Georgetown, our favorite time of year is almost here! 🌺
The 27th annual Red Poppy Festival is coming to the most beautiful town square in Texas the weekend of April 24–26, and we are so excited. Three days of live music, more than 150 artisan vendors, family-friendly activities, a parade, a car show, a dog parade, and the best part? It’s all completely free.
Country duo Maddie & Tae headline Saturday night at 8:30 p.m., with Jade Eagleson opening at 7. Friday night brings back the crowd-favorite Dysfunkshun Junkshun to kick off the weekend in style. Grab your lawn chairs, pack a cooler, and settle in.
This is Georgetown at its very best, neighbors coming together on the Square to celebrate our community, our city, and yes, our beloved red poppies. Whether you’ve been coming to this festival for decades or this is your very first time, we are so glad you’re here.
Here’s everything you need to know before you head downtown next weekend. 👇
[Press release by the City of Georgeorgetown]
Celebrate the City’s signature event on the most beautiful town square in Texas at the 27th annual Red Poppy Festival April 24-26. The festival kicks off on Friday night and runs through Sunday with three days of music, entertainment, and family fun, and features more than 150 artisan vendors.
The City is offering a variety of options for visitors to get to this year’s Red Poppy Festival. Several free public parking lots are available throughout downtown, as well as a shuttle option Saturday and Sunday.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 27th year of the Red Poppy Festival with our community and visitors,” said Sharon Parker, Special Events and Marketing Program Manager. “Each year this event continues to grow, bringing incredible music, unique artisan vendors, and family-friendly activities to our beautiful downtown Square. We encourage everyone attending to plan ahead, allow extra time for parking and travel, and enjoy everything the weekend has to offer as we celebrate Georgetown’s signature festival together.”
Event schedule
Maddie & Tae are the headliners Saturday night and take the stage at 8:30 p.m. Jade Eagleson will open for Maddie & Tae at 7 p.m. Longtime festival favorite Dysfunkshun Junkshun is back for the Friday night concert at 7 p.m. There is no admission charge for the concerts or other festival activities. Feel free to bring your own chair and cooler if you are coming for the day.
Other festival highlights include the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. followed by the Car Show at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Wrap up the weekend on Sunday, April 26, with the Popp Pup Parade at 11 a.m. along with a touch-a-truck event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Poppy Patch Kids Zone is open 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Kids Zone is free and includes an obstacle course, carnival games, basketball, peddle carts, and so much more!
Event parking
The City’s parking garage, 502 S. Main St., the Williamson County parking garage at Rock and Fourth streets, and the public parking lot on Austin Avenue between Fifth and Fourth streets (next to The Monument Cafe) will be open during the festival. Public parking lots on Martin Luther King Jr. Street at West Eighth and West Sixth streets are also available. There is no charge for parking.
Attendees are asked to be courteous when parking on neighborhood streets and avoid blocking driveways or parking in No Parking Zones. No Parking Zone restrictions will be enforced. Parking in a No Parking Zone can result in a citation as well as your vehicle being towed.
Handicap parking is available at the parking lot at 10th and Main streets and Eighth and Forest streets.
The City parking lot at Sixth and Main streets will be closed starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24.
Free shuttles on Saturday and Sunday
Free shuttles will run 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 26.
Shuttles will run from Georgetown High School, 1003 N. Austin Ave., and East View High School, 4490 E. University Ave., and drop off at the Sunflower Parking lot located between Seventh and Eighth Streets and Rock and Martin Luther King Jr. streets, a block from the Red Poppy Stage.
Street closures
Some streets and lanes will be closed around the downtown Square during the festival, with some closures starting as early as 6 a.m. Friday, April 24. Several roads will remain closed until 2 a.m. Monday, April 27. See this interactive map for a full list of festival-related closures: Click the boxes in the left-side navigation to learn how roads will close in different phases.
All closures have been added into the Google Maps and Waze applications, so residents and visitors alike can see the closures on mobile apps they use to get around town.