Take a break and enjoy Texas Hill Country fall festivals
It’s August and the thermometer continues to read “hot,” but in almost every town and community in beautiful, scenic Texas Hill Country, the long, hot summer is followed by some of the coolest fall festivals on the map. So, start planning today. You won’t want to miss any of the myriad opportunities for memorable experiences sure to bring something new and different to your everyday life.
Ready? Let’s explore.
Johnson City Open Pro Rodeo, Aug. 16-17: Johnson City, at Blanco County Fairgrounds, 619 US-281 north. 8 p.m. Bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, team roping, ladies breakaway roping, barrel racing, bull riding, drill teams, calf roping, mini bulls mini bronc, mutton busting calf scramble. Free parking. Hosted by Lester Meier Rodeo Company. 830-997-1864. www.lmrodeo.com.
Seventh Annual Beer by the Bay Music Festival, Aug. 16-17: Horseshoe Bay, at the Live Oak Event Lawn. Live country music — LeAnn Rimes, Kylie Rae Harris, The Derailers and others as well as food, micro-brewed beer. Open to the public. Hours vary each day. 877-611-0112, http://beerbyhsbresort.com/. LBJ 111th Birthday Celebration, Aug. 27: Stonewall, at LBJ president in the beautiful Texas Hill Country he loved so dearly. Activities throughout the day with old-time games for the whole family, such as marbles, tops, jacks and stick horses. Pack a picnic basket and make it a family outing this summer and enjoy all the park has to offer, including the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. Start at Visitor’s Center. Annual family event, free. 830-644-2252. www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/events/.
Uvalde’s Labor Day Celebration Palomino Fest and Rodeo, Aug. 29-Sept. 1: at Fairplex. Pro rodeo, live music — Uvalde’s rock ‘n’ roll band Surge and Back in Black — AC/DC tribute band — plus food vendors and carnival. 830-5919040. https://palominofest.com/.
World Championship Barbecue Goat Cook-Off, Aug. 30-Sept. 1: Brady, at Richards Park. Mystery meat challenge, arts and crafts, children’s games, horseshoe and washer tournaments, live music, Goat Gallop 5K Fun Run. 325-5973491.
Bandera Round-up, Aug 30.-Sept. 1: Bandera, at various venues including downtown and City Park. Starts Sat. at 11 a.m. Longhorn cattle drive parade, arts, crafts, mounted shooter competition, bull riding, roping, barrel racing, music, reenactments, live music, dancing. 830-796-3280. www.banderacowboycapital.com.
Labor Day Weekend Puzzler Scavenger Hunt, Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Johnson City, at Science Mill, 101 S. Lady Bird Lane. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Round up your team, grab a smartphone and set off on the ultimate scavenger hunt. This one is a real puzzler — search for answers hidden throughout the museum. 844-263-6405, www.sciencemill.org.
Wings Over Wimberley, Sept. 13-15: Wimberley, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Bats — they live under the Cypress Creek bridge and fly out just before dusk each night. Enjoy a fun festival celebrating these amazing mammals. Sponsored by Wimberley Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance. 269-290-5001, wingsoverwimberley@gmail.com.
Luckenrod Classic Car And Rod Show, Sept. 14: Luckenbach. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Daytime and evening music lineup and lots of classic cars. 512-993-5899. https://luckenrodcom.bigcartel.com/.
Bluebonnet Air Show, Sept. 14: Burnet, at Burnet Regional Airport, 2402 S. Water St., US-281 south. Noon-4 p.m. Free annual air show by the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). See classic World War II aircraft and high-performance planes put on an aerial demonstration. Also visit their museum with static displays of numerous WWII (and later) aircraft, military vehicles, and wartime memorabilia. 817-304-0393, www.jacobguide.com/tx/burnet/airmuseum.html.
Fantastic Fest, Sept. 19-26: All over Austin. Fantastic Fest is one of the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies
from all around the world. Past years’ guest roster has included such talent as Tim Burton, Robert Rodriguez, Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, Keanu Reeves, Martin Landau, Winona Ryder, Edward Norton, Ryan Reynolds, Dolph Lundgren and Paul Rudd. fantasticfest.com.
Pecan Street Festival, Sept. 21-22: 6th Street in Austin. One of the oldest events in Austin. Part live music festival, arts and craft vendor show, classic carnival, fair food options. http://pecanstreetfestival.org/.
