on location: west ❖
melinda hughey
Top Texas
&EvEnts FEstIvALs
From food fests to Western lore, each of the state’s travel regions boasts a jam-packed calendar of annual celebrations
Christmas festivities take center stage during the popular Fiesta de las Luminarias, a San Antonio tradition.
San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau
I
t’s been said that “everything’s bigger in Texas.” Even the state’s tourism slogan likens the Lone Star State to “a whole other country.” Granted, it is as big as some other countries and this largesse is not limited to land mass. It also extends to the overwhelming “to do” list of Texas events and festivals, which average in excess of 3,350 throughout the year. With the state divided into seven travel regions, ferreting out the “best-ofthe-best” is a daunting task and a subjective one. To be sure, fairs, rodeos and roundups still reign supreme in this, the 40 April 2010
capital of all things Western-flavored. But wandering off the traditional path can yield some delightful, off-beat and well-attended surprises, like the Great Texas Mosquito Festival staged every July in Clute, the Watermelon Thump each June in Luling, the World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup every March in Sweetwater and Marshall’s famous Fire Ant Festival in October. Broken down another way, Texas events celebrate everything from cultural heritage (with festivals devoted to Czech, German, Irish and Scottish traditions, not to mention major Cinco de
Mayo celebrations) to cuisine (seafood on the Gulf Coast, the Chili Super Bowl in Buffalo Gap). Sports star in longstanding mainstream events like football bowl games (think Cotton and Sun) to more specialty genres, such as the Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview or the Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred Bicycle Event in Wichita Falls. Several major NASCAR and Indy Car events heat up the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, while the PGA tour swings through Texas each May. Music and drama certainly aren’t overlooked, with some events so longLeisureGroupTravel.com
Panhandle Plains The Texas Panhandle Plains region offers beautiful canyon lands and plenty of Old West heritage. Major cities include Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, San Angelo and Wichita Falls. Chili Super Bowl XXIX, Buffalo Gap, Sept. 3-5. See and sample the world’s largest bowl of chili. Enjoy live music, concessions and nightly dances. (325-675-8412, chilisuperbowl.com) Western Heritage Classic, Abilene, May 6-8. A parade, ranch rodeo, nightly dances and more preserve the heritage of the ranch cowboy. (325-677-4376, westernheritageclassic.com) TEXAS, Canyon, June 4Aug. 25. Enjoy an evening of music, dance and entertainment provided by 80 professional performers from around the country. Come early to explore the nation’s second largest canyon. (806-655-2181, texasshow.com)
hill Country Known for its spirited people, gorgeous wildflowers and lush hills, the Texas Hill CounThe Texas Folklife Festival spotlights try has a laid-back charm that San Antonio’s rich cultural makeup. makes everyone who visits want standing and large that they transcend to stay forever. regional boundaries and are known and Bluebonnet Festival, Burnet, secbeloved statewide. For example, the ond weekend in April. Burnet, recogsummertime musical drama TEXAS, nized by the state legislature as the staged in an amphitheater in Palo Duro “Bluebonnet Capital of Texas,” celeCanyon State Park, is entering its 45th brates the blooming of the wildflowers season in 2010. with an air show, antique and classic Here is a region-by-region look at cars, parades, music and a street dance, some of the top offerings to consider for plus a Wild West Show & Shootout. 2010 and beyond: (512-756-4297, burnetchamber.org) LeisureGroupTravel.com
37th Annual World Championship BBQ Goat Cookoff, Brady, Sept. 3-4. On the agenda are a goat cook-off, mystery meat challenge, arts and crafts, horseshoe tournament and live music. (325-597-3491, bradytx.com) 14th Annual Texas Book Festival, Austin, Oct. 16-17. Established in 1995 by First Lady Laura Bush, a former librarian and an ardent advocate of literacy, the festival has quickly evolved into one of the premier literary events in the country, annually hosting over 200 Texas and nationally known authors at the State Capitol. (texasbookfestival.org)
Gulf Coast There are more than 624 miles of coastline arching southward from the Louisiana border to the Mexican border near Brownsville. The warm water of the Gulf beckons visitors who want to swim, fish, sail, sunbathe, build sand castles or just take a relaxing stroll on the beach. 41st Annual Texas Rice Festival, Winnie, Oct. 16-17. Honoring the region’s rice farming, the festival includes a carnival, two parades, livestock show, longhorn show, open horse show, BBQ cook-off, nightly street dances, antique car show and rice cooking contest. Typical fare includes rice balls, gumbo, étouffée, pistolettes, blooming onions, crab balls, boudain balls and funnel cakes. (409-296-4404, texasricefestival.org) 63rd Annual Texas Shrimporee, Aransas Pass, June 11-13. Touted as “the largest shrimp festival in Texas” and staged in the self-proclaimed “Saltwater Heaven” of Aransas Pass, the Shrimporee attracts 50,000-60,000 people April 2010 41
on location: west ❖ from all over the state. Attendees enjoy arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations, carnival rides and music, plus shrimp cooked more ways than you can imagine. (800-633-3028, aransaspass.org) Texas Gatorfest, Anahuac, Sept. 10-12. Anahuac, where alligators outnumber humans by almost 3 to 1, is recognized by the state legislature as the Alligator Capital of Texas. This celebration offers carnival rides, arts and crafts, and unique attractions like airboat rides and Trinity River boat tours. The Great Texas Alligator Roundup, the premier event of Gatorfest, invites alligator hunters to bring in their “harvest” to compete for cash prizes. The festival coincides with the opening of Texas’ 20day alligator season. (409-267-4190, texasgatorfest.com)
life of Sam Houston and frontier heritage. Events on the 18-acre Sam Houston Memorial Museum complex include craft demonstrations, living history re-enactors, and musical and historical entertainment. (samhouston folkfestival.org)
BiG Bend Country Rugged mountains. Breathtaking sunsets. Skies that go on for miles. For a true Old West experience, Big Bend Country is like no other region.
