Trailhead Beer Garden will host its inaugural Salsa Fest from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the venue’s location at the end of the Kerrville River Trail on the Schreiner University campus.
The event is modeled after Trailhead’s Pot O’ Hot Fest, the winter soup cook-off now in its third year, but flips the format for peak summer heat.
“Pot O’ Hot proved this town shows up for a good cook-off,” said Jeremy Walther, owner of Trailhead Beer Garden. “Soup in the dead of winter works well, let’s try salsa in the dead of summer.”
Up to 20 business-sponsored makers will compete in Red and Green salsa categories. Ticketed tasters will sample the entries, vote for their favorites in the Tasters Choice awards and receive a commemorative holding tray, bottomless chips and entry into a prize drawing. Salsa tasting runs from 5 to 7 p.m., with the awards ceremony at 7:45 p.m.
Taster tickets are $15 each.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Doyle Community Center.
“The Doyle Community Center is a trusted space and resource for folks in the neighborhood,” said Rae Cardenas, executive director of the center. “We’re doing everything we can to help residents in the Doyle neighborhood who were impacted by the second flood this year. Many of them don’t have the resources to rebuild and get back into their homes — we’re grateful for support to help our neighbors return to their homes.”
The festival will feature free live music from 5 to 10 p.m., including performances by Bovine Sounds from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and the Travis Pierce Band from 8 to 10 p.m.
The Schreiner University Graphic Design/Communications Department will host live block printing demonstrations from 5 to 7 p.m., with custom merchandise available for purchase.
“Collaboration is the spicy sauce of community,” Walther said. “Every ‘maker’ is sponsored by a local business, so it becomes about the whole community showing up together for a fun event that supports recovery in the Doyle neighborhood.”
The event will take place rain or shine, with the Lewis-Robbins Pavilion serving as the rain location. Bakery JoJu will sell wood-fired pizzas during the event.
Sponsors for this year’s event include the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, Schreiner University, Peterson Health and KPUB.
A full schedule, ticket information and updates will be posted at trailheadbeergarden.com/salsafest.
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