Hill Country Sun by Julie Harrington

September/October 2022 Hill Country SUN 3

4 Hill Country SUN September/October 2022 HENLY Texas Hill LOCATORCountryMAP © 2022 by TD Austin Lane, Inc. BuchananBergheimBanderaAustinINDEXJ5B10D9BertramI2BlancoF6BoerneD9Dam F2 Buda BulverdeJ7G10 Burnet G2 Camp Verde B8 Canyon Lake G9 Castroville C12 Center Point B8 Clear Springs H11 Comfort C8 Concan DrippingDriftwoodA11H7Springs H6 Fischer G8 Fredericksburg C5 Georgetown K2 Granite Shoals G2 Gruene HighlandHancockH10G8HelotesG6HenlyG6LakesF2/3HondoB13HuntA7HyeE6 Ingram B7 Johnson City F5 Kendalia F8 Kerrville LuckenbachLibertyLampasasKingslandB7F2KyleI8G1LeakeyA9LlanoD2HillI12D6 Luling K10 Marble Falls G3 Martindale J9 Mason B2 Medina A9 New Braunfels H10 Oak Hill I6 Oatmeal H2 Pipe Creek C10 Round Rock K3 San Antonio F12 San Marcos I9 Sattler SpringSisterdaleSeguinH9I11D8BranchF9StartzvilleG9StonewallD6UtopiaA10VanderpoolA9WimberleyH8 Julie Spell Harrington Publisher/Ad Sales 512-484-9716 • julie@hillcountrysun.com Melissa Maxwell Ball Editor/Design 512-569-8212 • melissa@hillcountrysun.com Writers Ernie Altgelt & Bonnie Eissler Distribution Gerry Burns Volume 29, Number 10 ISSN: 1524-2315. Entire contents © Copyright 2022 by TD Austin Lane, Inc. COVER PHOTOS: Don’t miss the Comal County Fair & Rodeo. The event-filled celebration is September 21-25, 2022. See story, page 14. Photos courtesy Comal Country Fair & Rodeo. facebook.com/hillcountrysunhillcountrysun.com

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BY BONNIE EISSLER

An out-of-the-ordinary getaway at Spoon Mountain Glamping

See GLAMPING, page 8

Ken and Yvette Strange. Photo courtesy Spoon Mountain Glamping.

A lthough the word “glamping” was not officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary until 2016, glamorous camping has been around for hundreds of years. However, the privilege of living luxuriously in a tent (more like a mobile palace) was reserved exclusively for kings, queens, sultans, and other high-ranking aristocrats. Everyone else carried their tents and slept on the ground close to the horses, or in the sultan’s camp, with the camels. Happily, you don’t have to be a member of the royal family to enjoy the luxury of camping in one of the three authentic safari tents at Spoon Mountain Glamping. Owners Ken and Yvette Strange weren’t quite sure at first what to do with several acres adjoining the Med Spa that Yvette had opened in 2016, but they knew that the sunset alone was worthy of a unique retreat where guests could sit back and enjoy that glorious view. After a few years wondering what to do with this space, the eureka moment came after Ken and family pitched a tent one night and camped out under the stars.

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He thought how wonderful it would be to recapture those idyllic moments spent outside in nature, sitting around a fire, telling stories and just enjoying being together.

With Med Spa professionals close by, guest can schedule private couples massages in their tents. No one misses having a television in the tent.

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“Everything is selected with the guests’ comfort in mind,” says property manager Yvonne, and that may be an understatement. There are fans and heaters, music and earplugs, towel warmer, bubble bath and plush bathrobes, soft pillows and throws.

Philip Sell, an award-winning furniture designer and artist based in Wimberley, made the table, which has a distinctive base of cypress wood from a tree that was uprooted during the 2015 Memorial Day flood.

Ken and Yvette attended a glamping summit in Denver, Colorado (yes, glampers summit too) and “that’s where we met the BushTec people,” Ken says.

Bushtec Safari has won many awards for innovative designs and quality, with products that are built to last.

Ken recalled how much he’d enjoyed camping with the kids in their younger years, before everyone was glued to their phones, sending texts and playing online games.

For those who can tear themselves away from soaking in the big tub on the back deck, rocking their cares away on the front porch, or lounging in the hammock outside, there’s also a common area nearby with a spacious covered seating area, large dining table, hot tub and steam sauna.

For delicious treats, glampers get a small charcuterie board (beautifully put together in a heart shaped wooden bowl by Yvette), Topo Chicos (the signature beverage for Med Spa and Spoon Mountain), cocoa and S’mores fixings.

“The same kind of tents used in the Serengeti in northern Tanzania were shipped here from South Africa,” says Ken.

Step outside the back of each tent on to a private deck with a 10-foot-tall wooden fence, a large soaking tub, a romantic seating area, and a small patio table for intimate dinners. On the large front porch, guests can sip their wine or Topo Chico from the comfort of rocking chairs and enjoy that amazing sunset.

GLAMPING, from page 6

Photos courtesy Spoon Mountain Glamping.

FYI • Spoon Mountain Glamping, located at 210 Masonic Lodge Road, has been welcoming guests since April 2021. Three luxurious tents – Kingfisher, which is fully wheelchair accessible, Chisum, and Shaka, are on site. To book your stay and to learn more about this unique retreat and each of the tents, visit the website at spoonmountainglamping.com.

Many people ask about the mattresses because they are so incredibly comfortable. “We actually bought them at a high school fundraiser for the Wimberley track team,” Ken says, “Yvette and I lay down on every mattress there to find the ones we liked best.” They bought the mattresses a year before they set up the tents and added the decks and porches, leaving the mattresses stored at the school until they were ready for them to be delivered.

“We watched the sun sink down into the saddle between the two hills and decided that this was something to share,” Ken says, “and that’s when the adventure began.”

