A note regarding COVID-19
Fort Worth
"Robert Motherwell: Pure Painting"
June 4-Sept. 17
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St.
This is the first presentation in more than a quarter century to fully examine the mastery of Robert Motherwell (1915–1991), a major figure who shaped postwar art. Beginning with the abstracted-figurative works that dominated Motherwell’s first decade of painting in the early 1940s, the exhibition highlights the subsequent key series that defined his oeuvre, offering new insights into his evolution as an artist.
Cleburne
Johnson County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo
June 7
Johnson County Sheriff's Posse Grounds, 1315 S. Main St.
This PRCA rodeo celebrates its 68th year. Contestants compete in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, and women’s barrel racing, and breakaway roping. There's also mutton busting and the Queen's Contest.
Amarillo
Route 66 Bus Tours
June 7-8
Various locations
Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau hosts these bus tours that take passengers along the west and east sides of Texas Route 66, from Amarillo to as far away as Shamrock (east tour) and Glenrio, New Mexico (west tour). Visit the most iconic places along the route and learn about the history of the towns that the Mother Route went through.
Lockhart
Chisholm Trail Roundup
June 7-10
Various locations
The roundup is Lockhart's largest annual festival and tourism event. Now celebrating its 50th year, it kicks off with the Queen's Coronation on Thursday. Activities the next three days include a petting zoo, pig races, a carnival, rodeo, barbecue cookoff, the Grand Parade, and live entertainment.
Amarillo
"Green Book" Event
June 8
Amarillo College Recital Hall, West 22nd Avenue
"The Negro Motorist Green-Book" was a guidebook in the mid 20th century for African American travelers. It provided a list of hotels, boarding houses, taverns, restaurants, service stations, and other establishments throughout the country that served African Americans patrons. Learn more about this chapter in the history of Route 66 from award-winning author, photographer, and cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor.
Blanco
Lavender Festival
June 9-11
Historic Town Square, 300 Main St.
The Lavender Capital of Texas celebrates 18 years as one of the Hill Country's premier festival venues. Artisans, food, local and regional beer and wine, live music, and lots and lots of lavender are available. The first commercial lavender farm in the state of Texas, Hill Country Lavender, is open for tours. The festival is free to attend.
Nacogdoches
Blueberry Bluegrass Concert in the Park
June 9
Festival Park, 507 S. Pecan St.
The family-friendly Friday night Bluegrass Concert in Festival Park kicks off the Texas Blueberry Festival weekend.
Kerrville
Open Pro Rodeo
June 9-10
Kerr County Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 SH 27
See exciting rodeo events including bareback and saddle bronc riding, calf roping, team roping, ladies barrel racing, bull riding, calf scramble, and mutton busting for the kids.
Grand Prairie
Re:SET Concert Series
June 9-11
Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie, 1001 Texas Trust Way
The Re:SET concert series was conceived as an artist- and fan-friendly alternative to the standard summer concert experience. Taking place over four weekends in the month of June, each weekend sees three cities in the same region hosting, with each Re:SET headliner playing each city on consecutive days. Performers in Dallas include Boygenius, Steve Lacy, James Blake, Toro Y Moi, and LCD Soundsystem.
Colorado City
A Day in the Park
June 9
Lake Colorado City State Park, 4582 FM 2836
With free admission all day long, bring the family out to hike, bike, or check out what the lake has to offer. Rangers provide a guided hike, a skins and skulls program, and if conditions are right, kayaking.
Concan
I'll Be Back Again Next Year
June 9-10
Garner State Park, 234 RR 1050
A summer dance tradition for generations of campers, this event invites visitors to honor the past as part of the Texas State Parks centennial celebration. The event features a concert by a surprise Texas artist, vintage campsites set up to show the evolution of camping tools and equipment over the past 100 years, and a presentation on the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps at Garner State Park.
East Bernard
Czech Kolache Klobase Festival
June 10
Riverside Hall, 14643 Buls Road
Enjoy live music, dancing, and lively entertainment with bands and entertainers from morning into the night. A plate lunch of barbecue chicken, sausage, sauerkraut, and trimmings is available for purchase. Hamburgers are available in the evening. There are also arts and crafts, raffle prizes, a cake walk, and plenty of kolaches for sale.
San Marcos
Art Squared Arts Market
June 10, July 8, and Aug. 12
Hays County Historic Courthouse, 111 E. San Antonio St.
