One weekend down, six to go!
Opening weekend at the Austin Spring Festival was a blast. We loved having visitors on the farm again, and it was a thrill to share what we’ve been working on over the winter. Here’s a quick highlight reel of last weekend’s fun, and a peak at some of the good times to come.
Opening Weekend Highlights
Most of last week’s rain missed us here on the farm, which meant it wasn’t too wet for our first guests.
The sunflowers are starting to open up and say hello! We expect to have many more sunflowers and zinnias next weekend and in the weeks to come as they soak up the sun have a little more time to mature.
The Mobile Dairy Classroom by the Southwest Dairy Farmers Association was a big success! Farm visitors got to learn about dairy cows and get a live milking demonstration by Steve the dairy farmer and Vinessa the Jersey dairy cow. Steve explained how he cares for Vinessa, including the types of food she eats and his daily maintenance routine with her. He also explains how Vinessa converts her food into the high-cream-content milk that she provides. Did you know that milk from Jersey cows has 5% cream content? That’s five times more cream than a Holstein cow.
Our animals were loving all the attention this past weekend. The llamas, miniature ponies, Red Wattle pigs, chickens, Spanish & Boer goats, Dorper sheep and cattle lead a pretty relaxed life out here on the farm, and the visitors keep things interesting for them!
(P.S. Barton Hill Farms is a working farm, not a petting zoo. But you can get a good look at some of our farm friends from the Texas Hayride!)
The food was a big hit, with hand-dipped chicken tenders and all-natural beef burgers galore. If you’re feeding a group, check out Johnny’s Pizza! A family deal includes three 10-inch pizzas, a caesar salad, and four drinks for just $39.95.
Our newest food item was particularly popular last weekend— Avaleigh’s Famous Strawberry Shortcake. Rich, buttery pound cake is topped with cool whipped cream and fresh local strawberries. Add a scoop of vanilla Blue Bell to dial up the goodness.
Coming This Weekend at the Austin Spring Festival:
See the New Mural!
We invited talented local artist Emily Mente of Studio Mente to share her skills with us. She painted a flower-filled outdoor mural on the side of one of our buildings, replicating the fields of zinnias. Come see it in person and take a picture in front of this beautiful work of art!
On Tap in the Biergarten
There’s nothing better than a cold beer on a spring day. We’ve stocked the biergarten with brews from some of our favorite Austin-area craft breweries to keep you refreshed under the shade.
Try a McConau-Haze by Twisted X Brewing, named for Austin’s own Matthew McConaughey. It’s a hazy IPA perfect for hop-heads. For something crisp and balanced, sip on the Kölsch from Altstadt Brewing in West Austin. And if you like something a little sweeter, Austin Eastciders’ Blood Orange Cider is the pick for you.
This Weekend’s Live Events
We’ll be welcoming the Milk Cow Classroom back this weekend, and every weekend during the Austin Spring Festival. Plus, we’ll have live music… both days from 2:00pm to 5:00pm!
On Saturday, enjoy some good ol’ Americana by Lockhart singer/songwriter Richard Watson. And on Sunday, we’ll be jamming with folk guitar and cello duo The Lucky Pennys.
Get Your Tickets for This Weekend!
Tickets are still available for next weekend’s festival days. Book your tickets in advance to secure your spot on the day you plan to visit. We’ll have limited capacity to ensure there’s plenty of space, so don’t wait to reserve your date!
Get out of the city and onto the banks of the Colorado River for a day of live entertainment, great food, and outdoor fun.