September/October 2022 Hill Country SUN 9 P.O. Box 2603, Wimberley, TX 78676 wimberleywagrescue.org • 512-847-3200 A 501(c)(3) public charity for dog rescue & adoption VolunteerAdoptFosterDonate Help Us Save Lives

Chef Billy Brown of Sunday House Market and Cowboy Cantina will provide delicious food offerings for sale, plus you can enjoy shopping from local vendors. Live music performances include the Austin bluegrass band Lost Pines, the Scott Strickland Band and the Joey Green Band.

FYI • Texas Wine Jam is September 4 from noon to 6 pm at Vinovium, 214 Edmonds Avenue in Johnson City. General Admission and VIP tickets are available for $45 and $55 respectively. VIP tickets allow for early entrance into the festival at 11am and include five additional raffle tickets. For tickets and more information, visit www.txwinejam.com

JOHNSON CITY H Texas Wine Jam is all about celebrating love of great Texas wine and music while giving back to those communities that make it possible. It’s also about supporting two impactful causes that support local music and local wine – The SIMS Foundation and Texas Wine Community Scholarships. Four dollars from every ticket sold will be split between these two organizations.

On September 4 from noon to 6 pm, you can taste and purchase your way through a dozen or more wineries including Vinomium, 12 Fires Winery, AB Astris, Adega Vinho, Crowson, Esperanza Winery, Hye Meadow Winery, Kuhlman Cellars, Saint Tryphon, Siboney Cellars, Spicewood Vineyards, Westcave Cellars, Tatum Cellars, Sandy Road Vineyards and Lost Oak Winery. For every bottle purchased at the festival you’ll automatically be entered into a raffle to win one of several mixed-cases of wines from the participating wineries.

Texas Wine Jam good time for a great cause 1400 Jacobs Well Road • Wimberley • 512-847-6874 Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere on our cocktail patio & tree house deck! Tastings, Cocktails & Bottle Sales Available Tues-Thurs 11:30 am-5:30 pm Fri & Sat 11 am-6 pm CypressCreekReserve.com 1400 Jacobs Well Rd • Wimberley • 512-847-6874 Enjoy the atmospherepeacefulonour cocktail patio & tree house deck! Tastings, Cocktails & Bottle Sales Available Tues-Thurs 11:30 am-5:30 pm Fri & Sat 11 am-6 pm HandcraftedRumsfromtheheartofTexas Cypress Creek Reserve Get your event included in our Hill Country Calendar! Please email event details melissa@hillcountrysun.comto

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Pig Pen BBQ is an expansion of their successful food truck and wedding catering business. Austin is one of the top ten food truck cities in the country, but Dripping Springs was slow to join the “moveable feast” craze until Bill and Michelle paved the way. There was a mountain of paperwork to get the proper permits, but once they were open for business, it really took off. “We sold out every day.” Bill was born in San Antonio into an Army family that moved around a lot when he was younger. He traces his current profession back to his mother, who taught him how to barbe cue when he was a teenager. He’s kept the tradition going ever since, first as a hobby and later as a profession. His first job was at Gallagher’s. After that he worked at The Woodlands Coun try Club and really enjoyed it, although he didn’t go into the restaurant business until much later.

Born and raised in Virginia, Michelle’s first job was also at a restaurant, but she didn’t like it much because she had to get up too early. “My best friend’s mom had a restaurant where they served breakfast and lunch starting at 7 AM,” Michelle says. On the plus side, she helped out with catering, getting handson experience and early lessons about organization and atten tion to detail that catering for social events requires.

Michelle and Bill first met when he was still working with the Austin Police Department (APD) and she was a Registered Nurse (RN). Michelle says, “I went to Austin for a nursing con ference in 2013 and that’s when I met Bill and fell in love with him and Texas.” She planned to stay with a cousin who lived in Austin, a city Michelle hadn’t visited before. Her cousin had a work conflict but she arranged for a friend, who worked for See PIGPEN BBQ, page 12

Barbecue (BBQ) is comfort food that holds a special place in the hearts of most Texans. Some of our earliest memo ries are intermingled with pit-smoked brisket and all the accompanying fixin’s, fun and fellowship. Pig Pen BBQ, recent ly voted “Best BBQ in Dripping Springs,” had its grand opening in November 2021 and quickly became a local favorite. Bill Warren and Michelle Matthews serve up tasty meats and sides in a warm welcoming environment. “We want our cus tomers to walk into our restaurant and feel like they’ve stepped into their favorite grandmother’s house,” Michelle says.

BY BONNIE EISSLER

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One of the other officer’s wives, who worked for a chef in Austin, told her about Bill’s delicious BBQ. The chef went to one of the APA meetings to see for herself what all the hype was about. She said she didn’t even like BBQ, but she was im pressed with how good the brisket, chicken and ribs were. This led to catering jobs and the path forward became clearer. By the time Bill and Michelle retired, they were already well on their way to new careers in the BBQ and catering business. After Creek Road Cafe closed in 2020, Bill and Michelle purchased the property for their first traditional “brick and mortar” restaurant and began renovating the building right away. “We gutted the entire inside down to the studs, includ ing the ceiling,” Michelle says, “using reclaimed barnwood and galvanized metal to create a comfy cozy down home atmo sphere that’s also a bit rustic.”

What’s the secret behind this awesome BBQ that every one swears is the best they’ve ever had? Michelle says, “Love … and Bill’s incredible homemade seasoning.” She says they might bottle it and sell it to the public — if they can ever de cide on a name for it. Photos courtesy Pig Pen BBQ.

Customer favorites include brisket, chicken, ribs, “girl friend fries” that are one-and-a-half times larger for the girl who swears she doesn’t want any, but can’t stop eating the fries from your plate, and many classic and less traditional sides. Everyone seems to love “Pig Pen’s take on Barbacoa Ta cos,” a house specialty, smoked on the pit for five hours and served only on weekends.

Bill Warren and Michelle Matthews

the Austin Chronicle, to show Michelle around town. They went to the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival, an an nual event benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank. “Bill, a Sergeant with the APD, was there with a couple of other officers,” Michelle says. “They had the security contract for the Hot Sauce Festival.” They hit it off right away and Bill asked Michelle if she wanted to come back for Austin City Limits (ACL) in October because he’d be there to help provide security at the music festival. And so their long-distance romance began. Michelle came back for ACL and eventually moved to Texas. “I got here as fast as I could,” she says. Even while Bill was still working with APD, he did a lot of barbecuing for the Austin Police Association (APA) meet ings. People were always telling him that his was the best BBQ they’d ever eaten.

