Introduction from the Editor

Join Us for 175 Years of Unique History

This is a milestone year for several events here in town. Oktoberfest hits the big 4-0 this year and we hope to see people carefully enjoying this four-decade tradition.

Later in October, the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest will hit three decades. That is a fun day of sampling some of what makes this area such a destination – good ol’ grape and grub.

But the BIG anniversary is that of this special town. One hundred and seventy-five years ago, 120 German immigrants settled here after an arduous journey. These were people who were full of grit and determination who lived through no small amount of hardship in this hardscrabble landscape.

The descendants of those original families, many of whom still reside here and help this community in innumerable ways, created a pretty special place. It’s full of independent-minded people. It has built up slowly and within its means. It valued hard work and an honest dollar.

Yes, Fredericksburg has changed a lot over the years, and much more rapidly over the past decade. But there is still a friendly, welcoming attitude here, whether

someone is just visiting our local shops or a winery, considering location of their business, or buying their dream retirement home. It’s still a special place with good folks.

We published a magazine “175 Years of Rich History,” and it is for sale around town. Proceeds from the sale of that magazine go to the 175th committee, which will begin work on the 200th anniversary, and the Gillespie County Historical Society, which helped create much of the content. Please pick up a copy and take home a piece of Fredericksburg’s history with you.

While not a milestone anniversary, we’re proud that we’ve been publishing this GoFredericksburg magazine for 43 years. The Fredericksburg Standard’s first visitors guide was published in May 1978. Since then, it’s grown and turned into a magazine and gone home with literally millions of visitors.

When looking through this magazine, you can learn about some of the seasonal top attractions. Then come back next year and visit us in the spring (can you say bluebonnets!) and summer. There’s nothing like spending an afternoon at laid-back Luckenbach.

Fredericksburg’s 175th year-long celebration will culminate next May with special programs and history presented until then. Enjoy this town of Fredericksburg and tell your friends. It’s a milestone year for a singular place. PROST UND WILLKOMMEN!

Ken Esten Cooke

Publisher & Editor Fredericksburg Publishing Company @kenestencooke

GoFredricksburg

Promoting the best little town in Texas!

A product of Fredericksburg Publishing Company.

Publisher/Editor - Ken Esten Cooke Managing Editor - Joe Southern Advertising Director - Kim Jung Writers - Samuel Sutton, Reed Graff, Madalyn Watson Writer/Proofreader - Sherrie Geistweidt Designers - Michael Skinner, Barney Kane Account executives - Ann Duecker, Cindy G. Burdorf Front Office - Alicia Trinkle, Stephanie Brenner, Dee Plavidal Circulation/Deliveries - Steven Cornehl, Ezra Coddington, Leroy Stehle, Ralph Wentzlaff, David Plavidal, Tyler Peacock, Debbie Bradford

GoFredericksburg Magazine

712 W. Main St. | P.O. Box 1639 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Phone 830-997-2155 gofred@fredericksburgstandard.com Subscription Information: $10 per year We want to know what you think about our magazine. Please send feedback and story ideas to joe@fredericksburgstandard.com. And thanks for reading the area’s best and oldest visitor publication! If you’d like to subscribe to this twice-yearly magazine highlighting what’s happening in Fredericksburg, please email me at ken@fredericksburgstandard.com. I also ask you to subscribe to our sister publication, Rock & Vine, a quarterly magazine dedicated to highlighting the good life all over the Texas Hill Country. Pick up a copy locally or swing by 712 W. Main Street. It can also be seen online at www.rockandvinemag.com.

© 2021: GoFredericksburg Magazine is published by the Fredericksburg Publishing Company. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice or endorsement, but is considered informative.

4 Introduction from the Editor 18 Oktoberfest Marks 40 Years 22 Finding Sanctuary in the

Japanese Peace Garden 28 Fredericksburg Farmer’s Market 30 Historian Reflects on 175 Years 32 Texas Mesquite Arts Festival 34 Knights of Columbus’s BestFest 36 Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest 37 Indian Artifact Show 38 Peddler Show 42 Marktplatz Will Light Up for the Holidays 44 Light the Night Christmas

Parade 46 Holy Ghost Lutheran Church

Nativity Display 47 Santa Day Parade Ahead 48 Christmas Home Tour/

Tannenbaum Ball 49 Bethany Christmas Journey 50 Kinderfest 52 Singing Christmas Tree 53 LBJ Christmas Tree Lighting 54 Fredericksburg’s ‘Second

Christmas’ 56 Gillespie County Youth

Livestock Show 58 Gem & Mineral Shows 60 FISD Band Boosters Turkey Dinner 61 German Choirs Keep Tradition Alive 62 Music Club Hosts Concerts by Global Talents 64 Die Künstler Art Show & Sale 66 Fredericksburg Theater Company 70 First Friday Art Walks 74 Lace up for Benefit Runs 76 A Hunter’s Paradise 78 Fort Martin Scott 80 Pioneer Museum 82 Texas Rangers Heritage Center 86 View the Heavens at

Enchanted Rock 88 Country Schools 90 The Bright Side of Life 94 ‘Volkssport’ Brings Germany to Your Feet 96 ‘Everbody’s Somebody” When

Visiting Luckenbach Texas 100 Wine Me Up 108 Living History Found at

LBJ State Park 112 36th President Lives on at

LBJ National Historical Park 114 Old Tunnel State Park

Goes Batty Each Evening 118 Brewing Up the Hill Country 122 Museum Honors Sacrifice,

Service of WWII Pacific Vets 124 City Parks Offer Variety of

Camping, Day Use Amenities 128 Roll, Roll, Roll Your Board 130 Vereins Kirche Keeps Current with Exhibits, Activities 134 Library Houses ‘Good Reads’ 136 Hill Country Higher Ed 142 Steering Visitors in the

Right Direction

About the Cover:

The late artist Lee Ethel is celebrated as a painter who moved to Fredericksburg after a graphic arts career in the Dallas area. This work, “Summer in Fredericksburg,” was painted around 1985 and was used with permission of private collection owners Jean and Michael Sudderth of Fredericksburg.