Fritz Fest 2005

Friday, September 02, 2005 thru Sunday.

On Fredericksburg, Texas' Historic Marktplatz, 100 West Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX. Call (830) 997-6982 for more information.

Friday, September 2nd

5PM: Gates open with a free concert

7:30–9PM: Dimensions in Blue, United States Airforce Band, performing in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Food & beverage a la carte...

Saturday, September 3rd

4PM: Gates open - $6 adults, kids 12 & under free

5-6PM: Cajun dance lessons

6-7:30PM: Cedryl Ballou & The Zydeco Trendsetters

7:30-11:30PM: Lost Bayou Ramblers

Beverages, hamburgers, & Cajun food a la carte…

Sunday, September 4th

5PM: Gates open - $6 adults, kids 12 & under free

6:30-8PM: Sean Castillo & The Hub Caps

8PM-12AM: The Fabulous Chevelles

Food & beverage a la carte...

60th Anniversary of the End of WWII

On Friday, September 2, and 7:30 pm, The Nationall Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas will host a public concert at Market Square on the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. Come listen and dance to the Air Force Band of the West's Dimensions in Blue - a big band sound - as they recreate the mood and music from that era. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m., and is free to the public.

Sixty years ago, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the United States on board the USS MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay. Across the U.S. there were spontaneous celebrations as the war was brought to a conclusion.

Call 830-997-4379 for more information.

Photo Workshop - August 27

The Photography is Art Gallery (414 E. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX)is hosting this workshop from 9AM - 5:30PM. James McKinnis, a hand colorist from Austin is the instructor. Workshop participants will learn basic hand coloring techniques using photographic oils to add color to black and white photos. McKinnis will go over the best materials to use, including colorants, applicators, and recommended photographic enlarging papers. Participants will be provided with practice prints to practice on, and can keep the original photopaintings they create in class.

Registration fee is $50 and the deadline to sign up is August 13th. Call (830) 990-1330 for more information.

LBJ Wreath Laying and Fee Free Day - Aug 27

Each year on August 27th, the Johnson Family honors the birth of Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States and Hill Country native, with a wreath laying ceremony at the Johnson Family Cemetery. The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park offers free bus tours of the LBJ Ranch on this day and a free shuttle bus for anyone who would like to attend the ceremony.

No admission - board bus at LBJ State Park and Historic Site, which is located 2 miles east of Stonewall, 14 miles west of Johnson City on US Highway 290 toward Fredericksburg, Texas. Adjacent to both Ranch Road 1 and US Highway 290; enter on Park Road 52.

Kerrville Wine Tasting

6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 29, Bank of the Hills, 1075 Junction Hwy., Kerrville. $60 per person. Call (800) 627-8193 or online at www.klrn.org.

Support public television and enjoy tasting fine wines and sampling Southwestern cuisine at the same time. Classic Western music will be provided by Fiddle Chicks and the Wild Turkeys. Texas wine as well as wines from vineyards throughout the world will be served.

Kerrville is only 24 miles from Fredericksburg, Texas, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

Arts Encounters at the Benini's - August 27 & 28

The Benini Foundation Galleries and Sculpture Ranch opens at 10:00 Saturday and 1:00 Sunday at 377 Shiloh Rd.
Johnson City, about 20 minutes East of Fredericksburg, Texas. Presentations begin both days at 1:00 p.m. All events are free, and open to all.

Featured Presentations this month:

• Habitat Restoration & the Quality of Life, J. David Bamberger of Selah Bamberger Ranch, presentation of slides & sharing knowledge of land stewardship and management.

• Photography is Art Gallery Presentation, Dr. Jose Lopez, Photography is Art Gallery

• Demonstration of the Use of Encaustics, Jacqueline May of Austin & Kathy Biddle from Houston

• Musical Interlude, Bart Trotter, nat’l. champion fiddler & Doug Davis on guitar

Call (830) 868-5244 for more information.

117th Annual Gillespie County Fair - Aug 25 - 28

Billed as the oldest county fair in Texas, the Gillespie County Fair in Fredericksburg, Texas, features agricultural and livestock exhibits that showcase the hill country's best! Wright's Amusements & Midway bring a variety of rides and games for the 4 days of the fair. Pari-mutuel live horse racing and simulcast dog & horse racing, mutton busting, horse show & washer pitching, arts and crafts, community exhibits, a talent show & live music. See below for detailed schedule of events, as of July 2005.

Thursday, August 25

Fairground Gates open at 5 p.m.

Carnival and Midway open 5 p.m.

Friday, August 26

117th Gillespie County Fair Parade – Main Street in Fburg – 10 a.m.
Fairground gates open after the parade.