FYI • Pig Pen BBQ is located 301 US Highway 290 in Dripping Springs. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 7 am to 7 pm (extended closing soon to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday), and Sun day from 8 am to 3 pm. The restaurant features spacious indoor and outdoor seating, a covered patio and dog-friendly courtyard with a playscape. For more information and to schedule catered events, call 512-858-0060, or visit the website at pigpenbbq.com.

PIGPEN BBQ, from page 10

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A s the dog days of an exceptionally hot and dry summer are upon us, the preparations for the Comal County Fair and Rodeo are in full swing. County fairs are an annual tradition that are as popular in rural Texas as country music and high school football. Even though our small towns aren’t so small anymore, as we now live in one of the fastest growing regions in the country, the simple pleasures that a county fair brings remain the same. There’s family friendly fun and competition for everyone from toddlers to great-grandpas at the Comal County Fair, which has a rich history dating back to 1892. Scheduled this year for September 21-25, it is “the biggest and best county fair in Central Texas, drawing thousands of attendees,” says Fritzie Richter, publicity director for the fair and a lifelong resident of New Braunfels. “The fair was canceled in 2020 (during the

BY BONNIE EISSLER

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Comal County Fair & Rodeo See COUNTY FAIR, page 16Gabe KevinGarciaFowler

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The Old Settlers Reunion and Christmas in the Canyon on Saturday, December 3, is sure to prove a day packed with family-friendly events in Lindbergh Park and downtown Camp Wood. Festivities kick off at 10 am with a festive parade down Nueces Street and through downtown Camp Wood. Following the parade, enjoy more fun family events in Lindbergh Park, including the king and queen coronation, live entertainment, annual pie and salsa contests, and decades-old washers and horseshoes tournament. In addition, food vendors offer delicious festival delights.

All the downtown businesses will be decorated for Christmas, and at 6 pm, shops will open offering every kind of homemade cookie and candy treat you can imagine. The best part? All the holday treats are free! While perusing the local shops, you can also register for door prize giveaways. Special guest Santa Claus will hear Christmas wishes of the children at The Corner Store Café, specially decorated for the holidays! FYI • For more information, call (830) 597-6241 or visit the website at nuecescanyonchamber.org.

It’s also the perfect time and place to do your Christmas shopping, as vendors sell a wide variety of wares including artwork, crafts, woodwork, leatherwork, jewelry, candles, paintings, hats, baked goods, stonework, taxidermy, new clothing, handbags, and much more.

A chance for kids to visit with Santa is just one of the many fun family events in Camp Wood December 3 at the Old Settlers Reunion plus Christmas in the Canyon.

Old Settlers Reunion + Christmas in the Canyon

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The parade on South Seguin Avenue and East San Antonio on Friday morning kicks off the weekend festivities at the fair and rodeo. The first Pet Parade was held in 1937, complete with geese, mice, monkeys as well as cats and dogs. Children and their pets still lead the way, beginning at 8:30 am, with the rest of the parade’s marching bands, decorated floats from schools, clubs and businesses, riders on horseback and in snazzy automobiles following the parade of children and pets at 9 am. Don’t miss kindergarten students’ “shoebox floats” on display in the Fairgrounds Agricultural Hall. There’ll be winners for Most Beautiful, Most Unique and Most Creative Use of Materials. No fair is complete without a carnival. Carnival rides have evolved considerably since the 1908 carnival featured a footpowered Hobby Horse where young men ran around on top of the roof to make the attraction spin. The Heart of America Shows will provide carnival entertainment for the fair this year, with rides that offer varying degrees of shriek-worthy moments, suitable for all heights and ages.

FYI • Join the fun and excitement from Wednesday through Sunday, September 21-25, at the Comal County Fairgrounds, 701 Common Street in New Braunfels. Go to comalcountyfair.org to find out everything you need to know about ticket prices, times and locations for the rodeo, music concerts, BBQ cook off, and many other events.

There’s a lot to see and do at the fair: roller coaster rides and ferris wheels, livestock, country music, roping, barrel racing, bull riding at the PRCA rodeo, the decadent (and sometimes a little weird) carnival food. Enjoy Kevin Fowler Friday evening and Gabe Garcia Saturday evening. Often deep fried, served up on a stick or eaten from a bag, these yummy portable treats like cotton candy, candy apples, gigantic turkey legs, funnel cakes, kettle corn and corn dogs are all guilty pleasures. Pork chop on a stick? Dill pickle flavored peanuts? You can find them at the fair. Corn dog vendors from Illinois, Oregon, California, and Texas have all claimed credit for inventing these deep-fried, cornmeal battered hot dogs on a stick. We’ll give the nod to our fellow Texans, two brothers named Carl and Neil Fletcher, who first sold their “corny dogs” for 15 cents each at the State Fair of Texas in 1942, but it really doesn’t matter. They’re the epitome of carnival culinary delights.

COUNTY FAIR, from page 14

In October 1946, the New Braunfels Herald described the fair as a “carefree get-together and a chance to study new methods in homemaking and see the latest farm machinery … a happy combination of play and the serious business of living that is America at its best.” With an emphasis on wholesome entertainment, family, and community spirit, the Comal County Fair continues to represent Texas well and portray America at its best. Photos courtesy Comal County Fair & Rodeo.

This is the time to display your best field, orchard, and garden crops, meat and fleece products, knitting, crochet, art and woodwork. The BBQ Cook Off may be the most intense of the competitions, with 100 teams of seasoned BBQ battletested pit masters vying for top honors. In Texas, brisket is King, but there are also trophies and cash for the best chicken, pork spareribs, beans (dry pintos only!) and dessert.

