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As the Lavender Capital of Texas, Blanco is proud to celebrate all things lavender during the 6th Annual Blanco Lavender Festival, June 11-13 on the grounds of the Old Blanco County Courthouse in Blanco, Texas. Volunteers are needed for the 2010 official Lavender Festival of Texas, which is also an authorized Go Texan event. According to Penny Thomas, executive director of the Blanco Chamber of Commerce, volunteers are needed for set up, wine tasting, clean up, and a host of other tasks.

"The Chamber thanks everyone who has volunteered so far for this wonderful celebration of all things lavender," Thomas said. "It’s not too late to join in the fun."

To volunteer, call the Blanco Chamber of Commerce at 830 833-5010. The Blanco Lavender Festival offers a variety of activities, from the Texas Lavender 5K and 10K Fun Run, to lavender-infused culinary adventures and lavender growing seminars.

The Lavender Festival Market will be open from 2-8pm on Friday, June 11, from 9am-6pm on Saturday, June 12, and from 9am-4:30pm on Sunday, June 13. It is a festival goer’s dream, complete with music, wine tasting, a variety of arts, crafts and lavender vendors, and educational demonstrations that feature area chefs, herbalists and master gardeners (see the Speakers Pavilion information box for a complete list of seminars).

Representatives from five local lavender farms will have booth displays at this year’s Market. In addition to the Lavender Market, four local farms will sponsor special events, farm tours, lavender gift shop items, and much more throughout the Lavender Festival Weekend. Each farm is located a short, scenic drive from downtown Blanco. Farm tour maps and information is available at the Blanco Chamber of Commerce office and website, as well as on farm websites.

Miller Creek Lavender (www.millercreekl avender.com), an evolving dream of owners Karen and Don Roets, will feature butterfly garden tours and offer lavender art and wand-weaving classes, cooking with lavender demonstrations, and a session on lavender for fun and profit, among other activities.

Hill Country Lavender (www.hillcountrylavender.com), Blanco original commercial lavender farm, will highlight more than 75 lavender products. Farmhand turned owner Tasha Brieger will host several "Here’s What I Know" sessions and offer classes for creating wands and one-of-a-kind note cards using aromatic lavender.

Heron’s Nest Herb Farm (www.heronsnes therbfarm.com) will host the Texas Lavender Women’s 5K and 10K Run/Walk on June 12. The women-only run is a scenic out and back route along River Bend Road and County Road 407. Along the way, runners will be treated to fully stocked water stops staffed by handsome, friendly men in Hawaiian garb. Registration includes a post race champagne brunch, music, free massages, and an onsite lavender market. Registration is available at www.signmeup.com/68332. For those who prefer to relax instead of run, Heron’s Nest Herb Farm will offer a variety of activities including hands-on essential oils workshops with co-owner Melanie Fan Aken, farm tours by co-owner Fred Van Aken, and a hands-on culinary session with Sibby Barrett from Juniper Hills Farm.

Wimberley Lavender Farm (www.winberleylavender.com), owned by Karen and O’Neil Provost, will enable guests to indulge in a chair massage or lavender footbath, sip lavender lemonade, savor lavender ice cream and locally produced goat cheese and yogurt, and relax with the Hearts for Hooves miniature therapy horses.

The Blanco Lavender Festival showcases the area’s newest rural industry in a county that has a rich agricultural and ranching tradition. After celebrating more than "150 Years of Friendly," the region’s cotton fields of years past now feature with the rich color and scent of lavender.

"Blanco has been proud to be named the Lavender Capital of Texas since 2006," Thomas said. "The local lavender growers as well as the Blanco merchants and residents look forward to hosting another fun-filled and successful Lavender Festival. Each year we listen to festival attendees to make sure we offer a wide range of activities, from wine tasting, food and music, to vendors, demonstrations and tours."

Blanco and the surrounding area offer diverse opportunities for food, fun, entertainment and recreation. Contact the Blanco Chamber of Commerce at 830 833-5101 or info@blancochamber.com.