TM TEXASHIGHWAYS EVENTS C A L E N D A R SUMMER 2018 JUNE • JULY • AUGUST FESTIVALS, CONCERTS, EXHIBITS, PARADES, AND ALL SNAPSHOT THINGS FUN Becker Vineyards’ Grape Stomp IN TEXAS! See more inside... EVENTS SUMMER 2018 or you might think Wichita Falls mile bicycle ride in the nation—and Ride or Die would celebrate its namesake with one of the largest in the world; last some fun on the water. Instead, the year the event welcomed some 11,000 he name says it all. The Hot- Wichita Falls Bicycle Club proposed a registrants for the weekend. This year, ter ’N Hell Hundred grew bicycle ride—100 miles in 100-degree Aug. 23-26, attendees can enjoy live out of efforts to find a special heat to celebrate 100 years, coining the outdoor concerts, a consumer show, a way for Wichita Falls to cel- name and a race that would attract spaghetti dinner, and more in addition Tebrate its 1982 centennial. In the intrepid cyclists to North Texas for to competing against the road, the hottest month of the year, most Texas decades to come. This annual August wind, and a heat that’s hotter than cities might plan an indoor festival— race is still the largest single-day 100- (you guessed it) hell. hh100.org ON THE COVER GRAPE EXPECTATIONS Make wine the old-fashioned way in Stonewall at the Becker Vineyards Annual Grape Stomp on Aug. 25-26 and Sept. 1-2. To toast the end of harvest season, half barrels will be filled with grapes so oenophiles can try their hand—well, foot—at crushing grapes. After your stomp session, you can stamp your purple footprints on the back of a souvenir T-shirt to commemorate the occasion. During the second weekend, there will be a Lucy & The Italian Woman Contest, where attendees can channel their inner Lucille Ball. Costumes—and enthusiasm—are required! The event is free and open to the public. beckervineyards.com PHOTOS: (above) courtesy Hotter ’N Hell Hundred/ Richard Carter; (cover photo) iStock. SUMMER 2018 | Texas Highways Events Calendar 1 Summer 2018 CALENDAR at a Glance JUNE JULY 8th-10th 9th 4th ARANSAS PASS: Shrimporee AUSTIN: Bubblepalooza KERRVILLE: Robert Earl Mexican food, and browse house- The largest shrimp festival in A free annual celebration of open Keen’s Fourth on the River wares, leather goods, silver, cloth- Texas, now in its 70th year, of- play, everyone is invited to spend Enjoy food, vendor booths, ing, pre-packaged food, pottery, fers live entertainment and time on the Long Center’s City bounce houses, face painting, river and more. visitlaredo.com dancing all weekend, as well as Terrace and expansive lawn fun, and live music followed by a culinary events, carnival rides, enjoying live music, trailer food— free concert with Robert Earl Keen and a parade. aransaspass.org/ and of course, tons of bubbles. and the best fireworks show in the 20th-22nd shrimporee 361-758-2750 thelongcenter.org 512-474-5664 Hill Country. kerrvilles4th.org 830-257-8233 PARIS: Balloon and Music Festival The third annual festival 8th-16th 15th will feature 20 hot air balloons in- 12th-15th cluding balloon glows and launch- SULPHUR SPRINGS: CISCO: Pie Fest Have a good es, a tethered balloon, live music, Hopkins County Dairy Festival old-fashioned summer celebration SHAMROCK: Route 66 Festi- craft and food vendors, and a Founded in 1959, this 10-day festi- at the only pie festival in Texas— val—Texas Welcomes the World children’s area. parisballoonand val honors hardworking dairy fami- with plenty of family fun, games, Roadies from across the U.S. and musicfestival.com lies and the impact the dairy in- pie-baking contests, an all-you- around the world come to enjoy sev- dustry has on the local economy. can-eat pie buffet, arts and crafts, eral events up and down Historic Events include a hot air balloon entertainment, and food. Friday Route 66, including a variety of ven- 26th-28th rally, a 5K milk run, a parade, a night kicks it off with a chicken pot dors, live music, a car show and milking contest, an ice cream pie dinner and a street dance. cruise, an art show, banquets, silent CLUTE: Great Texas Mosquito freeze-off, a carnival, and a junior ciscotxpiefest.com auctions, Texas vendors, the Coors Festival This annual event cele- dairy livestock show. hopkins Ranch Rodeo and Concert, helicop- brates the summer nuisance in countydairyfestival.com ter rides, historical re-enactments of style with three full days of carni- 23rd the Texas Panhandle, and more. val rides, the mosquito chase (a texaswelcomestheworld.com 5K race), cookoffs, and live enter- 9th AUSTIN: Fun Stop 5K & Fest tainment to cap off each evening. Formerly known as Keep Austin The buzziest sight, perhaps, is the SAN MARCOS: Texas Water Weird Fest & 5K, this race is the 13th-15th Mosquito Calling competition, Safari Billed as the “World’s most fun you’ll have at a 5K. Dress where contestants vie to