The second Burnet Cultural Arts Festival will be held Oct. 10 and 11, and Fort Croghan Day will be on Oct. 11.

The festivities begin with a juried art show of western artists with the winners being announced at the Friday night Grand Opening Gala at Longhorn Cavern from 7p.m. to 11 p.m. The evening kicks off with a social mixer and cowboy chow dinner in the cavern where guests will have time to visit with artists.

“Last year we concentrated on authors and story tellers as part of the literary arts,” said BCAF founder Ina Cooper. “This year we wanted to focus on Western Heritage beginning with our traditional opening night gala at Longhorn Cavern.”

Cooper said the highlight of this year’s event is the juried art show where first, second and third place winners will be awarded $1,000, $750 and $500, respectively. She said artists from as far away as New Mexico and Utah entered the show, which will be judged on Friday, Oct. 10.

“The jurors selected 19 entries that are very representative of Western Heritage art,” said Cooper. “Prizes will be awarded at the gala.”

On Oct. 9, art lovers can preview, and purchase, the selections between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in a historic Burnet home at 302 S. Boundary, on the corner of Boundary and Jackson. In addition to the juried art show and exhibition for adults, young artists Kindergarten to 12 will display their work during BCAF’s First Annual Children’s Art Exhibit and Competition.

On Saturdays events are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a cowboy breakfast for just $5 before shopping the western merchant and art vendors at the BCAF Market Between Vandeveer and Jackson Street just east of the historic Burnet Square.

“This is the second, hopefully, in a long series of cultural events to take place in Burnet over the forthcoming years,” Cooper said..

“Tickets for the Gala are $30 each and we expect a sell-out crowd so early reservations are encouraged,” Cooper said. “Weekend packages are available including lodging and events, in addition to the individual tickets.”

For lodging and ticket information call (512) 756-1800. For more on the festival visit www.bcafburnet.org.

Less than a mile from the square on Hwy. 29 West is Fort Croghan celebrating Burnet history. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can walk onto the historic grounds and experience life before television and radios, computers and cell phones.

New this year are several families demonstrating post civil war life of the 1870s. Re-enactors will exhibit period woodworking with vintage tools, Dutch oven cooking, quilting, and children’s games of the era.