LIBERTY HILL CELEBRATES WILLIE NELSON

Image and content contributed by Katie Amsler Liberty Hill Celebrates Willie Nelson

Water Tower Poster Celebrates Picnic & Artist

If you visit a coffee shop in Liberty Hill, you might just overhear a table of old men reminiscing about the good ‘ole days when Willie Nelson came to Liberty Hill. It’s a story that’s been passed down to different generations and, perhaps, embellished a little along the way. What many don’t know about is the artist behind the marketing who helped make such an event happen.

Jim Franklin, who is well known for his contributions to Austin’s art scene, designed the poster art and t-shirts for the festival.

The city plans to install a replication of Jim’s poster on the old Liberty Hill Water Tower located in the new parking area across from Wetzel Park. “Liberty Hill has a rich history in the arts, and the City wanted to not only memorialize the picnic, but honor the artist who helped put Liberty Hill on the map,” Liberty Hill Mayor Rick Hall says.

ICONIC EVENT

Back in 1975, Liberty Hill was just a tiny burg northwest of Austin—a town not many knew was even there. “We had some movers, shakers and big dreamers running the town back then, and they had an idea to bring Willie’s picnic to Liberty Hill,” Mayor Hall says.

Organizers expected 5,000 to attend but planned for 25,000 just in case. No one could believe it when 90,000 came through the gates and paid their $5.50 admissions. Although everything didn’t go just right—traffic backed up for hours, scorching hot weather, a rain storm that caused water to leak through the stage tent (a cowboy took out his pistol and shot a hole in the tent so the water could drain and the concert could resume), lack of restrooms, and skinny dippers in the South Fork San Gabriel River—Liberty Hill had a great time. Willie was fined $1,000 for not securing a Mass Gathering Permit, but Liberty Hill gained a reputation for dreaming big and making things happen.

WELCOME TO LIBERTY HILL

To honor that memorable occasion, the city hopes to begin installing the poster on the water tower by year’s end, with a big reveal early next year. Although the tower’s purpose is strictly historical—a piece of Liberty Hill history that has not been used for a long time—it is placed in downtown Liberty Hill at an intersection that welcomes folks to Liberty Hill. “We thought it would be a great place to display the art to welcome visitors to our town,” explains the Mayor.