Deutschenfest committee sticks with modified 2023 layout for 2024, names Bart Crow and Ranch Road as headliners

At a Deutschenfest Steering Committee meeting, city event staff said they will use a modified version of the 2023 layout for the 2024 Deutschenfest and announced Bart Crow and Ranch Road as the Friday and Saturday headliners, while continuing year‑ahead planning for a larger footprint in 2025.

Staff said the decision to reuse and improve the 2023 footprint—rather than implement a major expansion this year—reflects limited time and bandwidth to complete a full site redesign before the event. "For this year, there's just not enough time and enough bandwidth to really make a change this big," a staff member said, adding staff would "pull back" and present maps showing the adjusted layout.

The revised plan preserves key operations behind a branded fence to screen back‑of‑house staging for staff, volunteers, EMS and police and to create a clear run for bands to move behind the stage without disrupting performances. The main stage will be rotated to face Gillen Creek; a new beer‑garden tent will sit in the main circle over the basketball court, hosting acoustic music and a tailgating screen for weekend games.

Gabby, who presented the event visuals, said the food area and vendor placement are being reworked to increase "dwell time" — adding photo areas, hay bales and more seating to encourage attendees to linger. Gabby described two vendor tiers for 2024 (premium "Berlin" booths along the trail and "Munich" booths around the circle) and confirmed vendor applications are open on the event website and promoted on social channels.

Staff estimated the food vendor footprint could accommodate roughly 15–20 booths in one configuration and said food trucks will generally rely on onboard power; the event will provide generator power only where necessary and feasible. A youth market area is planned near the carnival tail to give students and youth groups space that is not 'prime real estate' but is designed to receive foot traffic from the community fair and fun run.

The committee heard that nonprofit groups are expected to operate beer booths (examples named were Rotary, Paws and local partners) and that the beer‑garden area will control access points so attendees pass vendor booths when entering. On pricing, staff said a smaller 2024 footprint means the event will charge admission this year at levels similar to last year (figures discussed in the meeting included $10 and $15), but staff emphasized multiple pathways for free entry — buying an event shirt, participating in the fun run, or volunteering. "I can't just be a loss leader. I have to recover some cost," the staff member said when explaining the decision to charge admission this year.

Programming changes include moving the fun run to Saturday morning as a kickoff that funnels several hundred participants into the community fair and main event, and integrating carnival features and a "touch‑a‑truck" area with police and fire vehicles plus park equipment for children. Staff also described efforts to spotlight smaller local performers in pavilion and gazebo spaces rather than having them compete with the main stage.

On marketing, staff said the campaign will push heavier in September and that the event is pursuing placements in regional outlets; staff named Texas Monthly and Texas Highway as targets. Gabby unveiled the event poster and confirmed the two headliners: Texas country artist Bart Crow and the Tejano/Texas group Ranch Road; staff said Bart Crow was signed the day of the meeting.

Looking ahead, staff said they are simultaneously finalizing 2024 logistics and beginning early planning for a larger 2025 footprint to accommodate bigger carnival and talent bookings. No 2025 budget has been finalized; staff said they will brief the appropriate council subcommittee and that any expansion would depend on council direction and available funding.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved the May 23 minutes after a motion and second, and the meeting adjourned on a subsequent motion that carried by voice vote. Specific head counts for either voice vote were not recorded in the transcript.

The committee will circulate doodle polls and schedule on‑site meetings as the event date approaches and asked members to help recruit volunteers, serve as ambassadors during the event, and provide input on programming and vendor outreach.