The first county fair in the U.S. was in Massachusetts in 1807 and it was basically a sheep shearing demonstration organized by a sheep farmer to promote better farming practices. At the heart of county fairs, then and now and all across the country, are the livestock shows, where judges inspect animals (lambs, cattle, goats) presented by members of FFA chapters and 4-H clubs. This is a great opportunity for the community to sponsor and help young people learn about raising animals.

All of these agricultural fairs quickly expanded to include games, contests and social activities for the whole family. Home bakers dusted off their tried and true recipes to compete in a wide variety of categories, including cakes, pies, cookies, yeast breads, candies, and decorated layer cakes and cupcakes. The fair offers a cornucopia of opportunities for homemakers, gardeners and crafters to impress the judges and everyone else at the fair with the bountiful fruits of their labors.

16 Hill Country SUN September/October 2022 height of the COVID-19 pandemic), but the 2021 fair was very well attended,” Fritzie says, “everyone was so happy to be out enjoying life again.”

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BY ERNIE ALTGELT

Originally established as the Comfort Fall Art Walk, this year’s (now renamed) one-day-only undertaking will again feature numerous, gifted Texas artists, skilled in a variety of media, positioned within or near Comfort-area businesses and at other locations personally displaying, possibly demonstrating and, most importantly, vending their exceptional creations to a savvy, eager and appreciative public. Scheduled for Saturday, September 17, those in the know will plan to come early, stay through the afternoon (or longer) and enjoy, in Comfort, this very unique shopping opportunity.

Sponsored by the Comfort Merchant Association, the 2022 festival promises to equal or surpass its predecessors. Historically, 30 to 40 recognized and respected artists participate. The association is expecting a similar number at this year’s event. And, as always, the range and variety of talent will be substantial and diverse with delightful, small to large works being offered encompassing paintings (oils, watercolors and acrylics), pottery (clay and/or ceramic), carvings, drawings (pencil and pastel chalk), glasswork and other exciting and dramatic creative accomplishments.

Beneficial “tour” maps will be available at the event’s Welcome Booth and at the various businesses to aid in 20

Comfort Art Festival

See COMFORT FEST, page

Since 2009, this wonderfully-unique “home grown” sales event has been “drawing” artists and art lovers alike to Comfort’s quaint and welcoming commercial/historic district where the best in esthetic quality abounds.

hat do you get when exceptional creativity and vibrant commerce exuberantly combine within a charming and significant Hill Country community with the ultimate aim of attracting any and all in search of the special? Well, if you’re not sure, you’ve never been to the always popular Comfort Art Festival.

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There will be lots to see – and buy! Each artist will be “assigned” a display location within or near to a selected area merchant’s place of business. Retail establishments, restaurants, wineries and even the local distillery will be hosting so visitors will have lots to pleasurably experience besides the art (including additional shopping, eating, drinking and simply taking in the sights) as they stroll from location to location.

And, as past attendees will attest, the take-away is not only the acquisition of some amazing art work, but a total immersive experience as a small-town indulges in a little fun and friendly, “showing off!”

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As always, there are no admission fees for attending the Comfort Art Festival. Parking is ample and free. Children and pets are welcome too. Many plan to “make a weekend of it” allowing for even more quality time to explore and discover the ample charms and offerings that Comfort and its environs have to offer. Photos courtesy Comfort Art Festival.

FYI • The Comfort Art Festival is slated for Saturday, September 17, from 10 am to 4 pm. For more information — including lists of the participating artists and the area merchants, as well as directions — call Julie Kuykendall at (407) 595-6859 or visit the Comfort Merchants Association’s website at gnocomforttx.com. You can also find Comfort Art Festival on Facebook.

The town and surrounding countryside are filled with scarecrows and fall Scarecrowsdecorations.start appearing around the first of October, but prime viewing time begins around October 8. Judging of the cre ations will take place in the middle of October.

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Don’t miss Comfort’s SCARECROW INVASION COMFORT FEST, from page 18 hillcountrytxdistillers.com Hill Country Distillers 723 Front Street Comfort, Texas 78013 830-995-2924 • TOURS and TASTINGS •

Some of the infamous winning categories include “Only in Comfort” and “Best of Invasion.” Watch for these and other award winners. Chamber members will be searching throughout the Comfort area to find creative scarecrow entries, but to make sure they don’t miss one, you can call the Chamber at 830-9953131 or email info@comfort-texas.com and give the location.

navigation but attendees can rest assured that they can count on lots of assistance from a very accommodating and knowledgeable local citizenry. Basically, in typical “Comfort fashion,” the entire town is rolling out the “red carpet” to make this event truly special and worthwhile for all involved. Judging from the success achieved with past festivals, organizers are confidant of another win-win for Comfort, the artists and, of course, the most important folks – the shopping visitors.

Each year Comfort has an invasion of scarecrows just in time to deter any marauding blackbirds that might be coming into town to pester visitors attending the annual Comfort Arts Festival.

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The Sabinal River and its several tributaries have carved limestone canyons through the nearly 3,000-acre park straddling Bandera and Real counties at the western fringes of the Edwards Plateau. Here, the canyons’ moist, cool microclimates support a remarkable diversity of plant life found few other places in Texas. The bigtooth maple tree ranks as the park’s marquee species. In late autumn most years, the stands of old-growth maples set the canyons ablaze in a riot of red, orange and gold foliage, drawing upwards of 50,000 leaf-peepers to the state natural area. The western cousin of the eastern sugar maple retained a foothold in the Hill Country canyons after vast sheets of ice advanced southward across North America almost to presentday Texas, and then retreated. (For an explanation of the park’s geological history and information about the bigtooth maple and other indigenous plant species, visit the exhibit hall in the park headquarters.) Lost Maples State Natural Area is home to the state’s largest known species of the bigtooth, also known as the Uvalde bigtooth maple and canyon maple. The 40-foot tall maple with a 45-foot crown spread stands at the head of the park’s most popular trail, the .8-mile Maple Trail, just a few steps from the day-use area parking lot. However, to really appreciate this wondrous arboretum, visitors should park their vehicle and stroll the wooded canyon trails that traverse the upland canyons of the Sabinal River, as well as Can, Hale Hollow and LaneButcreeks.nomatter the time of year, Lost Maples SNA makes a worthwhile destination that will not disappoint. Visitors hoping to enjoy the park under less crowded conditions of late October and early November when the maples’ color peaks should consider an early fall visit. Nights tend to cool off and during warm, sunny days, the waters of the Sabinal and spring-fed swimming holes prove tempting spots to take a soothingAlmostsplash.11miles of well-marked trails lead to scenic over looks, spring-fed ponds populated by Texas’ state fish, the Gua dalupe bass, prime birding habitat and 30 primitive backpack camping sites. Composting toilets near several backcountry campsites make the wilderness experience a bit more pleasant. The Maple Trail provides the easiest access to the park’s natural wonders, traversing mostly flat terrain through a moist, shaded Sabinal River canyon. Mature bigtooths share fertile canyon habitat with monstrous chinkapin and Lacey’s oaks, Florida basswood, pecan, black willow, green ash and American sycamore. Boulders the size of a subcompact car sit in the mid dle of the river and at the base of soaring limestone cliffs. See LOST MAPLES, page 24

