Chamber of Commerce to revive annual bat festival
The Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the return of Wings Over Wimberley, a fun-filled festival that took place previously in 2019 and 2021.
This year’s event will take place on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8–9, between the Cypress Creek bridge and Ozona Bank. The festivities will take over the Ozona Bank property that runs along RR 12. We Are Blood will also be set up at the Wimberley Visitors Center for a blood drive on Friday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We are excited to bring WOW back,” said Pamela Rudd, committee coordinator.
Live music will begin onsite on Friday, Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. with Marvin Boterra and the Broken Glass band. Between 7– 8 p.m., participants will gather alongside the Cypress Creek bridge to await the emergence of the Mexican Freetail bats that call Wimberley home. Dallas Burrow strikes up his band later that night from 8 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 9, live music begins at 2 p.m. with The Southpaw Preachers. Wimberley Dance Elite will entertain the audience from 4:15–4:45 p.m. with several bat-inspired, interactive dances. At 5 p.m., Bob Slaughter and the Laughing Waters take the stage. Participants will gather at the bridge between 7–8 p.m. once again to watch the bats emerge and take flight into the night sky. Jennifer Zavaleta and Friends are set to entertain from 8–10 p.m.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase, including Grummage tacos that include brisket, chicken and sausage combined into a homemade flour tortilla. Crescent City Flavor will offer their famous gumbo and red beans and rice, while Carla’s Baskets will take care of any burger, fried catfish, fried shrimp, bat wing or funnel cake desires you may have. For your sweet tooth, Fran’s Pies will be available on Saturday, and Vista Brew, Ranch Brand and Middleton Brewing will be offering specialty beer and wine for your enjoyment.
Saturday, the family friendly festival begins at noon with miniature ponies to pet or brush. Gotham City has confirmed that Batman will be at WOW on Friday and Saturday. There will also be a photo booth from 3–6 p.m. on Saturday to help attendees of all ages commemorate the festival.
There will be art vendors of all types, groups to share information about the importance of bats to the local ecosystem and much more.
Commemorative t-shirts will be for sale at the Bat Cave, along with Raffle Tickets for a Bat House.
Special VIP tents for Diamond and Platinum Sponsors will be close up to the stage for viewing enjoyment. For sponsorship opportunities, go to wingsoverwimberley. com.