Cedar Park's Tourism Advisory Board held their monthly meeting Tuesday. Here are some takeaways from the evening's discussions.

1. New staff: April Bear was introduced as the new tourism manager for Cedar Park. Bear worked with the Texas governor’s office for six years in Texas tourism and started with Cedar Park on July 10.

2. 2018 Balcones Songbird Festival: The board approved a recommendation request for $5,000 in 2018 Hotel Occupancy Tax funds to go toward the Friends of the Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge for the 2018 Balcones Songbird Festival.

The funds would go toward advertising and marketing for the event. Sharon Macut, chair of the songbird committee, spoke to members of the committee about the event, which is held outside of Lago Vista. However, Macut said Lago Vista is short on hotel space, and that about one-third of the participants stayed in Cedar Park during the 2016 festival.

Duane Smith, the city’s tourism and community development manager, said several Cedar Park City Council members have expressed interest in seeing more activities in the birding industry in Cedar Park and attracting people to the city for that purpose.

“[The Friends of Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge] do intend to put people here in Cedar Park hotels,” Smith said.

The $5,000 will be included in the tourism advisory committee budget that will be sent to City Council.

3. Other recommended projects: Committee members also approved recommended funding for eight other projects, including:

  • NOLA Texas Food and Music Festival TX/Stars at H-E-B Center in an amount not to exceed $35,000

  • Cheer America in an amount not to exceed $15,000

  • Austin Steam Train Association in an amount not to exceed $35,000

  • H-E-B Center at Cedar Park digital marketing in an amount not to exceed $3,000

  • Cedar Fest Barbeque Cook-Off in an amount not to exceed $15,000

  • Leander ISD-Rouse HS in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for Volleypalooza

  • Austin Spurs in an amount not to exceed $50,000

  • Texas Museum of Science and Technology not to exceed $29,000


The recommendations will go to the City Council.