 6 pm DJ Rockin’ Reece opens the evening festivities, with Matt Hawk taking the stage at 6:30 pm, followed by the Texas Tone Rangers at 8 pm and Jeffrey Charles rounding out the evening at 10:00 pm. On Saturday, March 31st, the parade begins promptly at 11 a.m. (Any parade participants should remember to be in place no later than 9:45 a.m. for judging.)
This year the Bluebonnet Parade with feature THREE Grand Marshalls. Representing the Community will be Mr. and Mrs. Tony Alaniz, owners of Alaniz Garage for 54 years; Representing the Municipal Side will be Mr. Dan McCorn – one of the original members of the first council in 1968; and representing the school it will be the Natalia High School Football and Powerlifting teams, both who have done great things this year!
Directly after the parade, the Natalia High School Band will perform the National Anthem, with FM Studies Youth Orchestra playing at 1 pm; Exquisite Dance Company at 2pm; Larry Mercer at 3 pm; Artie V Y Grupo Suave at 4:30 pm; Roy Reyes and Leather Rebel at 6:30 pm; Tri City at 8:30 pm, and Joe Vic Reyna Y Los Kumbacheros taking it home at 10:30 pm. (Don’t forget to bring your own chair and shade, as both are limited on the festival grounds.) Please remember no outside food and drinks are allowed at the festival. We have lots of great food and beverage choices available from our vendors.
This year we have a limited selection of official festival T-shirts available for sale, in addition, the festival committee is taking pre-orders for Natalia’s commemorative festival medal, which will be available for pickup in early April. These may be viewed online at the festival’s Facebook page.
The U.S. Postal Service will offer a special pictorial cancellation on March 31st to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Natalia. If you miss getting your mail postmarked Saturday morning, pre-stamped postcards will be available for sale at the festival’s soda and water booth. The 50th Anniversary pictorial cancellation stamp was designed by Brenda Fernandez, with Adriana Loza serving as the graphic artist, both of Natalia.
The 2018 Natalia Bluebonnet Royal Court is made up from Natalia-area young people. This year’s court includes: King Christian Contreras, Queen Juliana Sanchez, Prince Logan Martinez, Princess Natalie Rodriguez and Duchess Maisee Wolff. The young people and their families worked hard through the year and recent weeks to raise money to secure a coveted position on the court and the opportunity to represent the City of Natalia and festivals throughout Texas. For the past several years all the funds raised have been used to upgrade the library facilities, purchase new books for the library collection, and obtain upgraded technology. All resources designed to benefit the citizens of Natalia in their educational and career goals.
The Natalia Bluebonnet Festival Committee would also like to thank the OFFICIAL sponsors of the 2018 Natalia Bluebonnet Festival: The City of Natalia, The Natalia Public Library Foundation, Town and Country Mobile Home Park, Medina Electric Cooperative, HEB, ACI, BEST Bail Bonds, and Community National Bank. We greatly appreciate their sponsorship and help in pulling off this year’s festival.
For more information about this week’s festival, please go to nataliabluebonnetfestival.com.