Photo by Melissa Ball.

BY ROB MCCORKLE Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

September/October 2022 Hill Country SUN 23 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Brewery & Restaurant Open Thursday - Monday 11 am to 9 pm 307 4th Street, Blanco, Texas 78606 830-833-3062 • texascannonbrewing.com For info, follow us on Award-winning German-style Oktoberfest Beer! On the Blanco Square (830) 833-5596 • 405 3rd Street in Blanco Best prices in Texas! More than 10,000 square feet of antiques Open Everyday 10 am-5 pm Shop where the Antique Dealers shop! Cranberry’s ANTIQUES 30 Years in Business! Welcome to Your Home in The Texas Hill Country Discover our family-owned, boutique wine resort in a rustic-meets-upscale oasis in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Stay in our spacious villas with luxury amenities. Pamper yourself in The Spa. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a much-needed getaway, Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa is the perfect escape. Kick Off SeptemberCelebrationsOktoberfest23–September25 European Style Beers | German Inspired Food Festive Games | Live Music featuring Off the Grid Themed beer & food offerings will continue through October. 4064 West US Highway 290 | Johnson City, Texas 78636 | 855.747.8387 | CarterCreek.com

LOST MAPLES, from page 22

24 Hill Country SUN September/October 2022 contains numerous species of plants and animals of both eastern and western affinity, as well as rare spe cies endemic to the Balcones Escarpment. Found here are the unusual Texas madrone tree, three kinds of buckeye, witch hazel (common in Mississippi), six different kinds of oaks, Texas mock orange and sycamore-leaf snowbell whose white clusters of flowers bloom in late September. The park’s birdlife reflects Lost Maples’ location in the North America’s central flyway, as well as its diversity of habitat that includes grasslands and scrublands; mixed evergreen and deciduous escarpment woodlands; and streamside woodlands. Birders from around the world visit the park to catch a glimpse of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vir eo, as well as specialty birds such as the green kingfisher and zone-tailedWater-and-electrichawk.

FYI • The day use-only park entry fees for persons 13 and older are $6. You can pre-pay entrance a month ahead of your date of arrival to assure entrance during busy seasons. Hike-in campsites are $10 a night and water-electric sites are $20. Lost Maples State Natural Area is located about an hour’s drive southwest of Kerrville and five miles north of Vanderpool on Ranch Road 187. Parking at Lost Maples State Natural Area is limited to 250 cars, so schedule fall trips during the weekdays, if possible. All reservations should be paid in full at the time they are made.

campsites are at a premium at Lost Ma ples SNA. The 30 campsites, which also feature in-ground bar becue pits and shaded picnic tables, book up to five months in advance for the peak fall foliage period. Other times of the year, booking reservations early is recommended. In keeping with Lost Maples’ state natural area designation, the park has limited development and facilities. However, young and old alike can enjoy nature photography, hiking, camping, bird watching, backpacking, fishing and swimming. Photos courtesy Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

September/October 2022 Hill Country SUN 25

Dripping Springs: Farmers Market. Pound House Farmstead at Founders Memorial Park. 3 pm to 6 pm. Every Wednesday Every Thursday Dripping Springs: Art Classes art 12 Fox Beer Co. 12foxbeer.com.

Second Friday Uvalde: Four Square Friday. Enjoy late-night shopping, food, live music, and art. Historic Downtown Uvalde, Getty Street. Every Friday & Sunday Fredericksburg: Enjoy live music on the patio at Texas Heritage Vineyard. texasheritagevineyard.com.

First Saturday Kerrville: Kerr County Market Days and Hill Country Swap Meet. Every month, Market Days features artists and crafters specializing in original handcrafted items. Hill Country Swap Meet is a monthly community garage sale/flea market.kerrmarketdays.org. Wimberley: Market Day (March-December). More than 450 vendors at Lions Field. wimberleymarketday.com.

Every Night Driftwood: Live music every night (except Fridays) at Hays City Store. hayscitystoretx.com. Every Tuesday Gruene: Two Ton Tuesdays. Gruene Hall. gruenehall.com. Johnson City: Food and Wine Pairing Dinners at Bryans on 290. bryanson290.com. First Tuesday Bandera: Cowboy Capital Opry. Artists donate their time and talents to benefit Meals On Wheels. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Popcorn, soft drinks, and water are available for $1. silversage.org.

