The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Alpine is often referred to as The Heart of Big Bend, and since 1987 the imagined crackle of a campfire and clip clop of horses' hooves become the figurative heartbeat of the town for a few days in February as a series of storytellers, singers and poets wax lyrical about the American West.
The oldest event of its kind in the Lone Star state and the second oldest in the nation, The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering paints a portrait in stanzas and songs of the beauty of life in a rugged landscape. Among the performers scheduled for the 2010 event:
Mike Beck
Joel Nelson Cowboy Celtic
Red Steagall
Start the day with a heapin' helping of vittles served during the chuckwagon breakfast at Poet's Grove on Hendryx Ave. before enjoying a day filled with the rhythm and rhymes that conjures up images of riders and wranglers. Daytime events are free to the public (excluding the cowboy breakfast, which costs $5), while tickets for evening stage shows are available for $12.50 ($5 for children).
A city slicker lifestyle may be waiting for your return, but before getting "back in the saddle" for the drive home, say a prayer for the preservation of the American West at a cowboy church service.
When: February 26 - 28, 2010
Where: The campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine.
For more information:Labels: Alpine, February festivals
posted by Grace Sydney @ 3:23 PM
Walker County Fair in Huntsville
Corral the kids in the car and head to Huntsville for a round up of rodeo activities and carnival fun that has been a Texas tradition since 1978.
Events
- If the excitement of barrel racing doesn't rope you in to the stands at the rodeo arena, the steer roping and team roping events will. Cheer on the participants in the youth edition or thrill at the skill of PRCA members.
- Let your fantasies of fame become reality by signing up to perform in the Country Music Star competition. Held at the fair's main stage, the winner will receive a cash prize, a recording demo and the chance for a recoding contract.
- If you're hankering for some tried and true Texas fare, let the savory smell of brisket lead you to the BBQ/Chili Cook-Off, just one of the many contests held during the fair. Competitors will also battle for a blue ribbon in the following: canned and baked goods contest, clothing, photography, quilts and horticulture.
- A staple at southern festivals, pageants play a prominent role at the Walker County Fair. A fair prince, princess and queen will be crowned during the festivities.
Children's Activities
- Brave little buckaroos can rustle up the gumption to get into the arena for the Little Tyke Rodeo. Competitions include stick horse barrel racing, dummy roping, hay hauling and goat typing.
- For the little animal lover in your family, there's a children's barnyard petting zoo complete with cuddly chicks, bunnies, ducks, and a bottle-fed calf.
- From bumper cars to the tilt-a-whirl, the fair offers over 25 classic carnival rides and attractions for both the young and the young at heart. Try to win a stuffed toy for your sweetheart, look out on the fairgrounds from the top of the Ferris wheel, and saddle up for a ride back to your childhood as a menagerie of merry-go-round horses "gallop" in time to a playful tune.
When: March 26 - April 4, 2010
Where: Walker County Fairgrounds in Huntsville.
For more information:
• visit
www.walkercountyfair.comLabels: Festivals, Huntsville, March Festivals
posted by Grace Sydney @ 12:30 PM
SpringFest Wine and Art Festival
Raise your glass and drink in the beauty of historic Old Town Spring during an annual two-day toast to Texas wineries. Originating in 1998, the SpringFest Wine and Art Festival has become one of the largest wine exhibition and tasting events in the Houston area, featuring samplings of spirits from some of the state's top wineries, including:
- Chisholm Trail Winery in Fredericksburg
- Colony Cellars Winery in Waller
- Flat Creek Estate in Marble Falls
- Haak Vineyards & Winery in Santa Fe
- Messina Hof Winery and Resort in Bryan
Free to the public, tickets for the wine tastings are available in advance for $20 and at the gate for $25. Tickets are good for 5 tastings and come with a commemorative wine glass. Additional tastings can be purchased for $1 each.
After pleasing your palate with a taste of the grape, search for a souvenir of your stay in Spring among booths brimming with paintings from the palettes of local artists, handmade jewelry, knives and crafts.