Art Squared Arts Market is a juried arts and fine crafts market that brings the best local artists together in one place. Find art of all kinds, live music, a free kids' arts and crafts booth, live art demonstrations, and other activities.
Nacogdoches
Texas Blueberry Festival
June 10
Downtown , 200 E. Main St.
The Texas Blueberry Festival is a delightful day of fun for all ages. This year marks the event's 33rd anniversary. As the only state-sanctioned blueberry festival in Texas, this annual event attracts more than 20,000 people to Nacogdoches' historic downtown district.
Mexia
Lakeside Legacy Celebration
June 10
Fort Parker State Park, 194 Park Road 28
Celebrate the 100th birthday of Texas State Parks at Fort Parker State Park's community-wide birthday bash. Participate in a wide variety of fun activities for the family including canoe and kayak rides, Cabela's "Catch and Release" fish tank, the "Take Me Fishing" trailer with a scavenger hunt, fishing with a Texas Parks and Wildlife angler, an authentic chuckwagon cooking demonstration, Blackland Prairie Raptor Center's live raptors, tour boat rides, and a tour of Fort Parker Lake on the Cynthia Ann pontoon boat.
tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/fort-parker/lakeside-legacy-celebration
Boerne
Kuhlmann-King Museum Tour and Programs
June 10, 24; July 8, 22; Aug. 12, 26
Kuhlmann-King Museum, 402 E. Blanco Road
The Kuhlmann-King house gives the public the opportunity to step back in time to see what a historic Boerne home looked like "way back when." Monthly events and themes vary.
Cleburne
Centennial Outdoor Community Day
June 10
Cleburne State Park, 5800 Park Road 21
Enjoy a day filled with all things outdoors. Spend the day learning kayaking, archery, backyard bass fishing, Dutch oven cooking, and hiking.
Mexia
Lakeside Legacy Celebration
June 10
Fort Parker State Park, 194 Park Road 28
In addition to enjoying the sights and sounds of beautiful Fort Parker State Park, find a variety of fun activities for the family to enjoy such as chuckwagon Dutch oven cooking, boat tours of Fort Parker Lake, canoe and kayak classes, archery and atlatl classes, Touch-a-Truck, a live raptor program, paddle board exploration, fishing, birding, and guided hikes.
Daingerfield
"New Experiences, New Memories, a New You''
June 10
Daingerfield , 455 Park Road 17
Duplicate? This is a brand new event occurring at Daingerfield State Park. Experience a variety of Texas Parks and Wildlife resources and get ideas on how to enjoy nature and the world outdoors. Activities include (but are not limited to) fishing with a ranger, kayaking and canoeing, and a program including information on the skins and skulls of animals you might see in the park.
Jacksonville
Tomato Festival
June 10
Downtown , Commerce Street from Austin to Bolton streets
For one week in June, Jacksonville becomes "Tomatoville." The 39th annual Tomato Festival in downtown Jacksonville offers events leading up to the big festival, with five blocks of vendors; a farmers market; fried green tomatoes; eating, peeling, packing, and salsa contests; live entertainment; a talent show; soccer and tennis tournaments; and an annual street dance.
Boerne
Abendkonzerte
June 13, 27; July 11, 25
Main Plaza, 100 N. Main St.
Come hear traditional German music and stories of Boerne's historic past at these summer concerts featuring the Boerne Village Band.
Galveston
Juneteenth Celebrations
June 15-19
Various locations
Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth, and every year the community hosts citywide events that include symposiums, galas, an emancipation gospel celebration, a Juneteenth parade and picnic, and a reenactment of the reading of General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that slavery ended.
Marfa
CineMarfa
June 15-18
Crowley Theater, Corner of Austin and El Paso streets
Inspired by a desire to bring artist-made films usually screened in galleries and museums to viewers in Far West Texas, it has hosted a diverse array of talent, including Harmony Korine, Cat Power, and Larry Clark. In addition to films made by visual artists, the festival focuses on showing unusual and rare archival, experimental, documentary, and narrative cinema.
Bastrop
Juneteenth Celebration
June 16-17
Bastrop Main Street and Fisherman's Park, Main Street
The Bastrop Juneteenth Celebration committee has been observing the emancipation of African Americans and the contributions and accomplishments of local African American individuals for the past 36 years. The official celebration kicks off on Saturday with a parade down historic Main Street. The day continues with Family Freedom Festival at Fisherman's Park featuring live music, a DJ, food and small business vendors, kids and adult activities, and family competitions. A musical guest in the evening wraps up the festivities.