CALENDARHill Country SELLINGBUYING or a property Let’s work together! Buying or selling your property can be a stressful process if you don’t have the right real estate agent. With 25 years of experience, born and bred in Texas, my passion is to work with clients to get the best possible result. Beth Bentley, REALTOR® 512.698.2384 beth.bentley@cbrealty.combethbentleyrealtytx.comcell Farm & Ranch • Residential Dripping Springs • Johnson City Blanco • Fredericksburg • Lake Travis Chalk Bluff River Resort 1108 Chalk Bluff Rd. Uvalde, Texas 830-278-5515 chalkbluffriverresort.com 60- Furnished Cabins 103 Campsites 32 Full Service RV Sites 14 RV sites w/Water and Electricity Only Day Use • Camping • Fishing • Hiking • Tubing • Kayaking Bird Watching • Exotic Animal Encounters • Safari Hay Rides Petting Zoo • Jump Pillows • Play Ground • Summer Dances Pet Friendly • Historical Marker • Butterfly Migration On Site Store, Gift Shop and Laundry Pavilion Rental • Family Reunions • Weddings • Trips Open Year Round

Every Wednesday

26 Hill Country SUN September/October 2022

September 10

September 4 Boerne: Axiom String Quartet in Concert. cavewithoutaname.com. Johnson City: Texas Wine Jam 2022. The festival features a showcase of 15 Texas wineries, live music, food and shopping at Vinovium Winery, 214 Edmonds Avenue. txwinejam.com. Tarpley: Labor Day Barbecue and Parade.Tarpley Volunteer Fire Department sponsors this event that includes a Labor Day parade, barbecue, raffle, and auction. tarpleyvfd.org.

September/October 2022 Hill Country SUN 27

Third Saturday Blanco: Market Day. Courthouse Square. blancochamber.com. Leakey: Market Days. (March through December) 9 am to 5 pm. At Pearls, 441 US Highway 83 South. Every Weekend Bandera:Live music. Friday 4 pm -2 am, Saturday and Saturday noon to 2 pm, redhorsebandera.com Dripping Springs: Music at Fox 12 Brewing. 12foxbeer.com

Kerrville’s Outdoor Painter’s Event is September 19-25.

Bandera: Western Heritage Music Festival. Listen to great musicians and entertainers all weekend long at the “biggest little bar in Texas.” Past fests have included performances by Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Johnny Rodriguez, and T.G. Sheppard. 11thstreetcowboybar.com. September 3, 10, 17, 24 Bulverde: Saturday Night Rodeo. tejasrodeo.com. September 3 and October 29

Fredericksburg: Fall Planting Days. Head to Wildseed Farms for daily lectures and demonstrations by founder and president John R. Thomas, who teaches techniques for successful and timely wildflower planting. wildseedfarms.com.

Fredericksburg: Pride in the Pacific Living History Reenactment. Battle reenactment complete with period vehicles and weaponry from both sides of the War in the Pacific. pacificwarmuseum.org.

Boerne: Moondance Outdoor Concert. The Cibolo presents the 2022 season of the Moondance Concert Series. The final show of the season features the Carbonlily Trio. Join the fun under the live oaks with your coolers, chairs, and friends. Food trucks are onsite. ci.boerne.tx.us.

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September 2-3

September 3-4

Fredericksburg: Vereins Quilt Guild Show. 11th biennial judged quilt show, featuring more than 100 quilts, old-fashioned bed turning, vendors, boutiques, scissor sharpening, a tea room, and a prize quilt drawing. vereinsquiltguild.org. September 2-4

Bandera: Celebrate Bandera Round-Up. Bandera honors its cowboy and Western heritage with a Longhorn Cattle Drive Parade on Saturday, arts and crafts, music, gunfight reenactments, a ranch rodeo, and Lil’ Wrangler activities. banderacowboycapital.com

September 9-11

CALENDAR, from 26

28 Hill Country SUN September/October 2022 SEPTEMBER21-25,2022 BBQ KICK-OFF & ANTIQUE TRACTOR PULL Saturday September 17 Live Music Nightly in the Corral *Free with Gate Admission Open Bull Riding Sunday - 2 pm PRCA RODEO Thurs, Fri & Sat - 7:30Heartpm of America Shows Interesting ColdDeliciousExhibits,Food,Drinks&More! NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS FOR MORE INFO: comalcountyfair.org AVAILABLETICKETSONLINE

September/October 2022 Hill Country SUN 29 WWW.FRIOCOUNTRY.COM | 830.232.6625 | FRIO.COUNTRY.RESORT

Bandera: 20th Annual Rumble on the River. Tent camping, a poker run, vendors, food, field events, music all day Friday and Saturday, a bike show, biker games, and a tattoo contest. bikerralliesoftexas.com

October 1 San Marcos: Sacred Springs Pow Wow. More than 6,000 people gather at the Sacred Springs for a beautiful Native American festival rich in music, art, dancing, and food. www.sspowwow.com.

September 10-11

Kerrville: Welcome Home Fest. 10 days of evening concerts presented by the Kerrville Folk Festival. www.kerrvillefolkfestival.org.

Fredericksburg: Lone Star Gourd Festival. Artists transform gourds into incredible pieces - carved, wood burned, woven, polished, dyed, painted, and inlaid. texasgourdsociety.org. September 30 - October 2

September 23-25

September 24 - October 31

Luckenbach: Classic Car Show. Classic cars and a live music festival featuring rockabilly and honky tonk bands. luckenbachtexas.com.

Austin: Pecan Street Festival. Free arts fest in downtown Austin’s Sixth Street Historic District. The juried festival attracts hundreds of local and national artisans offering original handcrafted creations in a variety of mediums, from metal, wood, fiber, clay, leather, glass, and stone to repurposed materials of all kinds. pecanstreetfestival.org.

September 17

New Braunfels: Comal County Fair & Rodeo. BBQ Kick-Off, Antique Tractor Pull, Pro Rodeo, open bull riding, nightly live music, exhibits, food and much more. comalcountyfair.org. September 23-24

September 24 Mason: Old Yeller Day. Arts and crafts, food, performers, and a dog parade plus free showing of “Old Yeller” at historic Odeon Theater. mason.ploud.net/old-yeller-day.

Kerrville: Outdoor Painter’s Event. Presented by the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center and the Outdoor Painters Society Paint Kerrville, this fine art event brings dozens of nationally recognized outdoor painters to Kerr County to paint “en plein air.” kacckerrville.com. September 21-25

San Marcos: Mermaid Festival. Don’t miss the Mermaid Promenade from 10 am to noon, followed by downtown Street Faire from noon to 7 pm. mermaidsocietysmtx.com.

