Saturday night’s all-Spanish comedy show at Corky’s brought a packed house and lots of laughter to South 2nd Street. Several big events will be held during the next few weeks, ranging from Food Truck Frenzy to Foreigner to Pawz in the Plaza and more. David Stone photo

‘Fun season’ arrives in Temple area

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

Despite today’s blast of cold air, spring is just around the corner and the Temple area is getting ready to celebrate warmer weather with festivals, events and family fun.

Starting Sunday, we will have an added hour of daylight in the evenings with the start of Daylight Saving Time. But, first we have to sacrifice an hour. Before turning in Saturday night, you might want to set your clocks forward one hour (i.e., losing one hour) to “spring forward.” Daylight Saving Time ends Nov. 6.

OK, back to the fun.

DOWN @ THE YARD

Enjoy mellow tunes, yard games, and delicious food options from the food trucks located at The Yard from 6-8 pm Friday.

“It’s going to be a fun evening,” said Jenny Morales, co-owner of The Yard-based Chock Full of Cheese food trailer. “We will be playing games such as Corn Hole, and food will be 10 percent off. We will be offering special brownies with cream-cheese frosting as well.”

Music for Down @ The Yard will be provided by Amber Dreams, an indie pop duo that uses a pedal harp, vocals and a beat machine.

NORTHBOUND & DOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Northbound & Down Music Festival opens March 11 at Barrow Brewing Co. in Salado and features musicians from as close as Temple and as far away as Canada.

This annual music festival supports the Salado Montessori School. Tickets are on sale online now (prices will go up at the gate).

“This three day music festival will feature an eclectic mix of international and Texas musicians,” said KD Hill, co-owner of Barrow Brewing. “It will host vendors, activities for children and an amazing music lineup.”

Laced & Found will be painting a mural during the festival on Saturday, and the Bubble Magician will also make an appearance with interactive bubble-fun for all ages by the creek.

The festival kicks off on Friday evening with a free concert featuring  Lilly & the Implements.

Here’s the complete band lineup:

Friday, March 11

5:30 p.m. Josh Labove

7 p.m. Lilly and the Implements

Saturday, March 12

12 p.m. The Naggins

1:30 p.m. MadStone

3:15 p.m. Shimmer Island

5 p.m. Nik Parr and the Selfless Lovers

7 p.m. Denver Williams

8:15 p.m. JayWood

Sunday, March 13

1 p.m. Caftan

2:30 p.m. LadyFang

4:30 p.m. RiSi

6 p.m. Living Hour

SPRING MARKET & FOOD-TRUCK FRENZY

The Temple Small Business Coalition will hold its Spring Market & Food Truck Frenzy on Saturday, March 12, in the Temple Municipal Building parking lot.

“So far, we have nearly 60 vendors participating, including about 20 food trucks,” said JD McBride, one of the event’s organizers. “We will have a bounce house, live music by the Clint Walker Band and Tiny Hooves Petting Zoo.”

The event will begin at 2 p.m.

After a two-month winter break, the Coalition plans to continue it’s monthly market every month and add the Food Truck Frenzy quarterly.

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARTIES

More to come on this, but expect big celebrations at O’Briens Irish Pub and at Mo’s Rail Yard Saloon, among other locations.

“We will be celebrating with DJ Sammy G and green beer,” said Mike Mulholland, owner of Mo’s.

JIMMIE VAUGHAN LIVE AT THE CAC

Jimmy Vaughan — brother of guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan and former co-leader of The Fabulous Thunderbirds — comes to the Cultural Activities Center on March 19.

The show is the second in this year’s Texas Music Series at the CAC.

“Jimmie is one of the biggest names we’ve had on stage,” said Brock Boone, executive director of CAC. “He’s a guitar icon and we are thrilled to bring him to Temple.”

Vaughan was born and raised in Dallas and began playing guitar as a kid, influenced heavily by the blues and rock ’n’ roll. When he turned 19, he moved to Austin and formed The Storm, a popular bar band.