Rockport-fulton
Market Days
June 16-18; July 14-16; Aug. 18-20
Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St.
Every third weekend of the month, come see live music, peruse the merchandise of over 100 vendors, and choose various eats from food trucks.
Salado
Salado Springs Craft Beer Festival
June 17
Barrow Brewing Company, 108 Royal St.
Join independent Central Texas craft brewers for a day of brotherhood and fellowship in Salado. This annual festival includes more than a dozen breweries, fun for the whole family, live music, and creekside activities.
Cleburne
Cowboy Swing Concert
June 17
Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum, 101 Chisholm Trail
Enjoy an evening concert under the stars at Rowlett's world famous outdoor stage at the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum. Bring a lawn chair, grab a bite from the food trucks, and then sit back to listen to award-winning Western music artists and poets.
Buda
Juneteenth Celebration
June 17
204 San Antonio St.
Come celebrate Juneteenth at the Buda Amphitheater and City Park Pavilion. Enjoy food, music, vendors, and activities for the whole family.
Boerne
Music in the Cave: Summer Solstice
June 17
Cave Without a Name Throne Room, 325 Kreutzberg Road
Enjoy a variety of acoustic, world-beat music styles featuring the words and music of singer and performance artist Rudi Harst (vocals, acoustic guitar, Native American flute, dulcimer, harmonica, Tibetan bowls) surrounded by the Rudiments. The combination of Rudi and the Rudiments and the Queen's Throne Room at Cave Without a Name makes for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, no matter how many times you go.
Sherman
Juneteenth Celebration
June 17
Sherman Municipal Grounds and Martin Luther King Park, 405 N. Rusk St.; 1120-1198 N. Broughton St.
Sherman's Juneteenth celebration features live music, a parade, and delicious food. Bring your family and join in commemorating the anniversary of the end of slavery in Texas.
Austin
19th Fest
June 18
Waterloo Park, 500 E. 12th St.
Get a taste of Austin's mobile soul food gems at this annual festival, which bills itself as "America's Juneteenth Celebration." From savory barbecue to Cajun-seasoned seafood and traditional soul food, over 10 food trucks are serving up mouthwatering dishes. The festival also has kids' activities, live music, and retail vendors.
Grand Prairie
Father's Day Car Show and Concert
June 18
Traders Village, 2603 Mayfield Road
Celebrate Father’s Day at Traders Village with a car show and concert. Bring Dad and the whole family for live music and classic cars.
Falcon Heights
Family Adventure Fest
June 22
Falcon State Park, 146 Park Road 46
This one-day event is full of wild activities for everyone to enjoy at the park. Outdoor activities for all ages focus on different skills such as archery, kayaking, fishing, outdoor cooking, camping, and hiking.
El Paso
Viva! El Paso
June 23-Aug. 5
McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre, 1331 McKelligon Canyon Road
Enjoy El Paso’s outdoor musical extravaganza, in the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre. This colorful musical spectacular celebrates the four major cultures that have influenced the City of the Sun. The Native American, the Spanish Conquistador, the Mexican, and the Western American cultures and their histories come alive through drama, song, and dance by a cast of over 50 performers.
Freeport
Fort Velasco Day
June 24
Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park
Fort Velasco Day commemorates the 191st anniversary of the Battle of Fort Velasco. This living history event brings reenactors from across the state to give visitors a glimpse of what life and conflict was like at the mouth of the Brazos River in 1830s Texas.
Fort Worth
“Texas Juried Exhibition”
June 24-Aug. 26
Artspace111, 111 Hampton St.
The 10th annual “Texas Juried Exhibition” is a competitive juried exhibition open to Texas-based artists that begins with an online call for contemporary artwork. Art includes paintings, prints, drawings, photography, and digital images. Submitted artwork is juried by Vicki Meek, artist, independent curator, writer, and 2021 Texas Artist of the Year; Clare Milliken, assistant curator, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and Luis Purón, executive director, Rockport Center for the Arts.
Galveston
Hotter Than Birding Competition
June 25-26
Various locations
This birding big day is a fun, fast-paced, semi-competitive race to see which team can identify the most brid species in Galveston County in 24 hours.
Freeport
Fishin' Fiesta
June 29-July 2
Freeport Municipal Park, 421 N. Brazosport Blvd.
