Planning has been underway since October, 20, 2014, the day after last year’s Heritage Days, now called Llano’s Wild West Weekend. What to expect this year is a weekend of Wild West Fun, Chuck Wagon Cook-off and two days of a PRCA Rodeo.
The weekend gets started on Thursday as wagons start rolling into Badu Park for the 11th annual Llano River Chuck Wagon Cook-off, the event that created the inspiration for the festival back in 2005.Eleven wagons will line the banks of the Llano River this year with the authenticity of the old west. On Friday morning the park will be filled with youngsters from Llano ISD Elementary schools and Llano Christian Academy as they learn how life was on a trail ride in the early days of the west. They will explore the park becoming knowledgeable in horse shoeing, hitching a wagon, making biscuits from scratch and cooking them in the ground, along with learning how to rope a calf.
At 7:30 on Friday and Saturday evenings the Llano Wild West PRCA Rodeo will be held at the John L Kuykendall arena. Mutton Bustin` sponsored by Tres Rios Silver and a boot scramble both nights added to the excitement of a full blown rodeo! Friday night is “Dress Like a Rodeo Clown” night hosted by the Llano Chamber of Commerce for ages 5-11, all entrants will get to walk around the arena with a real rodeo clown and the bull fighters plus get an 8x10 photo compliments of the chamber. Joe’s Bar will be hosting a lively Poker Tournament at 10:30 on Friday night that should bring out some real desperados to one of Llano’s downtown landmarks.
On Saturday the festival at Grenwelge Park opens with vendors, food, entertainment and added this year, a dutch oven cobbler contest. Arts and Crafts vendors will line the street between the Library and Red Top Jail, and between the Library and Grenwelge Park. Legendary cowboys and reenactors will have gun fights break out sporadically in the festival to add to the lure of the festival. On the courthouse square there will be storytelling, kid’s activities along with real rodeo cowboys, bullfighters and a rodeo clown, and courthouse tours during the day. Western Trappings will also hold an Open House and Reception on Saturday, October 17, from 9 to 5 at the Llano County Museum.
The much anticipated, sold out, voted one of the best chuck wagon meals in the country, will be served at “High Noon” on Saturday, October 17. Chicken fried steaks, handmade biscuits, beans and dessert will be in store for the lucky 550 folks that were able to get tickets. On hand this year will be 28 Model A cars from San Antonio that will make their way from the courthouse square to Badu Park around 10:30am. After the smoke has cleared, and the judges have made their final decisions, the awards ceremony will take place announcing the winners in each category and the top wagon of 2015.
The festival continues through the day at Grenwelge Park and the evening culminates with the second performance of the Llano Wild West PRCA Rodeo at the JLK and a street dance Saturday featuring Jason Roberts. Sunday morning, Llano Christian Academy will provide a breakfast at Grenwelge Park and the stage will be filled with Gospel music, for all event times go to www.llanowildwestweekend.com, it will be a weekend you will not want to miss.
