Parnell, Nunn headline Cindy Walker fest

The second annual Cindy Walker Days Festival kicks off Saturday, July 20, at The Cowboy Western Club, opening at 11 a.m. for the 12-hour event.

Cindy Walker Foundation President Lindsay Liepman said the organization is meeting its ticket sales goal, and that shows how much excitement there is about the upcoming festival. Hundreds of people are expected to pack The Cowboy, she said.

“We have people from across Texas that have purchased tickets, and for the second year the traveler coming the farthest is Michael O’Brian from England,” she said. “He booked his flight and is headed back to Mexia because he enjoyed Cindy Walker Days so much the first year. The word is spreading that this is a great celebration of Cindy Walker’s life and music.”

The theme of this year’s celebration will be “Cindy in Cinema,” and it will feature some of the films and soundies Cindy was in during her Hollywood years.

Liepman said there will be a tribute to Cindy Walker led by fiddle player Katie Shore. Walker’s piano that is now housed at the First Presbyterian Church of Mexia will be moved to The Cowboy.

Texas Hall of Fame songwriters Lee Roy Parnell, who knew Walker and was influenced by her music, and Gary P. Nunn are headlining the festival. Other performers will include Katie Shore and the Dusty Skies, Kelly Willis, Hot Club of Cowtown, Diamondback, Erin Enderlin, Theo Lawrence, Natalie Price, Morgan Lee Powers, John Dempsy, Georgia Parker, Billy Mata, Ginny Mac, Dave Alexander and Devon Dawson.

There will also be food trucks set up around a tent with tables and chairs outside of The Cowboy. The tent will be cooled with water fans. Mookie’s BBQ is the main food sponsor, along with Lucia’s Pupusa, Fat Boy’s Pizza, Frank’s Kettle Corn, C&S Bakery, Corn Dog Co. and 3 Little Lemons.

Inside The Cowboy there will be vendors selling Cindy Walker merchandise, candles and freshies, jellies and jams, hats, bohemian clothing and jewelry, gemstones and scenties.

There will also be free tours by shuttle to guests who want to see the Cindy Walker home in Mexia, her downtown mural and her gravesite in Mexia City Cemetery, Liepman noted.

Liepman said the foundation is hoping 500 people will attend the festival, and that $50,000 will be raised for the restoration of Cindy Walker’s Mexia home. The goal is to create a museum and a workshop for aspiring songwriters.

Tickets for the event range from $65 to $750. Visit cindywalkerdays. com for tickets or information.