Since 1947, anglers have been drawn to this fishing tournament each year in the hopes of catching the biggest redfish, barracuda, or any other offshore or inshore fish. The Fishin’ Fiesta is sponsored by the Freeport Lions Club and offers games, food, live entertainment, dances, and arts and crafts. The fishing tournament is one of the largest on the Gulf and includes prizes for both offshore and inshore categories. A fireworks display takes place on Saturday night.
San Antonio
"Still Brewing Art"
June 30-Sept. 3
San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave.
The San Antonio Museum of Art looks back at the its heady past as the Lone Star Brewery in "Still Brewing Art." The exhibition features historic photographs and artwork including large-format brewery posters. In addition, the exhibition explores San Antonio's history as a brewing city and how the San Antonio River fits into the story. Opened in 1884, the Lone Star Brewery was the first large, mechanized brewery in Texas. It ceased operations with the advent of Prohibition, and in 1981, the San Antonio Museum of Art opened in the renovated complex.
Tyler
Rose City Airfest
June 30-July 1
Tyler Pounds Airport, 150 Airport Drive, #2-7
A tribute to the nation, Rose City Airfest is a family event that features military aircraft from the past and present. At the static display, guests can walk right up and see the aircrafts up close. Some let you actually climb inside them. The event also offers lots of vendors, information about flight, food, and games.
Kilgore
Texas Shakespeare Festival
June 30-July 30
Van Cliburn Auditorum, 1200 Henderson Blvd.
The Texas Shakespeare Festival is East Texas' only professional theater company. The festival is a summer repertory company producing two Shakespeare plays, a non-Shakespearean classic, a musical, and a production for children. The main stage productions are produced in rotating repertory Thursday through Sunday, with an afternoon matinee and an evening performance each day. This summer's list of shows are: "The Comedy of Errors," "Pride and Prejudice," "Lear," and "Something Rotten." Additionally, the children's play "Todrick the Not-So-Terrible" has its world premiere.
Rockport
Art Festival
June 30-July 2
Rockport Festival Grounds, 1500 E. Laurel St.
This annual fine art event starts with an art auction and continues with over 100 artists, jury selected from across the nation, showcasing their masterpieces in a variety of media and styles.
Lake Jackson
Rubber Duck Regatta
July 1
Dunbar Park, 803 FM 2004
Get out on Oyster Creek for some kayak and canoe fun. Teams compete to be one of the first 20 boats to retrieve eight different rubber ducks that are corralled along the creek and bring them back to the starting point to win a prize. The total course length is approximately 1 mile. Teams can consist of up to two people and should bring their own kayaks or canoes, lifejackets, and paddles.
Edinburg
Texas Cook'Em
July 1-2
Ebony Hills Golf Course, 300 W. Mark S. Pena Drive
Watch cooks battle it out on the grill to win best chicken, ribs, pork brisket, and rib-eye steak. Texas Cook’Em is one of the state’s biggest barbecue purses, awarding $25,000 to the winners. The event has a custom car/truck and hot rod show on July 2.
Tyler
Celebrate America Independence Day Fireworks Show
July 3
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 13590 SH 110 S.
This annual Independence Day family event features live music, entertainment for the kids, free hotdogs, watermelon, food vendors, and a fireworks show at dusk. Organizers are accepting canned food items for local food banks.
Waxahachie
Crape Myrtle Festival and Parade
July 3-4
Waxahachie Sports Complex and Downtown , 151 Broadhead Road; 100 W. Main St.
Designated the "Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas," Waxahachie hosts this annual patriotic celebration featuring a tailgate party and concert at Waxahachie Sports Complex, followed the next day by a parade through historic downtown Waxahachie, where blooming crape myrtles line the street, and a fireworks show.
Lampasas
Spring Ho Festival
July 3-9
Various locations
Founded in 1972, the annual Spring Ho was first held the second full weekend in July, but through the years has grown into a weeklong event. Festivities include live music, shops by the creek, entertainment for kids and families, a fireworks show, and a parade.
Fredericksburg
Fourth of July Fireworks
July 4
Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, 432 Lady Bird Drive
The city of Fredericksburg hosts this fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day. Multiple viewing areas are available inside the park and at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds. Guests are encouraged to bring their own eats, drinks, and lawn chairs for seating.
