Pot O' Hot Fest!

Peterson Health "Deep in the Heart" 5k 9am

Live Music 12-8pm

Block Printing 12-5pm

Soup Tasting 12-3pm

Soup Awards 5pm

Food Truck All Day:

Shim's Be Blessed

Matthew Payne (Austin) 12-2:15pm

Jonivan Jones (Arkansas) 2:45-5pm

Simon Flory (Fort Worth) 5:45-8pm

25 individual Soup Makers.

Soup Tasting opens 12pm, closes 3pm, for ticketed Tasters only. 

Tasters Choice and Judges Choice awards ceremony 5pm. 

Live demonstrations from the Schreiner University Graphic Design/Communications Department with custom merch available for purchase.  

March 1st, 2026

The blessing was shared, spoons were raised, and dipped, and raised and dipped.  Our panel of 12 all-star judges  spent 2 intense hours rating soups based on Individuality, Craftsmanship, and Gusto.  6 finalists were selected, which were then scored by all 12 judges.  The top three juried soups received a cash prize and a sculpted wolf trophy.

A sell-out crowd of 300 soup tasters voted for their favorites using 2 voting cards issued with their ticket purchase.  600 voting cards printed, nearly 475 were cast for soups.  The top 3 received a "Tasters Choice" award.  Every soup received multiple Tastes Choice votes - there were no bad soups.

JURIED AWARD WINNERS:

1st Place - Abram Bueche (BBQue Texas, LLC) - Rajin' Texas Cajun Bayou Gumbo

2nd Place - Kyle Bond (BBQue Texas, LLC) - Cajun Chicken Potato Cheddar Soup

3rd Place - Chef Adrian (Cartewheels Catering) - Poblano Corn Chowder

Honorable Mention

Josh & Julie Raymer (Bakery JoJu) - S.O.B. Son of a Bean  

Runners Up (remaining finalists)

Shane McRorey (Grape Juice) - Jalapeño Popper; 

Scott & Stephanie Newcomer (Calypso) - Calypso’s Bayou Chowder

TASTERS CHOICE WINNERS:

1st Place - Steve Haddon & Alan Hunter (Coconut Crushers) - Coconut Chicken

2nd Place - Chef Adrian (Cartewheels Catering) - Poblano Corn Chowder

3rd Place - Jeff Blakeley (Pint & Plow) - Chicken Enchilada

Honorable Mention

Doug Hetzler - Texas Tomato Soup

Runners (next highest votes)

Brandun Ramon & Jesse Ramon (Calypso) - Chicken and Sausage Cajun Gumbo

Scott & Stephanie Newcomer (Calypso) - Calypso’s Bayou Chowder

February 26th, 2026

Soup Taster tickets are sold out.  All are still welcome to join the festival for free live music, block printing demonstrations by Schreiner University Communication Design Department, food from Shim's Be Blessed, and draft beer, wine, cider and kombucha from Central Texas beverage makers.     

February 23rd, 2026

25 extraordinary Soup Makers, 25 extraordinary soups.  Soup Tasters will use their custom soup tumbler to taste 3oz portions of as many soups as they'd like during the 12-3pm tasting window, and their 2 voting cards to choose their faves.  

Brandun Ramon & Jesse Ramon (Calypso) - Chicken and Sausage Cajun Gumbo

Jeff Blakeley (Pint & Plow) - Chicken Enchilada

Steve Haddon & Alan Hunter (Coconut Crushers) - Coconut Chicken

Kayte Graham (Central Provisions) - "Out West" Creamy Hatch and Ham

Shane McRorey (Grape Juice) - Jalapeño Popper

Shonna Foster (Shim's Be Blessed Catering) - "King of the Hunt" Green Chile Stew

Donny Lehmann (Lehmann's Meat Market) - Hearty Wagyu Beef Short Rib Soup

Bobbi Bryant & Chantell McConaghay - "Holy Cluck A Moly" Green Chili Soup

Rose Bradshaw & Waverly Jones Team - Pork Pozole a la Sister Rose & Waverly

Abram Bueche (BBQUE TEXAS, LLC) - "Rajin' Texas Cajun" Bayou Gumbo

Gerardo Martinez (Vecinos Cafe) - Cheesy Potato & Hatch

Tamara Yarbrough (Garrett Insurance Agency) - "Marry Me" Chicken Soup

Deb Rouse, Mike Laymon, Lindsey Lee (Kerrville Folk Festival) - Thai Style Red Curry

Josh & Julie Raymer (Bakery JoJu, Fredericksburg) - S.O.B. “Son of a Bean”

Josh Bueche - Zuppa Toscana Soup

Kyle Bond (BBQue Texas, LLC) - Cajun Chicken Potato Cheddar Soup

Chef Adrian (Cartewheels Catering) - Poblano Corn Chowder

Zoe Turner & Renick Smith (Trailhead Beer Garden) - Zurek (Beet-Free TX Polonia Borscht)

Scott & Stephanie Newcomer (Calypso) - Calypso’s Bayou Chowder

Louis Amestoy (The Kerr County Lead) - Andersen's Split Pea Soup

Carl Shulse (Turtle Creek Vineyard) - "Grape & Graze" Bourguignon Soup

Graham Gammack & Randall McCabe (Art of Soup) - Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

Katie Tenery (Earthshine Studios) - Rustic Tuscan Chicken Soup

Doug Hetzler - Texas Tomato Soup

Luis & Stephanie Baquero (Off Main Brewing) - Mushroom Soup

February 18th, 2026

Nobody tastes soup like this crew!  The 3rd annual Pot O' Fest! "A Kerrville Crafted Soup Cook-off" includes 12 community leaders who will select the best of the best for a $500 cash prize purse.  The list of Judges:

Lee Poole (Chief, Hunt VFD)

Rae Cardenas (Executive Director, Doyle Community Center)

Cifton Fifer Jr.

Justin McClure (Owner, JAM Broadcasting)

Bobby Templeton

Josh Limmer (Superintendent, Center Point ISD)

Larry Leitha (Kerr Co. Sheriff)

Emily Kirchner (Fredericksburg City Council)

John McDonald (CEO, Peterson Health)

Mackenzie Wade (Owner, Stillstone Photography)

Katharine Boyette (Director, Kerrville Community Art Program)

Jay Brimhall (Director, City of Kerrville PARD)