Jimmie met harmonic player Kim Wilson in 1974 and they formed a new band — The Fabulous Thunderbirds. They played Texas nightspots and developed a massive fan base from Corpus Christi to El Paso.

PAWZ ON THE PLAZA

Temple is holding a first-ever city celebration dedicated to dogs on Saturday, March 19, along Market Trail from The Yard food truck court to Santa Fe Plaza.

“This is a free event, but we will be accepting donations for the Temple Animal Shelter,” said Kiara Nowlin, a spokesperson for the city. Food donations must be unexpired, unopened and in their original containers.

Pawz on the Plaza is open to all dog-friendly, people-friendly and leash-friendly dogs.

One of the highlights will be a Treat Trail between Santa Fe Depot and The Yard. Vendors along the trail and food trucks at The Yard will be passing out dog treats and goodies.

“Vendors will be selling pet-themed arts and crafts, and personalized pet and pet-owner items,” Nowlin said.

Another ‘don’t-miss event’ will be dog-trick performances by Good Karma K9Z. Stunts include Frisbee tricks, ladder tricks and a dog that walks on ropes suspended in the air. All of the stunt dogs were rescued from a shelter.

Mary Ellen Gonsiorek, a Dallas-based artist specializing in pet illustrations, will be on hand to draw pets and pet owners. Her illustrations are done on-site and she works with remarkable speed.

Another big draw will be a pet costume contest.

“There will be three divisions — puppies, adult dogs, and a pet and owner look-a-like contest,” Nowlin explained.

FIRST FRIDAY APRIL

The theme for the April 1 version of First Friday will be Easter, spring and, of course, Fool’s Day!

Details are being announced daily, but expect even more street parties, a mobile zoo, Easter Bunny photos, a special spring concert and a whole lot more.

The theme for May is Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day.

More to come!

CRAWFISH BOIL

Mo’s Rail Yard Saloon, located across from The Yard food truck court, will hold at Crawfish Boil on April 9.

“We will have a couple DJs and a band,” Mulholland said. “DJ Smooth will be entertaining from noon to 3, then we will have a Zydeco band playing until 6. Sammy G will be here starting at 6.”

Proceeds from the Crawfish Boil will support Temple Fire & Rescue’s Rescue Elves program, providing toys and clothing at Christmas to families in need.

FOREIGNER AT THE EXPO

Get ready for a concert that’s been in the making for nearly two years. After two 2020 cancellations, Foreigner is finally coming to Bell County.

The popular band that had nine Top-10 hits in the 1970s and 80s has signed on the dotted line to play the Bell County Expo Center on Friday, April 22.

Tickets are on sale now at bellcountyexpo.com for $38 to $100.

“Live music is at the heart of what we do, and I’m thrilled to be back on the road and visiting so many places,” said Mick Jones, original member of the popular band.

A LIL’ BIT O’ BLOOMIN’

The city’s popular spring event — the Bloomin’ Temple Festival — has been cancelled for this year, but a new celebration will temporarily take its place.

“With construction currently under way at the MLK Festival Grounds, this year’s event will look and feel a bit different,” said Nowlin, the Temple spokesperson.

“The same spirit and tradition of the last 15 years will be kept alive as the city of Temple presents Market Trail Medley: A Lil’ Bit o’ Bloomin’.”

While many details remain on the drawing board, this year’s event will be April 29 and 30 at Santa Fe Plaza & Market Trail.

“The event will be slightly reconfigured, but it will include musical acts, arts and crafts, festive foods, children’s activities and lots of family fun,” Nowlin said.

This year’s event will be free.

Musician lineups and other details will be announced as they become available.

CINCO DE MAYO ART SHOW, MUSIC FESTIVAL

Two big events have been planned for Cinco de Mayo/Mother’s Day weekend in Downtown Temple.

A special Artist-2-Artist Cinco de Mayo Art Show will take place at 2 pm Saturday, May 7, at Main Street Courtyard. The event will feature Hispanic-flavored artwork, clothing food and music.

Tejano stars Bobby Pulido, Rick Trevino and Las Fenix, a group consisting of five sisters, will be the headliners for the Heritage y Familia Music Festival coming to Temple May 7.

