Kyle City Limits
by BRENDA STEWART
Okay. Just to set the record straight, despite the rumors swirling around town, Kyle has not canceled Christmas. This promise comes straight from the mayor’s mouth and was seconded by the fellow who throws the annual party, Parks Director Kerry Urbanowicz. Seems the rumors took flight last month when the council decided to reduce city spending by outsourcing some of our annual festivities.
Suddenly the word on the street was “because of that traitor Tom Mattis” or “because of that fancy-pants new library” (depending upon with whom you were talking) the city was going to be annihilating the annual lighting of the yule tree, silencing the choirs in concert and putting the brakes on Santa screaming into downtown on a fire truck. Not so.
Kyle Market Days, the Halloween Haunted House and the Easter Eggstrvaganza were on the council’s hit list, however. But, taking a cue from our northern neighbor, the city encouraged future sponsorship of these events by civic organizations, private individuals and booster clubs. And local folks did not disappoint.
Coming up the the first Saturday in November we’ve got a pair of Dia de los Muertos celebrations happening on either end of downtown. Beginning at 10 a.m. the Lehman High School Mariachis will be rocking Gregg -Clarke Park with booths and chicken dinners. At noon City Square Park comes alive with downtown’s 4th annual festival with live entertainment and vendors.
And, after the drama of past city-sponsored beauty pageants, I am happy to announce that our local pageant is now titled the Miss Hays County Pageant and is being produced completely independent of the city of Kyle this Saturday night at the Burdine Johnson Theater. The following week the Chamber of Commerce will host the four-day Kyle Fair and Music Festival at Thunderhill.
And, due to the long-overdue renovation of the historic Train Depot, our Christmas party returns to the square on November 30. Once again we will gather ‘round the pavilion to catch candy canes from Santa, sing carols with our children and cheer as our tree lights up the night sky.
So, as much as things change, they stay the same. As has been the tradition for more years than most can remember, the whole city will line Center Street next Saturday, the 15th, and cheer on the parade of school children and beauty queens and local pols, inching their way toward the town square. And in celebration of Kyle’s 131st birthday, we will gather, as always, under the live oaks for our annual celebration and a fat piece of birthday cake. See you there.
