‘Art Waddle’ now ‘Art and Wine Fest’ on Memorial Day weekend

Those who once “waddled” will now toast.

The long-standing Boerne Art Waddle is reinventing itself, becoming the Hill Country Art and Wine Fest in its 13th year, over Memorial Day weekend.

Rob Ziegler, Hill Country Council for the Arts treasurer and co-chair of the Hill Country Art and Wine Fest, said the transition has helped bring art front-andcenter, now occupying Main Plaza for both May 23 and 24.

The event opens Friday with a 4-8 p.m. VIP gathering, helping to launch the “Sip, Savor and Celebrate Like a VIP” mantra of the new art-and-wine combination. For a $20 admission ticket, VIPs will receive a souvenir festival glass, enjoy wine tastings, hors d’oeuvres, meet some of the 42 artists, enjoy live artist demonstrations and live music, and more.

Ziegler said it’s been the HCCA’s intention to become an umbrella organization over the Hill Country art market, to include Fredericksburg, Wimberley, Kerrville and all points in between.

“The idea is to create a regional team out of all the markets that promote Hill Country art,” he said. “We exchange artists, classes, customers — we are just beginning to do that, and we wanted to make this a regional show, and not just a Boerne ‘waddle.’” Joining the 42 local and regional artists will be representatives from at least four wineries: Platinum Brix and Lost Oak Cellars from Boerne, Hill Country Cider House out of Comfort, and Rusty Hook, out of Port Lavaca.

With four wineries already signed up, “we figure you can have between 30 and 50 samples, if you want to sample everything,” Ziegler said.

He said the HCCA is excited about making the Art and Wine Fest transition and having something a little bit more upscale to offer.

“I always thought Boerne needed a first-class art show. It’s not going to be your plain art show, it’s got something for everyone,” he said. “And what better way to spend Memorial Day than looking at art and drinking wine?”

The fest’s feature artist is Thom Ricks, well-known around Boerne. He will be signing posters and answering questions during the weekend.

This is the 13th year for the Waddle-turned-Art-and-Wine Fest. The $20 tickets to Friday’s VIP celebration are available online, at: hccarts.org under the “Art Waddle’s Hill Country Art & Wine Festival” entry.