By Kim Hilsenbeck

Fire Fest is coming back to Buda and that means Main Street will be heating up this Labor Day weekend. Hosted by Emergency Services District (ESD) #8/Buda Fire Department, Fire Fest is the organization’s major fundraiser of the year.

While the ESD is a taxing entity that takes in $.10 on every $100 per home valuation in its district, Chief Clay Huckaby said the money raised from Fire Fest, which is its own 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, helps pay for the ESD’s training facility and programs by donating profits from the event.

But another ripple effect of the event is to bring people to Buda’s downtown district.

In past years, Fire Fest was held at Buda City Park. But in 2012 and 2013, organizers moved the event to the Backyard in Bee Cave, hoping to relieve the pressure of booking musical acts, which can be time consuming and costly.

Yet, in its run at the other venue, Fire Fest drew fewer guests and ultimately was less profitable.

So Huckaby decided to bring it back to Buda.

“Let’s get it back here where it belongs, but let’s get it out of the park,” he said, “because I’ve heard the complaints from business owners that people come and park in front of their store and walk to the park.”

This time, he put the event smack dab in the middle of the city’s historic district.

“We’re trying to work with downtown business owners and restaurants,” Huckaby said, “to have people come to the downtown area and say, ‘Holy smokes, we didn’t know this was all here.’ The whole reason we moved the event [from City Park] was to have an event in downtown Buda,” he said.

Business owners in past years saw little foot traffic from fest goers who spent their time at the park where the event took place.

With live music and the firefighter challenges among other events now taking place on the Main Street, Huckaby said business owners think they will see an increase in patrons.

The event evolved over its 56 year history. When it first came to be, it was basically a bar-b-que fundraiser for the then all volunteer department. Huckaby said about ten years ago, Fire Fest morphed into the fire fighter challenge event most Budaites know today.

Since 2005, Buda has operated as a part paid, part volunteer department.

Fire Fest brings in firefighters from all over Texas and beyond to participate in four challenges: the hose hoist, hose advance, forcible entry and victim rescue.

In the hose hoist, firefighters use a 5/8 inch poly rope to hoist 2 ½ inch hose roll up to the top of a four-story tower. The hose advance tests their skill in advancing a 1 ¾ inch charged host line for 75 feet.

Firefighters drive a 160-pound steel beam five feet with a nine-pound mallet in the forcible entry challenge. And in victim rescue, they drag a 165-pound mannequin backwards for 75 feet.

Teams from other fire departments vie for the bragging rights of beating the competition in each challenge as the crowd cheers on its favorites.

This Friday kicks off the event with the Main Street Music Meltdown. Free concerts at three locations — Cleveland’s, Tavern on Main and Willie’s Joint — bring a host of talent to downtown Buda. Acts such as Jonny Burke, Zane Williams and Owen Temple will rock out at Cleveland’s and Tavern on Main.

Just down the road, Kathleen O’Keefe and John Evans Band will entertain at Willie’s Joint BBQ. Huckaby said his department will accept donations at the door of each venue. Friday night’s music begins at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. at Willie’s Joint) and is free and open to the public.

On Saturday, Fire Fest opens at 9 a.m. with a full day’s line up of activities.

The Firefighter Challenge, which is free of charge, runs 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. A kids’ fun zone and children’s firefighter challenge takes place 10 a.m.-10 p.m. A washer tournament begins at 6 p.m., with registration ($40 per team of two) beginning at 4 p.m.

The later afternoon and evening brings the Main Street Music Meltdown, duex. Well known music acts including Cody Bryan Band and the Dirty River Boys will perform, leading up to William Clark Green and headliner Wade Bowen who will perform on an outdoor stage.

Beginning at 4 p.m., tickets will be needed to get inside one of the two gates that will be set up for the event.

For more information about Fire Fest, visit www.firefesttexas.com.