2005 Gillespie County Fair Queen Contest – 7 p.m.

Dance – 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Johnny Bush with Almost Patsy Cline

Carnival opens 12 noon to midnight

Saturday, August 27

Fairground Gates open –10 a.m.

Carnival opens 11 a.m.

Pari-mutuel horse racing – Post time is 1 p.m.

Concert/Dance – 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Trent Willmon with Buster Jiggs

Sunday, August 28

Fairground gates open – 10 a.m.

Carnival opens 11 a.m.

Pari-mutuel horse racing – Post time 1 p.m.

A D M I S S I O N P R I C E S ….

Thursday evening, August 25

Free admission – sorry, does not include carnival

Friday, August 26

All students – including Grades K through 12 – Free.

Children under 6 – Free

Senior citizens (65 & up) – Free

Adults (General admission) - $5

Concert & Dance - $5

Saturday, August 27

Children under 6 free
Children 6 to 12 years - $1

13 through 18 years - $5

Adults (General Admission) - $5

Reserve Seats - $7

Box Seats - $9

Dance – $5 advance; $8 at the gate

Sunday, August 28

Children under 6 – Free

Children 6 to 12 years - $1

13 through 18 years - $5

Adults (General Admission) - $5

Reserve Seats - $7

Box Seats - $9

For advance, reserve seat ticket sales contact us at (830) 997-2359.

Billie Pride Blast-Off - August 20

Texans are famous for their love of High School football. The residents of Fredericksburg Texas are no exception. To kick off football season, Fredericksburg High School holds the biggest small-town pep rally in Texas which features the famous Fredericksburg High School Band, the FHS football team--The Battlin' Billies, the RedHots Dance team, Colorguard, cheerleading and fall sports.

Admission is $2/adults, $1/students and senior citizens. Billie Pride Blast-Off will start at 8 pm at the Fredericksburg High School Stadium, 1107 S State Highway 16 in Fredericksburg, TX. Call (830) 990-0255 for information.

Film: Wings of Desire or Der Himmel über Berlin - August 23

As part of the Texas Tech University's International Film Series and Discussion Group, Texas Tech University Lifelong Learning Community in Fredericksburg, Texas, presents the Wim Wenders’ critically-acclaimed film Wings of Desire (Der Himmel über Berlin).

This 1987 film centers on the story of two angels wandering a still divided Berlin. Invisible to humans, they nevertheless give their help and comfort to all the lonely and depressed souls they meet. Finally, after many centuries, one of the angels becomes unhappy with his immortal state and wishes to become human in order to experience the joys of everyday life. He also discovers that he is not alone in making this cross over, and that a purely spiritual experience is not enough to satisfy anyone. Wenders received the Best Director Award for this film at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is presented in English and German with English subtitles and is rated PG13. It runs 113 minutes and will be followed by discussion.

Texas Tech University's Fredericksburg, TX campus is at 102 E. San Antonio St. Suite C. The progam begins at 2 pm. Admission to the film and the discussion is free, although reservations are recommended to assure seating.

Country Music Showdown - August 25

Fredericksburg, Texas' own KNAF-AM 910 presents some of the Hill Country's finest performers as a part of America's largest country music talent search. The show is at 8 pm at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds - Hwy. 16S in Fredericksburg, TX. Call (830) 997-2197 for more information.

Hangar Dance USO Style - August 20

Come out to the Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg Texas and enjoy dancing to "The Flash Backs", a 14-piece Big Band group. There will be beer, wine, and concessions. $10 per person. The Hanger Hotel is at 155 Airport Rd., Fredericksburg, TX. Call (830) 997-9990 for details.

Neuwein Tasting at Becker Vineyards

In keeping with the tradition of German festivals featuring wine tasting of wines not yet finished with fermentation, Becker Vineyards, an award winning Texas winery, thought it would be fun to bring a "Neuwein Tasting" right here to Fredericksburg! They will be finishing harvest at this time and doing fermentation. This is a free event and open to the public, so mark it on your calendar!

Becker Vineyards is located 10 miles east of Fredericksburg, 3 miles west of Stonewall off Hwy 290 on Jenschke Lane, in the Texas Hill Country. Saturday, August 20, 2005 thru Sunday. Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-6. Call (830) 644-2681 for information.

Compleat Works of William Shakespeare

A comedy presented by the Texas Tech Department of Theatre and Dance, this is a comedy romp through the Bard's plays, sonnets, and other extraneous works. Beginning August 19 through August 28, the play will be performed at the Gillespie County Historical Society Building, 312 W San Antonio St, in Fredericksburg, TX.