Roney Castor, event organizer and Tejano radio personality, plans to make the festival an annual event. The event will benefit projects of the Temple Breakfast Lions Club.

“We plan on making this a thing in Temple,” he said. “Eventually it will be at the MLK Festival Grounds, but this first year it will be in the City Hall parking lot.”

Castor said the seven-hour festival will begin at 5 p.m. and end around midnight.

Tickets for the six-band show will be $20 in advance and $25 at the gate.

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This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to upcoming events. Much more to come!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

To include your events in What’s Happening, email information to OurTownTemple@gmail.com. Photos are welcome to for use in the publication as space permits!

MONDAY | MARCH 7, 2022

USED BOOK SALE: big ol’ bag of books

Sacks, wagons and shopping carts were common sights during the Friends of the Temple Public Library’s used book sale. This young man was at the Library when it opened to take full advantage of the buying opportunity. David Stone Photo

BIG LAUGHS: Hispanic comedy at Corkys

Mysia Chabert got Corky’s comedy crowd in a laughing frenzy Saturday before surrending the stage to five other acts. According to Chabert, who is no stranger to the Corky’s stage, the show marked the first time a comedy show was performed entirely in Spanish in Temple. David Stone photo

AROUND TOWN: family day at Museum

Fiesta Family Day at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum was the place to be Saturday to explore Mexican culture and traditon. In the above photo, a family signs up for activities and gathers a little information about the Museum. Below,  a dad and his daughter take a creativity break. The event also provided families with the opportunity to view the “Aliento a Tequila” temporary exhibit before it leaves in about a week. David Stone photo

SUNDAY CONCERT: pipes & brass at FUMC

Nearly a hundred people turned out Sunday afternoon for a Pipes & Brass concert by the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Brass Ensemble and pipe-organist Carl Bradley. The free concert was hosted by First United Methodist Church of Temple, and it was an excellent example of how the performing arts entertainment offerings in Downtown Temple are rapidly diversifying. Dan Kellerher photo

NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE

Temple has had five professional baseball teams. Can you name them?

ANSWER IS AT BOTTOM OF TODAY’S ISSUE

BLUEBONNET PROCLAIMED STATE FLOWER: On this day in 1901, the Texas legislature proclaimed the bluebonnet the state flower. In the 1930s the state began a highway-beautification program that included scattering bluebonnet seed beside roadways, thus extending the flower's range. The flower--called in some Indian lore a gift from the Great Spirit--is the subject of countless photographs and paintings. It usually blooms in March and April.

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EARTHQUAKE: On this day in 1923, an earthquake struck El Paso and resulted in the only death associated with a Texas quake when an adobe house collapsed on a man in neighboring Cuidad Juárez. Even though earthquakes are not common in the Lone Star State, more than 100 recorded tremors have occurred since 1847. Most have been of low magnitude and caused either by relief of tectonic stress along fault lines or by well injections connected with oil and gas field operations. Many of the quakes have hit West Texas and the Panhandle. One such occurrence in 1929 destroyed the hotel at Lobo in Culberson County, but the largest earthquake to shake Texas hit Valentine in Jeff Davis County in 1931 and measured roughly 6.0 on the Richter Scale. Other notable historic quakes shook Seguin (1847), Creedmore (1902), Hempstead (1910), and Mexia-Wortham (1932). In 1995 an earthquake measuring 5.7, the second largest in Texas history, rocked Alpine.

Our Town TUNES

OurTownTemple@gmail.com | (254) 231-1574

TODAY’S TEMPLE TRIVIA ANSWER: Temple’s first pro baseball team was the Bol Weevils in 1905. Over the years, the city has been home to the Tigers, Governors, Surgeons and Eagles. The Governors were a nod to Temple being home to the Fergusons, who both served as governor. The Surgeons is an obvious nod to Temple being a medical community. The VA, originally called McCloskey General Hospital, was yet to come, but Temple was home to King’s Daughters, Santa Fe and Scott & White hospitals.