BUDA — After years of dreaming of owning their own festival, Chad and Bethany Kocian are launching Railcar Revival in Buda on Nov. 9.

The couple, originally from LaGrange, Texas, and Kentucky, have owned HighBridge Events, an event logistics company, for nearly 15 years. Now, living in Austin, they regularly pass through Buda on their trips to San Antonio and became fond of the city.

According to Buda Economic Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Storm, the collaboration has been in the works for a few years and offers an opportunity to put the Buda Amphitheater on the map.

“We’ve always wanted to own our own event. Just from the start of our company, that was kind of always the goal for us,” began Bethany. “There was a kind of void in the south part of Austin … So, we saw that Buda was willing to partner and it just worked out well … They wanted to bring a big event like this into that amphitheater because it’s such a great park and has really great facilities. So, it just really kind of came together very organically.”

The event, titled Railcar Revival, gets its name for the city’s background in railroads.

“We have not had a festival of this caliber at Buda ever before. There’s the wiener dog festival, which is its own whole thing, but the music and the festival component, it’s way more than a concert,” said Storm.

Chad agreed with this sentiment, stating that, with food vendors, bars and market vendors, it is an all-around experience.

“The most important thing to me, for the [Buda EDC], is that we’re getting to feature 10 local businesses. Lots of times, festivals come in, they bring all their own people and don’t really directly benefit the local businesses, but part of our relationship with them required that we provide space for 10 local Buda businesses,” explained Storm.

Along with local businesses, there are several vendors from around the state, such as Tumbleweed Textiles and Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue of Killeen. The latter of which will provide a live fire experience for those that purchase VIP tickets, where they will receive three different small courses from the restaurant.

Also included in VIP is front-of-stage viewing access, air conditioned and flushable restrooms, a dedicated entry line and access to a private bar. There is also a general admission ticket. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 and will end at approximately 11:30 p.m.

The one-day event will feature headliner Treaty Oak Revival, Reckless Kelly, Ty Myers, Cody Canada & The Departed and Julianna Rankin, with special guest DJ Jonathan Terrell.

In the future, the couple hopes to expand the festival to an annual two-day event.

“Having it in Buda is part of the draw that we’re capitalizing on. They have a really great Main Street and everyone there is engaged in the town … I think that is part of the charm of the festival, too, is that Buda is going to rally around it,” said Bethany. “Come experience Buda earlier in the day, come to the festival and make a full day out of it.”

For more information, visit www.railcarrevival.com. Tickets can be purchased on the website or on-site, permitting it is not sold out.