EDITORIAL: Bootfest continues to bring community together

Oct. 04--Eight years ago, the name triggered some smirks, a few head-tilts and lots of inquisitive looks -- from civic leaders and from Victorians.

The idea of a free two-day regional festival in downtown Victoria has hit a few bumps along the way -- critics who complained about its bottom line or the wisdom of such an investment.

Last year, the same festival took on a special meaning when it occurred about a month after Hurricane Harvey and about a week after the Las Vegas massacre, giving reason for Crossroads residents to gather and celebrate life.

Today, the event that began in 2010 has rightfully earned its place among the annals of regional celebrations.

Bootfest.

That name now spurs different reactions, bringing lots of smiles, stories of family fun, great food and sharing time with friends.

Thousands are expected to converge into Deleon Plaza on Friday and Saturday to continue the tradition of wholesome family-friendly entertainment.

Throughout the festival, there will be a car, truck and motorcycle show, a Kids' Corral full of activities for the younger attendees, rope trick performances, arts and crafts booths, a 5K and tons of various types of food and drink.

And there will be a long, continuous lineup of performing entertainment -- from Ballet Folklorico dancers to eclectic musical artists creating a wide spectrum of sounds, including country, Tejano and rock.

One new feature this year in the entertainment segment will be 12-year-old Adysen Malek, who learned how to play the ukulele while she and her family evacuated to Austin during Hurricane Harvey.

More than a year after the storm, Adysen and her ukulele will take center stage at Bootfest on Saturday. The seventh-grader will be singing and playing the ukulele and guitar for an hourlong set on Bootfest's bandstand stage as the youngest performer the annual festival has ever hosted.

Adysen, who lives in El Toro with her parents and little brother, Miles, is sure to inspire other young people to develop their musical talents.

Adysen first came on Bootfest's radar in February, when she performed in the talent show at Theatre Victoria. Adysen sang "Make You Feel My Love," by Bob Dylan, and played the ukulele. She came in first. After winning the talent show, she got a call from Bootfest organizers to see whether Adysen would like her very own slot.

She has spent much of the summer preparing her show. She even tested her skills with one of the most difficult songs to sing, the national anthem, before a huge crowd at a Houston Astros game.

Another new element this year will be a treat for fans of 1980s rock music. Three tribute bands will perform from 7:15 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, dedicating their talents to the music of Journey, Def Leppard and AC/DC on center stage.

"We wanted to try something a little different," said Joel Novosad, the director of the Victoria Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We look forward to seeing some new faces on Friday night."

Novosad said Bootfest has booked three of the most popular tribute bands in Texas: Infinite Journey, Def Leggend and Back in Black.

This will be a great opportunity for some parents who were raised in the 1980s to introduce the next generation to their music.

Last year, the festival attracted between 14,500 and 17,500 people to downtown, which was a drop from the 2016 estimated attendance of about 26,000. We hope this year's event will see a rejuvenated crowd and a boost in its attendance.

Bootfest will long be a worthwhile investment for Victoria and a great display of civic pride.

We hope to see you at the festival.

This opinion reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.

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