CALENDAR, from Page 27

October 1 Blanco: Hill Country Night Sky Song Writing Contest. Winners perform at Gem of the Hills. gemofthehills.org.

Pipe Creek: Pipe Creek Pumpkin Patch. Open weekends, this event features a haystack, hop ball, scarecrow dressing, visiting with farm animals, a large sandbox, more. pipecreekpumpkinpatch.com.

September 16-18

October 7-9

Johnson City: Oktoberfest Kick Off Celebrations at Carter Creek Winery. cartercreekwinery.com.

Fredericksburg: 28th Annual Texas Mesquite Arts Festival. Showcase for sculpture, furniture, wood turnings, architectural accents, gift items, ornaments, and other items.texasmesquiteartfestivals.com.

October 8 Austin: Oktoberfest. Features kid-friendly activities during the day along with live music and authentic German food.germantexans.org.

Kerrville: Texas Gun and Knife Show. Vendors sell new and used guns, knives, ammunition, coins, jewelry, camping gear, and outdoor accessories. texasgunandknifeshows.com.

October 2 Medina: Cabrito and Barbecue Dinner. medinavfd.com.

Stonewall: VFD Fall Fish Fry Fundraiser. Stonewall Chamber of Commerce, 250 Peach Street. (830) 644-2735.

October 1-31 (weekends)

Kerrville: River Festival.Music, river activities, food, games, and family entertainment. Louise Hays Park, 202 Thompson Drive. kerrvilletx.gov. Wimberley: Gourdgeous Glass Pumpkin Festival. WGW.com. September 19-25

Dripping Springs: Pumpkin Festival. Activities, food, music. Find details at drippingspringspumpkinfestival.com.

Wimberley: The EmilyAnn Theatre presents “Little Women.” An indoor studio show. emilyann.org.

Two Native American festivals come to the Hill Country this fall: Sacred Springs Pow Wow October 1 in San Marcos and the Austin Powwow November 12.

September 10

October 8-9 Concan: Fall on the Frio Festival. BBQ cookoff, live music, washers and cornhole, vendors, silent auction and a kid’s corner. friofest.com.

Comfort: Comfort Art Festival. Texas artists at Comfort-area businesses and other locations around town. gnocomforttx.com.

Austin: Austin City Limits Music Festival. More than 140 musical acts on eight stages over two weekends. aclfestival.com.

Marble Falls: Oktoberfest. To recognize the pivotal role Germans and their descendants played in building Texas communities and shaping resources in the state, Marble Falls is offering activities connected to celebrating German heritage. visitmarblefalls.org.

October 7-9, 14-16

Kerrville: Hill Country Gun Show. The show offers new and used guns, knives, coins, cutting boards, ammunition, and other goods. gunshowtrader.com.

October 1-30 Medina: Love Creek Orchards Pumpkin Patch (Saturday through Monday). Pumpkin painting, orchard tour, farm animals, games, a hayride, maze, scarecrow building, more. lovecreekorchards.com.

Photo courtesy Sacred Springs Pow Wow..

30 Hill Country SUN September/October 2022

September 30 - October 2

October 7-9, 14-16

Fredericksburg: Monarch Celebration. “Tag and Release” program, with fun, educational activities for the family. wildseedfarms.com.

Boerne: Music in the Cave: Fall Equinox. Concert performed in total darkness and flickering candlelight. cavewithoutaname.com.

Uvalde: Ventriloquist Todd Oliver performs. uvaldeoperahouse.org.

Fredericksburg: 41st Annual Oktoberfest. Celebrate the fun and flavor of Fredericksburg’s German heritage with three days of music, food, drink, dancing, arts and crafts, and children’s entertainment. oktoberfestinfbg.com.

October 7-16

Taylor: SPJST Barbecue Cookoff. Bring your appetite for cooking competitions involving various meats, beans, and sauce categories. facebook.com/taylorspjst.

Blanco: Raise the Roof Festival. TwinSistersDanceHall.com.

October 28-30

Uvalde: Mystery at the Opera House. uvaldeoperahouse.org.

September/October 2022 Hill Country SUN 31

Austin: Gem Capers 2022. More than 30 vendors offer jewelry, beads, gemstones, minerals, crystals, fossils, and spheres. agms-tx.org.

October 22

Wimberley: “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Grab your lawn chairs and join us for great movies under the Texas sky in the parking lot at The Wimberley Playhouse. Concessions include popcorn, soft drinks, candy, coffee, beer, and wine. Admission $13. wimberleyplayers.org.

October 13-14

Burnet: Utopiafest Down in the Oaks. Weekend of camping and live music featuring more than 35 bands. utopiafest.com.

Blanco: Texas Marigold Festival. www.texasmarigoldfestival.com.

CALENDAR, from

October 22-23

ENTERTAINMENT Rock ‘n’ Roll

October 21-23

Taylor: Williamson County Fair and Rodeo. wilcoexpo.com.

Fredericksburg: Hill Country Indian Artifact Show. Native American artifacts from Texas and U.S. visitfredericksburgtx.com.

Austin: Austin Film Festival. Cinematic event shines the spotlight on both top-billed films and indies alike. austinfilmfestival.com.

October 15

October 14-15

Kyle: Center Street Trick-or-Treat. Treats, costume and pumpkin decorating contest. cityofkyle.com. October 22-23 Gruene: Texas Clay Festival. Potters/sculptors display and sell their wares, and demonstrate a variety of techniques. texasclayfestival.com.

Page 30

Kerrville: Mountain Bike Fest. The largest mountain bike festival in Texas. kerrvillemountainbikefestival.com.

October 27 - November 3

October 21-23

Kerrville: Haunted Ghoul Pool. With family-friendly tours and scarier haunted tours, this event offers a night of goosebumps, spooks, and screams as Olympic Pool is transformed into a ghoulish haunted house.kerrvilletx.gov.

October 14-15

What’s fall without a pumpkin patch? Head to Love Creek Orchards in Medina and the Pipe Creek Pumpkin Patch for photo ops and fun during the month of October.

