Numbers strong for 28th annual Kolache Fest

  • Individuals at Kolache Fest cheer on the kolache eating contest
    Individuals at Kolache Fest cheer on the kolache eating contest

    The 28th Annual Kolache Fest proved to be a very successful event, leaders of the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce reported after the weekend event.

    “There was a great crowd, great food, and great music,” said JoAnn Shimek, executive director of the Hallettsville Chamber.

    They opened with 46 teams turning out for the Friday Night Warm-Up 42 Domino Tournament, followed by a turnout of 64 teams for the real McCoy 42 Domino Tournament on Saturday.

    Plus, the Kolache Fest 5K set all new records early Saturday with a whopping 95 runners turning out for the race.

    Other impressive totals for the 2023 event included a total of 39 teams turning for the annual Kolache Fest Barbecue Cookoff, 91 car enthusiasts entering their rides in this year’s Kolache Fest Car Show, and 55 parade entries signed up for this year’s Kolache Fest Parade through the streets of downtown Hallettsville.

    Chamber directors and volunteers were still busy Monday cleaning up the KC Hall and grounds after their busy weekend event, as well as getting everything stowed away for next year’s festivities.

    As such, the various committee chairs who set up, organized, and ran the various events held this year did not yet have a chance to organize their pictures and present their top award winners as our press deadlines came and went on Monday.

    Look for those in next week’s edition when we publish as many photos and listings of last weekend’s winners as we can fit in our pages.

    Until then, why not enjoy a few shots on us? Shots from last Saturday’s events, that is; all taken by our junior reporter Clayton Kelley, who got to experience his very first Kolache Fests ever here in Hallettsville last weekend. Be sure and ask him about it the next time you see him out and about.

    Also inside today, the chamber expresses its gratitude to a whole host of individuals and local businesses who work hard every year to ensure Kolache Fest remains a fun-filled, family event that people want to keep coming back to. Look for it inside today’s newspaper.