Giddings
Firemen's July Fourth Celebration and Lee County Sheriff's Posse Fury on the Fourth
July 4
Lee County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo Arena, 2495 SH 290 West
The Lee County Sheriff's Posse and Giddings Volunteer Fire Department team up for a big Fourth of July celebration. It starts with a day in the park, barbecue, and an auction to benefit the fire department. In the evening, the Sheriff's Posse hosts championship bull riding and mutton bustin, followed by fireworks and a dance.
Kerrville
Fouth on the River
July 4
Louise Hays Park, 202 Thompson Drive
This annual Independence Day celebration consists of a concert, vendors, and the largest fireworks display in the Texas Hill Country.
Alpine
Fourth of July Celebration
July 4
Kokernot Municipal Park, 1500 Fighting Buck Ave.
Alpine's annual parade offers a car show, live music, and fireworks, plus Alpine Cowboys baseball, outdoor theater, and other entertainment.
Plano
All-American Fourth
July 4
Red Tail Pavilion, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Make a day of it and celebrate Independence Day with family fun at Plano’s All-American Fourth. The holiday event is in full swing with food, fireworks, and a “different” kind of parade, with rotary clubs presenting the city’s first static parade comprised of parked floats instead of moving ones. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the show. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Be sure to explore the vendor market and the free kids' zone.
Frisco
Freedom Fest
July 4
George A. Purefoy Municipal Center , 6101 Frisco Square Blvd.
Enjoy great food, music, and fireworks during one of North Texas’ biggest Independence Day celebrations. The fun starts in the afternoon with the Party in the Plaza.
Corpus Christi
Mayor’s Fourth of July Big Bang Celebration
July 4
Corpus Christi Bayfront
The 2023 Mayor’s Big Bang Celebration takes place at the downtown Corpus Christi bayfront with fireworks, festivities, and family activities all day long on the bayfront and at Water’s Edge Park. Enjoy food trucks along the bayfront and a watch party at the USS Lexington Museum. At night, fireworks go off from a barge located in the Corpus Christi Bay just north of People’s Street T-head. Shoreline Boulevard is closed to traffic to ensure pedestrian safety.
Weatherford
Parker County Peach Festival
July 8
Historic Downtown Weatherford, 1 Courthouse Square
The 38th annual Parker County Peach Festival is shaping up to be peachy with a bounty of Parker County peaches and impressive vendors. Visitors can indulge in peach ice cream, peach cobbler, peach pie, peach tea, peach smoothies, ice cream topped with fresh peaches, or just plain ol’ juicy peaches. More than 200 quality arts and crafts, produce, activity, and food vendors line the streets, with the Parker County courthouse as the backdrop.
Friona
Cheeseburger Festival
July 9-15
Friona Community Center, 601 W. 15th St.
Each year, Friona hosts this fun-filled week that starts with a variety of events for all ages, including archery, concerts in the park, Painting with a Twist, and the annual Bun Run and Walk, and culminates with the big finale: the Cheeseburger Festival Cookoff. Festivalgoers get to enjoy a variety of burgers and a winner is crowned the Best Burger and awarded $1,000.
Frisco
PGA High School Golf National Invitational
July 10-12, 17-19
Omni PGA Frisco Resort, 4341 PGA Parkway
The invitation-only tournament field consists of the top high school golfers from across the country who have won their respective state championships as a team or as an individual. Champions are crowned following the three-day 54-hole stroke play event. The championship brings together a wide variety of golfers from nearly all 50 states with the girls event taking place on July 10-12 and the boys competing July 17-19.
highschoolgolf.org/2023-national-high-school-golf-invitational
Bastrop
Corvette Invasion
July 14-16
Bastrop Convention and Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St. B
What started out as a couple of clubs getting together quickly grew into a large event that includes over 300 Corvette owners. In only a few years, the event has tripled in size and continues to grow. Among the highlights is Danny Reed's 1969 Astro Vette once owned by Astronaut Alan L. Bean, music by the Clutch Kings, and parade laps at the Circuit of The Americas Formula 1 track.
Burnet
100 Year Boat-A-Thon
July 15
Inks Lake State Park, 3630 Park Road 4 West
Bring your own boat, kayak, canoe, or ski boat, or borrow one from the park, and celebrate 100 years of paddling at Inks Lake. Join the fun to see just how many boats can get in the lake at one time. A parade follows the new paddling trail from the Park Store to the South Fishing Pier and back. There are also races at various times for those with a need for some competition.
Midland
Celebration of the Arts
July 21-23
Bush Convention Center, 105 N. Main St.