Show times are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30PM, and Sunday afternoons at 2PM.

All seats reserved, and tickets go on sale 08/10/2005 at the Box Office, located at 306 E. Austin St. Box Office hours are Wednesday - Saturday 10AM-4PM, two weeks before opening and during the run of the show. Tickets may also be purchased at the door before each show.

Ticket prices are as follows: Adults - $10, Youth (13-18) - $5, and Kids (12 & under) - $5. Call 888/669-7114 OR 830/997-3588 for more information.

An Evening of Flamenco with Teye and Belen

Enjoy a rare evening of live flamenco music and dance with international stars Teye and Belen, who are just back from Spain and will be in Fredericksburg, Texas for one night only, Thurday August 18.

They will perform at Lincoln Street Wine Market, Lincoln Street Wine Market
111 S. Lincoln St., Fredericksburg, Texas, (830) 997-8463. The show starts at 6 pm.

Juried Art Show - Faces & Places of Gillespie County

While exploring all the shops on Fredericksburg, Texas' famous Main Street, stop in at the Uptown Visitor Center on the Corner of West Main and North Milam Streets. Inside is an art show called Faces and Places of Gillespie County. The show, open to all Texas Hill Country residents, will award cash prizes in several categories. Call (830) 992-2172 for more information!

Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance Summer Concerts

Sponsored by the non-profit Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance (the same people who put of Fredericksburg's wildly popular Oktoberfest), this free summer concert series is presented as a "Thank-you" to the volunteers of the community for its support.

All concerts are held downtown in the Adeslverein Halle, Marktplatz. Bring your friends, your lawn chairs, and some snacks! This Sunday, relax in the Hill Country with the The Polka Dot Community Band. Show begins at 5:30 pm.

2005 Rambling Rose and Summer Wine Tasting

While you are in the Hill Country, come out to Becker Vineyards’ Lavender Haus Reception Hall, starting at 12PM on Saturday August 13. Tastings will repeat every hour and a half beginning at 12PM, 1:30 PM, 3PM and 4:30PM. Wes Marshall, author of The Wine Trails of Texas will be on hand to moderate and answer any questions you might have about the wines, the winemaking process, and the vineyards and Bonnie Walker will be serving as a panelist for the tasting. A wide range of rosés will be paired with the delicious sausage that Fredericksburg is known for, as well as several cheeses and bread to compliment. With live music and a Bocce Ball Tournament planned, this event promises to be entertaining and exciting!

Tickets may be purchased for $15 per person on site, or in advance by calling the New World Wine & Food Festival office at 210-223-2881 or Becker Vineyards at 830-644-2681. We encourage you to purchase tickets ahead of time!

Becker Vineyards is located 10 miles east of Fredericksburg, Texas, 3 miles west of Stonewall off Hwy 290 on Jenschke Lane.

Oktoberfest Music Schdule Announced

Get ready to Polka! Oktoberfest's entertainment schedule has been posted.

Cooking Classes at Runnymede Country Inn

Houston's Culinary Queen Molly Fowler returns to Runnymede Country Inn for two classes in August.

Tuesday August 16, from 6:30 - 9 pm, is "Fishing for Compliments." On the menu: Acapulco Shrimp and Crab Coctail on Mixed Spring Greens, Whole Salmon Baked in a Salt Crust with Dijon Mustard Sauce, Creamy Lemon Rice, Julienned Vegetables with Herbed Horseradish Sauce, and Old Fashioned Lemon Chess Pie.

Wenesday August 17, from 10:30 am to 1 pm, is "Hands on Baking with Molly." Class is limited to twelve students. On the menu: Citrus Bowtie Knots, Whole Wheat Bread, Herbed French Baguette, Maple Zucchini Bread, and Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake.

Students will sample every dish and receive a take-home recipe packet. "Fishing for Compliments" is $35 per person, "Hands on Baking" is $50 per person. Call 830-990-2449 for more information.

Roots Music Concert Series: Cool Blues

Cool blues for a summer evening - line-up includes:

* Rusty Martin

* Rob Roy Parnell

* Will Owen Gage Bank

* Larry Lange & the Lonely Knights

* Spencer Thomas Band

There will be a cash bar (beer and wine), with soft drinks and water as well, plus food for sale, but bring your own lawn chairs! No coolers allowed.

Gate opens at 5PM, first band at 6PM. $10 per person at the gate. All proceeds benefit the Gillespie County Historical Society and their museum operations.

Live Horse Racing - August 2005

The 2005 pari-mutuel horse racing season is only half over! The dates for the remaining 2005 race season are August 13 & 14, and August 27 & 28. Races feature a full slate of quarter horses, thoroughbred races, and special races and trials for the 2005 Gillespie County Fair Futurity.