Lutheran Fall Festival, Sept. 21: Fredericksburg, at Marktplatz (Market Square), 100 block of W. Main Street, downtown. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fun for the whole family. 5K starts at 9 a.m., chili cook-off, kid activities, craft fair, quilt auction, food trucks, carnival games, live music, and more. Free. 830-257-6340.
Annual Seed Stomp, Sept. 22: Stonewall, at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Children and their families are invited to come out to the State Park to help scatter wildflower seeds. With some help from Mother Nature, the following spring they can return and see all the wildflowers in bloom throughout the park. Native seed mixtures will be provided by the State Park. 830-644-2252.
Medina Lake Cajun Festival, Sept. 28: Lakehills, Civic Center, 11225 Park Road 37 and 15th St., W. Lakehills. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Gumbo cook-off, Cajun food (crawfish pies, fried shrimp and catfish, jambalaya, boudin peppers, bread pudding with whiskey sauce), Cajun-Zydeco music, arts, crafts, games. Rain or shine. Admission $12, children 10 and yougner, free. www.cajunfestival-medinalake.com.
Texas Craft Brewers Festival, Sept. 28: Austin. Event focuses exclusively on Texas-produced craft beer. 21+ event at Fiesta Gardens. http://texascraftbrewersfestival.org.
Lampasas County Wine Tour, Sept. 28: Lampasas. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets include chartered transportation to five award-winning wineries. Receive a wine goodie bag and a picnic pack to enjoy on your tour of the wineries. Get wine-tasting tips and information. 512-556-5172.
Dripping With Taste Trail, Oct. 1-31: Dripping Springs. A self-guided event. The Passport entitles you to receive one complimentary tasting (as determined by each establishment) at all 25 participating wineries, breweries and distilleries. $50. www.destinationdrippingsprings.com/drippingwithtaste.
Oktoberfest, Oct. 4-6: Fredericksburg, at Marktplatz (Market Square, 100 block of W. Main St.), downtown. Open Fri. 6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m., Sun 11 a.m. Closes at midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 6 p.m. on Sunday. A colorful, festive, annual celebration of Fredericksburg’s German heritage. Family entertainment featuring two stages and two tents with continuous oompah music, art and crafts, children’s fun area. https://oktoberfestinfbg.com/
3rd Annual Gruene Music And Wine Festival + Craft Beer Event, Oct. 10-13: Gruene, multiple venues. Kick-off on Thursday with the Bacon Brothers (as in Kevin), Friday, hear Tanya Tucker and Saturday, the Casey Donahew Band. Hill Country wineries will be there, as will craft brewers and some of the best food this side of the Mississippi. VIP tickets and advance tickets on sale now. This festival is held in the Gruene Historic District in New Braunfels in Texas Hill Country. http://gruenemusicandwinefest.com.
San Antonio Beer Fest, Oct. 19: Enjoy some of the 400-plus premium and craft beers at Dignowity Park. 125-plus breweries will be represented, along with music, games, wines, food booths and, did we say music. Ticket sales have already begun. From noon-6:30 p.m.
Harvest Moon Celebration, Oct. 26: Comfort, at Muleshoe Farm, 306 US-87. Noon-9 p.m. Fall harvest and Halloween festival for all ages. Enjoy nature and agricultural demonstrations with live animals, blacksmithing, local herbs, and more. . $10/adult, $5/youth, 5 and under free admission. www.harvestmooncelebration.com.
Trail Of Lights, Dec. 1-Jan. 1: Burnet, at Wallace Riddell Park, the courthouse square, and Hamilton Creek Park. Dusk to dawn. www.cityofburnet.com.
Christmas at Fort Croghan, Dec. 4: Burnet, at 703 Buchanan Drive (Texas 29 W.). 5-8 p.m. Experience a bit of life at Ft. Croghan in the 1800s. The cabins are decorated and families dressed in frontier attire, welcoming visitors to enjoy hot apple cider and homemade cookies. Free admission. www.fortcroghan.org.
Main Street Bethlehem, Dec. 6-8 and 13-15 from 6-9 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 108 S. Vanderveer, Burnet. A Christmas gift to the State of Texas. An outdoor presentation, weather permitting. Refreshments. Free event. www.fbcburnet.org/ministries/main-street-bethlehem/.