Celebration of the Arts, organized by the Arts Council of Midland, is back for its 39th year. The cornerstone fine art, fine craft event in the Permian Basin, Celebration of the Arts features local artists and entertainers, nonprofit organizations, family activities, and special events throughout the weekend. Friday night offers a ticketed Premier Party showcasing visual artists.
San Antonio
National Day of the Cowboy
July 22
Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St.
One of the Briscoe Western Art Museum's most treasured annual events, National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of July each year. Attracting Western fans of all ages to the museum's home on the River Walk, the day is filled with boots, hats, and all things cowboy, cowgirl, and vaquero. The celebration includes hands-on Western lessons like the art of the lasso, cowboy poetry, chuckwagon treats, and cowboy crooning filling the air of the museum's McNutt Sculpture Garden.
Bandera
National Day of the American Cowboy
July 22
Bandera County Courthouse and Mansfield Park, 500 Main St.; 2886 SH 16
Celebrate the National Day of the American Cowboy with activities at the Bandera County Courthouse lawn. Enjoy chuckwagon storytelling from cowboys on Main Street, wagon rides, pictures with a longhorn, games, shootouts from the Bandera Gunfighters, trick ropers, live music, and special Old West guests, and a medicine show. Ridin' the River Cowboy Fellowship Rodeo takes place at Mansfield Park Arena, with the "Bulls, Barrels, and Breakaway Contest" evening event.
Sabine Pass
Kids Fish
July 22
Sea Rim State Park, 19335 S. Gulfway Drive
At this annual event, children between the ages of 1 and 12 receive a free fishing rod and T-shirt while supplies last. Kids can then use that rod to catch as many fish as they can to compete for prizes. Volunteers are on the beach to record size and number of fish caught for each kid as well as provide bait and fishing advice.
Alpine
Viva Big Bend
July 26-30
Various locations
Viva Big Bend’s 12th year features 60-plus shows in a wide range of music genres at more than 10 venues in Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis, Marathon, and Terlingua.
Naples
Watermelon Festival and Rodeo
July 27-29
Melon Patch Grounds, 100 Front St.
One of the biggest events in the area, the 85th annual Watermelon Festival and Rodeo draws people from far and wide. Along with plenty of East Texas melons that are as sweet as they come, the festival holds one of the biggest parades in northeastern Texas and includes a street dance, arts and craft booths, a fully sanctioned PRCA rodeo, an antique car show, corn hole, horse shoes, food, wineritas, and bingo.
Clute
The Great Texas Mosquito Festival
July 27-29
Clute Municipal Park, 100 Parkview Drive
The Great Texas Mosquito Festival is three days of family fun with a carnival, vendors, barbecue contest, 5K run, tournaments, and the ever-popular mosquito legs and calling contests. The evenings are topped off with live music. Don't forget to take your picture with everyone's favorite mosquito, "Willie-Man-Chew."
Boerne
Hot Summer Nights Antique Tractor Pull
July 29
The AgriCultural Museum and Arts Center, 102 City Park Road
The Boerne AgriCultural Museum and Arts Center hosts their summer antique tractor pull event. Come out and watch antique tractors from around Texas as they compete to pull the heaviest weight the furthest distance.
Cleburne
Goatneck Bike Ride
July 30
The 36th annual Goatneck Bike Ride is a rolling hill course with distances of 10, 27, 41, or 70 miles. Last year's event had close to 1,500 riders. The ride goes throughout Johnson County, and prevailing winds during this time of year come from the southwest, providing a tail wind for the last portion of the ride coming into the finish. The race begins at Cleburne Bible Church.
Jefferson
Civil War Symposium
Aug. 4-5
Jefferson Visitor Center, 305 E. Austin St.
History buffs can expect presentations, speakers, exhibits, and vendors, with a focus on Jefferson and the surrounding areas that played a role in this unique time in the country’s history.
Alpine
Fiesta 1888: Fiesta Musical
Aug. 5-6
Historic Murphy Street, 105 E. Murphy Ave.
This free concert and street festival on historic Murphy Street celebrates Alpine’s history and has featured storytellers, video interviews, historic exhibits, a tour of homes, music, food, and dancing over the years. This year's featured artist is Grammy Award-winning Tejano legend Augustin Ramirez, “La Ley de Tejas.”