Piney Woods Explore the historic towns and then get back to nature. The great outdoors doesn’t get much greater than 12 state parks and four national forests. From towering pines to expansive lakes, the Piney Woods is a nature lover’s paradise. Great Texas Balloon Race, Longview, July 30-Aug. 1. Morning balloon flights, evening balloon glows, arts and crafts vendors, plenty of food and live concerts make this a full weekend of fun. (903-753-3281, http://greattexasballoonrace.com) Fire Ant Festival, Marshall, Oct. 9. This zany, fun-filled festival is complete with a fire ant calling contest, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, live entertainment, chili-cooking contest, Tour de Fire Ant Bike Race, 5K run, ugly face making contest, rubber chicken chunking and domino tournament. (800-9537868, marshall-chamber.com) General Sam Houston Folk Festival, Huntsville, late April/early May. The festival’s mission is to increase visitors’ appreciation for Texas history, the 42 April 2010
Alligators steal the show at the annual Texas Gatorfest in Anahuac.
24th Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Alpine, late February/early March. Created in 1987 on the campus of Sul Ross State University, the Gathering is the oldest of its kind in Texas and second oldest in the United States. In addition to traditional and contemporary cowboy poetry, the event includes cowboy music and storytelling. (800-361-3735, cowboy-poetry.org) 35th Annual Permian Basin Fair & Exposition, Odessa, Sept. 10-18. This old-time, no-holds-barred, weeklong family event has it ALL, from bull rides, rodeos and Wild West Shows to talent showcases, dog shows and various eatLeisureGroupTravel.com
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on location: west ❖ ing contests, plus the usual midway and exhibits. (permianbasinfair.com) 44th Annual Terlingua International Chili Exposition, Terlingua, Nov. 4-6. The world-famous Frank X. Tolbert - Wick Fowler Memorial Championship Chili Cook-off is held behind White’s Store, just east of downtown Terlingua. Nightly musical entertainment. (abowlofred.com)
south Plains A rich history, unparalleled birding and an abundance of Mexican culture make the South Plains a truly unique destination. 120th Fiesta San Antonio, April 717, 2011. For 11 days each spring, this colorful extravaganza stages more than 100 events, including the Battle of Flowers Parade, one of the biggest in the nation, and two other parades. With more than 3.5 million people attending, the celebration of San Anto-
The show TEXAS soon begins its 45th season at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
nio’s diverse cultures really is one of America’s truly great festivals. (877723-4378, fiesta-sa.org) 39th Annual Texas Folklife Festival, San Antonio, June 11-13. Located on the grounds of the Institute of Texan Cultures on the UTSA HemisFair Park campus, the Space to Work. event showcases more Room to Relax. than 40 cultural groups through a variety of ethnic food, music, dance, arts and crafts. (210458-2224, texasfolklifefestival.org) Fiesta de las LumiGalveston is the place for family and military narias, San Antonio, reunions, educational field trips and seminars. Dec. 3-19. Warmly Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham at The Victorian Resort is a favorite glowing candles in destination for those planning reunions, church and school events. sand-filled bags line the Our staff has the expertise to meet your expectations for meeting facilities and to provide options for your groups’ outings to the city’s famous River Island’s world-class attractions. Walk to symbolically Over 10,000 square feet of of indoor and outdoor meetings areas, for groups of 12 to 300. mark the “lighting of the way” for the Holy Family. This centuriesold holiday tradition 6300 Seawall • Galveston begins at dusk Friday, www.hawthorn.com Saturday and Sunday 800.231.6363 Tava Matzke #2231 tmatzke@viccondo.com only. (210-227-4262, ® We proudly welcome Wyndham Rewards members. Sign up today at hawthorn.com thesanantonior iverand we’ll reward you with points or miles...every time you stay with us. © 2010 Hawthorn Suites Franchising, Inc. All rights reserved. walk.com) DW 7KH 9LFWRULDQ 5HVRUW &RQIHUHQFH &HQWHU
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Prairies & lakes Big cities, big attractions and big fun fill the 47,000-square-mile Prairies and Lakes region. With hundreds of annual events in this one region alone, there is assuredly “something for everyone.” Here are just three examples: 48th Annual National Championship Pow-Wow, Grand Prairie, Sept. 10-12. Held at Traders Village, a sprawling flea market and festival complex, this event features colorful tribal dance contests, cultural heritage demonstrations, teepees and Indian food. Native American artists and craftsmen from across the country showcase their wares. (972-647-2331, tradersvillage.com) State Fair of Texas, Dallas, Sept. 24-Oct. 17. This 24-day event in historic Fair Park offers big-name entertainment, exhibits, great food and the largest auto show in the Southwest. (214-565-9931, bigtex.com) 24th Annual GrapeFest, Grapevine, Sept. 16-19. The largest wine festival in the Southwest invites you to sample Texas wines and enjoy nonstop entertainment, not to mention a grape stomp, vintners auction and carnival midway. (817-410-3149, grapevine texasusa.com LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com