FUNTABULOUS

Kerrville: Texas Fleece and Fiber Festival. Fiber artists, enthusiasts, and producers come together under one roof. Vendors offer products and art, plus teachers and speakers share information in classes from fiber arts to animal husbandry practices. texasfleeceandfiber.com.

Kerrville: Open Pro Rodeo. lmrodeo.com.

Dripping Springs: Songwriters Fest .destinationdrippingsprings.com.

November 11 - December 17

Ingram: ArtMart Christmas Gift Showcase. Annual holiday shopping showcase of handmade crafts by area craftspeople. www.hcaf.com.

Wimberley: The EmilyAnn Butterfly Festival. emilyann.org.

December 2-3, 9-10, 16-17

November 4 Bandera: BuckFest Gala. Features a social hour, dinner and dance, live and silent auctions, and a raffle. banderatex.com.

December 18-23

December 3 Camp Wood: Old Settlers Reunion plus Christmas in the Canyon. 10 am parade, entertainment, pie and salsa competition, horseshoe tournament, Santa, more. Plus, great Christmas shopping with vendors offering arts, crafts, jewelry, more. nuecescanyonchamber.org.

November 12 Austin: Powwow. American-Indian dancing, singing, arts and crafts, the Native Market, and food. austinpowwow.net.

Fredericksburg: Rockbox Theater presents Radney Foster in concert. www.rockboxtheater.com. November 4-13 New Braunfels: Wurstfest. Enjoy carnival rides, games, German and Texan beers and Bavarian-style entertainment. wurstfest.com. November 5-6

Uvalde: Uvalde Feud. uvaldeoperahouse.org. November 18 Fredericksburg: Ray Wylie Hubbard in concert. rockboxtheater.com.

Johnson City: Lights Spectacular. Holiday display with more than a million lights. johnsoncitytexas.info.

Wimberley: The EmilyAnn Theatre presents “Journey to Bethlehem.” An indoor musical. emilyann.org.

November 25 - January 8, 2023

Austin: Texas Book Festival. The festival has evolved into one of the premier literary events in the country and hosts about 250 authors each year. texasbookfestival.org.

October 29-30

Fredericksburg: Texas Gun and Knife Show. Vendors sell new and used guns, knives, ammunition, coins, jewelry, camping gear, and outdoor accessories. texasgunandknifeshows.com.

December 2 Uvalde: Christmas at the Crossroads. Downtown holiday event, with photos with Santa at the Grand Opera House. uvaldeoperahouse.org.

November 11-12 Kerrville: Texas Gun and Knife Show. Vendors sell new and used guns, knives, ammunition, coins, jewelry, camping gear, and outdoor accessories. texasgunandknifeshows.com.

Wimberley: The EmilyAnn Theatre presents “A Broken Badge Christmas.” An indoor melodrama. emilyann.org.

December 3-4, 7-11, 14-23, 26

December 17 Blanco: Christmas Market. Courthouse Square. blancochamber.com.

October 29 Boerne: Music in the Cave: Haunted Show.Tcavewithoutaname.com. Kerrville: Family Fright Night. An evening of safe and traditional family fun at the park. Activities include trick or treating, games, and a costume contest. kerrvilletx.gov. Llano: Llano River Pumpkin Float. Bring your carved pumpkins and enjoy the evening float and glow as you see carved and lit pumpkins gliding across the Llano River. llanochamber.org.

Concan: 2nd Annual Chili on the Frio Festival. CASI sanctioned event. friocountry.com. April 15, 2023

November 5 Harper: VFD Opening Day of Hunting Season Fish Fry. Benefits Harper Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services. harpervfd-ems.com Medina: Medina VFD Hunters Game Dinner. Fundraiser with dinner and a dance. medinavfd.com. November 10 Boerne: Fall Diva Night. Late shopping hours, cocktails, delicious bites, music, and other fun. ci.boerne.tx.us.

Austin: Celtic Festival. Highlighting the extraordinary craftsmanship that made Ireland and Scotland leaders in folk music and dance. austincelticfestival.com.

February 10-11, 2023

Wimberley: The EmilyAnn’s 24th Annual Trail of Lights. emilyann.org.

Round Rock: 29th Annual Fossil Fest. Bring the kids to meet scientists, dig for fossils, more. austinpaleo.org/fest.html.

32 Hill Country SUN September/October 2022 CALENDAR, from Page 31 TEXAS GUN & KNIFE ASSOCIATION 2022 SHOW DATES MAY 21-22 ABILENE AMARILLOKERRVILLEJULYCENTERCONVENTION9-10EXPOHALLJULY16-17CIVICCENTERAUG13-14ABILENECONVENTIONCENTERSAT9AM-5PMSUN10AM-4PM FREDERICKSBURGCONVENTIONSHOWSFUTURESEPT10-11KERRVILLEEXPOHALLOCT15-16ABILENECENTEROCT29-30FAIRGROUNDSNOV12-13KERRVILLE TEXAS GUN & KNIFE ASSOCIATION 2022 SHOW DATES For More Information Call: (830) www.texasgunandknifeshows.com285-0575 CHECK WEBSITE FOR ANY SCHEDULE CHANGES | LIKE IS ON FACEBOOK . MAY 21-22 ABILENE AMARILLOKERRVILLEJULYCENTERCONVENTION9-10EXPOHALLJULY16-17CIVICCENTERAUG13-14ABILENECONVENTIONCENTERSAT9AM-5PMSUN10AM-4PM FREDERICKSBURGCONVENTIONSHOWSFUTURESEPT10-11KERRVILLEEXPOHALLOCT15-16ABILENECENTEROCT29-30FAIRGROUNDSNOV12-13KERRVILLEEXPOHALLSEPT 10-11 KERRVILLE EXPO HALL OCT 15-16 ABILENE CONVENTON CENTER OCT FREDERICKSBURG29-30FAIRGROUNDS AMARILLO–––––––––12-13NOVKERRVILLEHAPPYSTATEBANKEXPOHALLDEC10-11CIVICCENTER–––––––––DEC17-18KERRVILLEEXPOHALLGUNS&GIFTS!FUTURESHOWS

34 Hill Country SUN September/October 2022

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