Palestine
Neches Wilderness Canoe Race
Aug. 5
Blackburn Dam, Farm-to-Market Road 1892
Canoeists and kayakers young and old, expert and beginner, all come out in large numbers for “The Toughest Little Race in Texas.” The course covers 22 miles of the scenic, largely uninhabited Neches River. It’s also an opportunity to experience wild nature on the Neches Trail.
Dallas
“One Year In Egypt”
Aug. 10-27
Bishop Arts Theatre Center, 215 South Tyler St.
The world premiere of “One Year In Egypt” details the journey of writer and Oak Cliff native Camika Spencer during her first time abroad as a middle school ESL teacher in Al Giza, Egypt, during the same year she turned 50. This show is frank, funny, emotional, and informative, as Spencer narrates her personal transformation while deconstructing the myths associated with how she romanticized Africa as a woke woman who had never been to the Motherland.
Grand Prairie
Hatch Chile Fest
Aug. 12
Grand Prairie Farmers Market, 120 W. Main St.
Get your hot, roasted Hatch chiles at the Grand Prairie Farmers Market’s annual Hatch Chile Festival. The festival features both raw and roasted Hatch chiles sold by the pound, live music, food, drinks, and other offerings.
Brackettville
Welcome to the Dark Side
Aug. 12
Kickapoo Cavern State Park, 20939 RR 674
Enjoy an evening cavern tour, with hopefully a bat flight to view. Then watch the Perseids meteor shower alongside a stargazing event. A second event takes place during the eclipse of the moon on Oct. 14.
Bastrop
"Steel Magnolias"
Aug 18-20, 25-26; Sept. 1-3
Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St.
Truvy’s salon is Chinquapin, Louisiana’s go-to place for a beauty fix with a hearty side of gossip. Along with her overeager assistant Annelle, Truvy pampers her small-town clients with hairdos, manicures and all kinds of unsolicited advice.
San Antonio
World Heritage Festival
Sept. 6-10
Various locations
This annual collaborative event celebrates and promotes the San Antonio Missions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Festivities include a visit at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park’s historic grist mill (the park owns the oldest water right in Texas and is the state’s first grist mill); a 3-mile hike along the park’s San Juan Acequia trail; and the Tour de Las Misiones, a leisurely ride ranging from 7 to 22 miles with stops at one or all of the missions and an enjoyable 5K and 10K walk and run through the scenic Mission River Reach and Mission San Jose.
Winnsboro
Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering
Sept. 30
Winnsboro Center for the Arts, 200 Market St
Winnsboro Center for the Arts presents two music and poetry concerts featuring award-winning entertainers Dom Flemons, Andy Hedges, Pipp Gillette, Kristyn Harris, Teresa Burleson, and Jay Snider. The shows are reminiscent of old cowboy storytelling that used to take place around a campfire during cattle drives. The performers tell stories, recite poetry, sing, and play instruments. Time is allowed in between concerts for guests to get dinner, browse shops, and enjoy a Western-themed art exhibition, “Cowboy Tales.” Other cowboy-themed activities take place throughout the day.
Tyler
Rose Festival
Oct. 18-21
Texas Rose Museum, 420 Rose Park Drive
Since its beginning in 1933, the Texas Rose Festival has represented the spirit that brings Tyler together as a community. Rich in heritage and tradition, the Festival offers enchanting ceremonial events including the Queen's Coronation, the ribbon-cutting and rose presentation, the Queen's Tea, and the Rose Parade, all amid a colorful backdrop of roses.
Austin
Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
Oct. 20-22
Circuit of The Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd.
The pinnacle of motorsports returns to Texas for a three-day celebration of speed and sound. The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix provides an action-packed experience that fuses world-class racing with major championship implications. This year’s event includes the first F1 Sprint race on American soil, as one of six sprint races in the 2023 season, and concerts by The Killers and Queen + Adam Lambert.
Winnsboro
Autumn Trails
Oct. 20-28
Various locations
For more than 60 years Winnsboro has hosted the Autumn Trails celebration every October. The town fills with visitors from Texas and surrounding states. Highlights include the Antique Car parade (the largest in the Southwest), the Trail Riders Welcome Parade, the Jeep Rally, trail rides, a mule rodeo, a trade days and swap meet, a classic car show, arts and crafts show, chili cookoff, and a beard and mustache contest.
San Antonio
Dia De Los Muertos Celebrando Las Misiones
Oct. 28
Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt
Over the years, the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration has featured live performances, interactive and educational workshops, arts and crafts activities for kids including face painting, vendors and artisans, and a community altar.