summon Toughest Boat Race,” this 260- up in your quirkiest costume and LAREDO: International Sister the biggest bloodsucker in town. mile canoe and kayak race takes find fun stops along the way, like a Cities Festival mosquitofestival.com competitors from Spring Lake in crazed obstacle course (drink in More than 200 exhibitors from 979-265-8392 San Marcos to the city of Sead- hand encouraged), the ultimate Mexico and Central America set rift on the Texas coastline. Cheer foam party, a puppy kissing booth, up shop to form the biggest Mexi- the teams from various riverside and exciting performances from can mercado this side of the bor- parks. texaswatersafari.org local bands rocking into the night. der. Enjoy live cultural perfor- 512-738-6607 funstop5k.com mances, fill up on tasty traditional 2 Texas Highways Events Calendar | SUMMER 2018 TM TEXASHIGHWAYS FIND EVENTS EVENTS C A L E N D A R ONLINE SUMMER 2018 JUNE • JULY • AUGUST For more fun things to at a Glance do this summer, visit CALENDAR texashighways.com. AUGUST FESTIVALS, CONCERTS, EXHIBITS, PARADES, AND ALL SNAPSHOT THINGS FUN Becker Vineyards’ Grape Stomp IN TEXAS! See more inside... The Texas Highways Events Calendar is published quarterly by the Travel Information Division of the Texas Department of Trans por tation with informa- tion from Texas chambers of commerce, conven- tion and visitors bureaus, and event organizers. Free Subscriptions: To order a free one-year subscrip tion to the Texas Highways Events Calendar, fill out and mail in the card in this issue or visit texashighways.com/eventsubscription. Order single copies online at texashighways.com/ 3rd-5th 24th freepubs or by calling 877-252-8150. NEW BRAUNFELS: Lone Star GALVESTON: AIA Sandcastle List Your Event: The best way to send us event Gourd Festival Award-winning Competition More than 60 listings is by using our online submission form at gourd artists and their art com- teams have their eyes and shov- texashighways.com/submitevent. Events can also pete. Additionally, find gourd art els set on winning the prestigious be submitted via email to [email protected]. sales and supplies, a raffle, live Golden Bucket Award. Architec- All event listings must include a city, exact start and demonstrations, and kids’ make- ture firms begin months in ad- end dates, location (venue and/or address), public and-take on Saturday and Sun- vance generating ideas, develop- contact information (phone, website, and/or email), day. Classes are available prior to ing designs, and assigning duties. and a brief description. All event listings are subject the start of the festival. On the day of the event, the to approval and editing. texasgourdsociety.org teams stretch along the beach- Listing deadlines 337-376-9690 front, meticulously sculpt their piles of sand, and work nonstop FALL (Sept., Oct., Nov.): June 1 for five hours. aiahouston.org WINTER (Dec., Jan., Feb.): Sept. 1 17th-25th SPRING (March, April, May): Dec. 1 SUMMER (June, July, Aug.): March 1 DENTON: North Texas Fair 24th-26th Editor: Jane Kellogg Murray and Rodeo The 90th annual event includes a world champion- FORT DAVIS: Davis Moun- Phone: 512-486-5876 ship rodeo, live country music, tains Hummingbird Celebra- Contributing Editors: Wes Ferguson, Kimya carnival rides and games, yummy tion Birding enthusiasts enjoy Kavehkar, Emily Roberts Stone, Julie Stratton fair food, a parade, horse and live- three days of bird banding, field Contributing Writer: Mimi Faucett stock shows, and contests for trips, lectures, a banquet featur- adults and kids alike. ntfair.com ing a keynote speaker, and beau- Art Director: Ashley Horsley 940-387-2632 tiful scenery in the Hummingbird Advertising Sales Inquiries Capital of Texas. fortdavis.com AJR Media Group Phone: 855-468-6257 18th Email: [email protected] 27th AUSTIN: Bat Fest Celebrate Dates for events listed in this calendar were cor- the world’s largest urban bat rect at the time of publication and are subject to STONEWALL: President Lyn- change. Please confirm dates in advance by call- colony (the 1.5 million Mexican don B. Johnson’s 110th Birth- ing the number listed or by contacting the local Free-Tailed Bats who take up day Visitors are invited to attend chamber of commerce. seasonal residence beneath the a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ann Richard’s Congress Avenue Johnson family cemetery. In © Texas Department of Transportation Bridge) as they take to the skies. honor of President Johnson’s Enjoy live music, children’s activ- birthday, tours of the Texas ities, a costume contest, and White House will be free. more. roadwayevents.com nps.gov/lyjo Printed on Recycled Paper PHOTOS: (from left) courtesy Bubblepalooza; courtesy Great Texas Mosquito Festival/Shawn Maynard; SUMMER 2018 | Texas Highways Events Calendar 3 courtesy AIA; iStock.