GumboFest cooks up fun, funding for Barnabas

Wimberley GumboFest ‘22 took place at Cypress Falls Swimming Hole in Woodcreek. The fourth annual event drew competition cookers from Texas and Louisiana, as well as over 600 hungry festival-goers from across the state. Thirteen teams submitted entries of the famous Cajun dish known for its difficulty to master. Chicken, sausage, seafood, duck and even rabbit gumbos were painstakingly prepared onsite early in the morning to be tasted by the seven highly experienced judges. In the end, Erin Morgan, of Drifts on the Bayou cook team, took home the first place trophy, with Mark Jones, of Cookin’ with Scrapps, and Kyle Durand, of Bayou Kyle’s Crawfish Crew, placing second and third respectively. Jones was the first place winner of the inaugural WCCA gumbo cookoff in 2019.

“Each year gets better and better,” said WCCA President, Travis Martin. “For four consecutive years, through ice storms and pandemics we’ve held this event, and it’s become a mainstay in the community.”

“We weren’t sure how many would turn out with so many other events taking place nearby, but this is amazing,” Martin said, referring to multiple local events being held concurrently.

Organizers said this year’s festival was larger in both overall size and attendance than the three previous events. Marvin Boterra & The Broken Glass provided live entertainment and music for the festival. In addition to the competition, the festival featured local vendors, a silent auction, a raffle, face-painting, hot dogs, snow cones and swimming and canoe rental at Cypress Falls.

Final figures show over $8,000 was raised for the 2022 beneficiary, The Barnabas Connection. Each year show organizers choose a local organization to receive the funds raised by ticket sales, silent auctions, raffles and entry fees.

“Barnabas is immensely thankful for all the work of the Wimberley Cajun Cultural Alliance, the volunteers, cook teams and Cypress Falls for being such gracious hosts,” said Kate Sowell, executive director of Barnabas Connection. “It was such a joy to see so many individuals and families having such a grand time, truly enjoying the company of each other, the beautiful day at The Falls, the amazing food and wonderful sounds from Marvin Bottera and Broken Glass.”

“The very best part of the day was getting to meet so many new people and learning all about them and their backgrounds and having so many people come up and tell us the impact that Barnabas had made in their lives. We are truly thankful,” Sowell added.

Past beneficiaries include Trees for the Blanco, Katherine Anne Porter School and My Neighbor’s Keeper.

Local sponsors included Real Ale Brewing, Flintrock Commercial, Ozona Bank, Driftwood Commercial, Intertech Flooring, Texas Medical Plans, Maximum Wellness Clinic, Bigfoot Outdoors, Byron Eckols State Farm, Schluter Systems, Roland Brown Law Firm and Leinnewe ber Services.

“Our sponsors continue to come through year after year, and are the backbone of the festival,” said committee member and treasurer, Kristina Sandifer. “Most have been with us from dayone, and we can’t thank them enough for allowing us to hold this great event that helps put money where it’s needed in our community.”

This year’s gumbo submissions were of the highest quality they had yet seen, according to judging co-chair, Josh Jones.

“There wasn’t a bad gumbo in the bunch. All of them were delicious and it meant the judges had to take much longer in deciding who’s (gumbo) was best,” said Jones.

Festival organizers say plans have already begun for next year’s festival scheduled for April 22, 2023, and is expected to be the largest yet and will feature even more events and activities.