When: March 6 - 7, 2010
Where: Historic Old Town Spring at 130 Spring School Road
For more information:visit
www.winefestoldtownspring.comPhoto courtesy Big Stock Photo
Labels: Houston, March Festivals, Spring
posted by Grace Sydney @ 2:35 PM
Eagle Fest in Emory
The flap of wings will make spirits soar when nature lovers flock to The Eagle Capital of Texas for an annual day of appreciation for America's symbol of freedom.
Activities
- Members of the Texas Parks and Wildlife and the US Army Corps of Engineers will pass on their knowledge of nature through lectures, exhibits and tours, while bird rehabilitation organizations offer an eagle eye look at some of our fine feathered friends, including falcons, hawks, owls and vultures.
- Binocular-wearing birders draped in blankets will enjoy a boat tour of Lake Fork, which has a surface that often reflects the images of eagles as they fly overhead. A special bus tour is also available, complete with a video and live presentation and a tour of the Lake Fork Sabine River Authority Area.
- As your eyes are on the skies, your imagination can take flight as an array of musical performers provide a serene soundtrack to the day's events with sounds ranging from the haunting lilt of a Native American flute to the soulful grooves of R&B.
- Before the day ends, be sure to browse among booths brimming with birding supplies and bird-related arts and crafts for a souvenir of your stay in the Eagle Capital of Texas.
When: February 6, 2010
Where: Rains School District Campus at 1759 W US Hwy 69 in Emory.
For more information (including a downloadable guide complete with hotel listings, self-guided tour suggestions and more):visit
www.eaglefest.orgPhoto courtesy Big Stock Photo
Labels: Emory, February festivals
posted by Grace Sydney @ 1:46 PM
Carnaval Brasileiro in Austin
The rhythm of Rio de Janeiro's surdo bass drums welcome revelers to one night of
uninhibited high life during Carnaval Brasileiro, an event which has brought a spark
of warmth to Austin's winters since the mid-1970's.
Held at the Palmer Events Center, this festival of free spirits offers both a feast
for the eyes-- with masquerading merry makers mingling beneath the sparkle of a disco
ball-- as well as food for the soul, with Beleza Brasil providing the beat for
dancing feet and Academicos da Opera showcasing the sights and sounds that a
spectator would see in a Brazilian parade.
When: February 20, 2010 (Doors open at 8 p.m., with entertainment starting at 9p.m. and continuing until 1:30 a.m.)
Where: Palmer Events Center (900 Barton Springs Road) in Austin.
For more information:The following clip offers a sneak peek of the samba soiree:
Labels: Austin, February festivals
posted by Grace Sydney @ 11:51 AM
Working on Our Book Revision
This week we headed down to Round Top to work on the revision of our
Day Trips from Austin guidebook. We had lunch at Klump's then walked around town to revise our listings and check to see what's new.
One big change: the number of antiques shows in this area, especially down by Warrenton, has just exploded in the past few years; there are so many new, large structures that host shows during the twice-annual Antiques Week events held by Round Top and surrounding communities.
Labels: Round Top
posted by Paris and John @ 7:46 PM
Dance and Dine Among the Dinosaurs at Houston Museum of Natural Science's Valentine's Event
Celebrate the fact that true love will never be extinct as you dance with your darling among dinosaur displays during
Love Bugs, the Houston Museum of Natural Science's pre-Valentine's mixer.
Held on February 12, 2010 from 6 p.m. - 10p.m. in the Paleontology Hall, you can salsa to the sounds of Grupo Ka-Che in the shadow of a T-Rex, then enjoy cocktails and an
amuse bouche before letting your love take flight with free admission to the Cockrell Butterfly Center, a three-story glass enclosure where tiny winged wonders flit about in a tropical setting.
Tickets, which are currently on sale online, are available for $15 for museum members and $20 for non-members. The Houston Museum of Natural Science is located at One Hermann Circle Drive in Houston, Texas.
For more information:• call 713/639-4629
• visit
www.hmns.orgImage courtesy Houston Museum of Natural Science
Labels: holidays, Houston
posted by Grace Sydney @ 12:30 PM