Race weekends include dancing, entertainment, a variety of food and drink along with all of the attractions of historic Fredericksburg. In addition to the races, you can also enjoy the Race Barn, a new pari-mutuel simulcast building featuring greyhound, thoroughbred, and quarter horse races from all over the country in our state of the art simulcast facilities. The Race Barn is pleasantly air-conditioned and includes a restaurant and full bar.

Admission for live racing is $4 for adults (except during the 117th County Fair when they are $5), $1 for children 6 to 12 years of age and free for children under 6. Reserve seats are $7 and box seats are $9.

The Gillespie County Fairgrounds is located 2 miles south of Fredericksburg on Texas Highway 16 South. Call (830) 997-2359 for more information.

An Evening with Larry Gatlin

In support of the Fredericksburg Youth Baseball Association Little League, Guaranty Bank presents An Evening with Larry Gatlin at the Fredericksburg High School Auditorium, 1107 S State Highway 16, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Opening bands and others include: The McCade Brothers, Little Leaguers singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame, Almost Patsy Cline Band, and “Who’s on First?” skit by drama students.

Reserved seating: $20. General Admission: $15. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., concert starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets available July 18; call the above listed phone number to obtain tickets. Call (830) 997-7182 for more information.

Cottage Cafe Bavarian Feast

Cottage Café invites you to a 5-course Bavarian Feast! $45 for the meal only or $65 for the meal plus 4 wine pairings.

Theme music also available with theme attire encouraged. Reservations required.

* Brot mit butter und kase (Bread w/ Butter & Cheese)

* 1st course - Tomaten Salat (Tomato Salad)

* 2nd course - Leber Knodel Suppe (Liver Dumpling soup)

* 3rd course - Paprikan Schnitzel mit Rotkohl (Veal Paprika w/Red Cabbage)

* 4th course - Gespickte Hasenpfeffer mit Kartoffelklocsse (Pepper Roasted Rabbit w/ Potato Dumplings)

* 5th course - Apfel Streusel Kuchen mit Pfirsich Rahm (Apple Cake w/ Bavarian Peach Cream)

The Cottage Café is at 232 W. Main Street, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Their phone number is (830) 990-1037.

Fall in the Texas Hill Country

October marks the start of the height of peak season in Fredericksburg and the surrounding areas, and for good reason. Some of the most popular and awaited events of the year take place this time of year. When the summer heat dies down, Fredericksburg, Tx revs up with all kinds of exciting festivals and events that you won’t want to miss! Oktoberfest has become a “can’t miss” celebration that kicks off the Fall season. Every weekend thereafter features another exciting event.

Sep. 30 - Oct. 1 – Oktoberfest

Oct. 2 – Ladies Chili Cook Off (Luckenbach)

Oct. 8/10 – Mesquite Art Festival

Oct. 15/17 – Trade Days

Oct. 15/17 – South Central BMW Owners Reunion

Oct. 22/23 – Food and Wine Fest

Oct. 23/24 – Texas Gun and Knife Show

Robert James Waller Booksigning

Robert James Waller, the author of the bestselling The Bridges of Madison County, will be in town to sign copies of his new book, High Plains Tango, at Wal-Mart Super Center, 1435 E Main St, Fredericksburg, Texas, at 2 pm. Call (830) 990-1692 for more information.

Little Women

The Fredericksburg High School Drama dept. and Community Ed present special selections from Little Women of Orchard House, by David Longest, at the Fredericksburg High School Auditorium, 1107 S State Highway 16 in Fredericksburg, TX.

Tickets are $5/adults and $3/children. Show times are Friday and Saturday nights at 7PM, and Sunday afternoon at 2PM. For more information, call (830) 997-1000.

VJ Day – 60th Anniversary Celebration Concert

The Symphony of the Hills and the Sentimental Journey Orchestra will present a 6oth Anniversary Celebration Concert on Sunday, August 14, at 3:00 p.m. at the Fredericksburg High School Auditorium. Tickets are $21 (tickets for WWII vets and spouses are $11) and are on sale at the Fredericksburg Theater Company box office at 306 East Austin Street. Call 997-3588 for more information.

Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend

The seventh annual tax holiday is this weekend on August 5, 6, and 7 across the state of Texas. The law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales tax. For more information on this tax holiday, visit the web site of the Texas Comptroller at www.window.state.tx.us.

Weekly Fredericksburg News

Welcome to the blog of Fredericksburg, Texas. We will be posting news and events every week, so keep visiting us!