City Of Buda Announces Cancellation Of 2019 Budafest

BUDA, TX — These are busy times in Buda! Road improvements, approved by voters as part of a November 2014 bond, are coming to life. Construction has started on Main Street between Cabela’s Drive and Railroad Street and in the fall construction will begin at the intersection of Main Street and RM 967.

Improvements to the intersection include the reconfiguration of sidewalks, signing and striping for enhanced pedestrian safety, and the creation of turning lanes and through lanes to address traffic flow.

But with the impending construction downtown, the City of Buda had to make some tough decisions regarding the annual Budafest celebration.   

After much discussion and consideration, the City has made the decision to cancel the annual Budafest celebration for 2019.  Budafest is a time-honored tradition that began as a small festival in the heart of Downtown Buda. The holiday festival has grown to more than 75 vendors and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

From the lighted night parade to craft vendors showing off their merchandise, Budafest has drawn families and visitors alike to Downtown Buda for almost 40 years. The very essence of this beloved holiday festival is rooted in Downtown Buda.

“We discussed possibly moving Budafest to a different location this year,” said Tourism Director Lysa Gonzalez. “But at the end of the day, we kept going back to Budafest’s roots. The festival is meant to draw people to the heart of our community in Downtown Buda. Budafest is a perfect way to showcase what makes Buda unique. We did not want to change the feel of the festival or try to put on a scaled-down version of the event. Safety factors played a part in ruling out other locations considered.”    

Vendors who have already registered for Budafest will be fully refunded. Meanwhile, the City is looking ahead to December 2020 when Budafest will celebrate its 40^th Anniversary.       

“Next year is going to be huge! Budafest will return for its 40th-anniversary celebration and we plan to make it bigger and better than ever.”

Until then, we invite citizens to attend the City’s other holiday events, including:

Trail of Lights at Stagecoach Park –  Dec. 5-8, Dec. 13-15, Dec. 20-22

Cocoa Jingle/Tree Lighting Ceremony  in the Buda Greenbelt on Main St. – Saturday, Nov. 30

Main Street Sip & Stroll  – Friday, Dec. 13

We will share more information on these events in the coming months on our website and social media channels.