Hill Country Food Truck Festival

First annual event to be held in Luckenbach Texas and featuring live Americana music all day, around 15 Texas Hill Country food trucks and 10 Texas Hill Country wineries as well as beer from the Luckenbach bar.  Proceeds benefit the Texas Center for Wine and Culinary Arts.  The Americana live music schedule will kick off at noon and continue until 11:30 pm.  Headlined by The Green Cards, performers will include Milk Drive, Lewis and Martin, Paul Cauthen, Bonnie Bishop, Dan Dyer, Steve Poltz and more.  Tickets are available online.

Noon to 9 pm.  Music until 11:30 pm.  $15 per person; kids 12 and under are free.  Rain or Shine!

“Symphony of Color” Art Show at Fredericksburg Art Guild - 8/1-31

Members of the Fredericksburg Art Guild, 308 East Austin, create art using the artist’s color palette as inspiration. Opening reception from 4 to 8 pm during First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg. Call 830-997-4949 for more details.

“Come See What’s Hot” Art Show at Artisans - 8/1

Get out of the heat and come inside 234 W. Main to enjoy cool art offerings, beverages and friendship during First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg.

5 to 8 pm. Call (830) 990-8160 for more information

Roots Music Series “Electric Blues Night” - 7/26

Bring your whole family to the Roots Music Series at the Pioneer Museum, 325 W. Main St.! Listen to emerging and established artists at these live, outdoor concerts. Dance on the dance floor beside the stage and under the trees. Get comfortable in your favorite lawn chair under the stars. Dine on some of the best cooking in the county with a cold beer, wine, water or soft drinks for sale. Every month brings a different genre and menu. This month is “Electric Blues Night” featuring The Peterson Brothers Band at 6:30 pm, Bobby Mack at 7:45 pm and Chris Duarte Group at 9:15 pm. All proceeds support the Mission of the Gillespie County Historical Society (GCHS). Gates open at 5 pm; music starts at 6:30 pm. $15 per person at the gate or $13 online.

Kids under 18 are free.

37th Annual Hill Country Auto Swap Meet - 7/26-27

Hosted by Fredericksburg Vintage Car Club. Featuring a car corral, flea market with over 900 spaces, free parking and free shuttle service on Saturday.  Concessions available.  At Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, on Highway 16 South.

Friday and Saturday 8 am to 5 pm; Sunday 8 am to noon.  Free admission. Call 830-998-4058 for more information.

Bundes Vor Schuetzenfest (Target Shooting) - July 20

Competition shooting--spectators free--at the Bear Creek Shooting Range 2660 Center Point Rd. Sunday, July 20 from 9am-6pm. Refreshments on grounds. Call (830) 997-8006 for details.

Night in Old Fredericksburg Festival and Race Meet - 7-19

The 51st NIOF returns to the Gillespie County Fairgrounds, 530 Fair Drive off Hwy 16 South, this year for one big, glorious summer evening where you can celebrate everything that makes Fredericksburg special! Enjoy cold beverages and delicious food. Thrill to a full afternoon of quarter horse and thoroughbred races. Participate in dominoes, Bavarian beer maid races, yodeling, shoe slapping, stein holding, chicken dancing and beer keg rolling. Vote for your favorites in the Lone Star Barbecue Society BBQ cook-off and CASI-sanctioned chili cook-off. Polka to the Off the Grid Band at 3 pm and the 7 Dutchmen at 7 pm. Then continue to dance under the stars to the Jake Hooker Band from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am. You won’t want to miss it! Please visit the website for a complete schedule of events.

1 pm to midnight. Tickets are $7 before 6 pm and include the horse races. Tickets are $10 after 6 pm and include the dance. Tickets are available online.

Wine Road 290 "Chili and Chillin'" - 7/19

All twelve wineries making up the Wine Road 290 wine trail will join forces to host 'Chili and Chillin' with Texas chili or Southwestern chilies matched with perfectly chilled Texas wines! Enjoy music, fun, and great food from area restaurants. There is no cost to participate in the pairing and there are no tickets. Usual tasting fees apply at each winery for regular wine tastings.

Wineries participating (listed from west to east) are: Chisholm Trail Winery, Fredericksburg Winery, Rancho Ponte, Four Point Cellars, Grape Creek Vineyard, Torre di Pietra Vineyards, Becker Vineyards, Hilmy Cellars,  Woodrose Winery, Pedernales Cellars, William Chris Vineyards & Texas Hills Vineyard. 

Bat Cave Information

The Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area on Old San Antonio Road is home to over 2 million bats, and viewing the nightly emergence (May - October) from their roost in the old railroad tunnel is a popular free event for many. For most current expected viewing time each night, call the Old Tunnel information line at 866-978-2287. It's also recommended that visitors arrive at least one hour before the posted time in case the bats emerge sooner than expected. Education sessions on the lower level on Thursdays through Sundays are available, with tickets to attend for sale beginning at 6:15 p.m. (these sell out quickly so arrive early).

From the Nimitz Museum, go east on US 290 for about 5 miles to the Cain City Road. Turn right and drive about two miles. At the Yield sign, turn right and take the next left (Broadway Street). Drive Broadway until it intersects with Grapetown Road. Take a left to go to Alamo Springs Cafe, and the Bat Cave. (Click here for a Google Map.)

Free Archery Clinic - 7/10

Every Thursday from 6:30 to 8 pm in  learn the sport of archery at LBJ State Park Baseball Field on Highway 290 East. Bows and arrows will be supplied. Great fun for all ages. Please call 830/644-2252 for more information. Free, but donations are welcome

Texas Independence Event at Marktplatz - July 12

Calling all history buffs!  Here is a new event about Texas Independence featuring Austin talk show host Jack Blood and others who will talk about the history of Texas.  There will also be live music, vendors and refreshments available.  More details to be announced.  Save the date!

On Marktplatz from 9 am to 5 pm.  $10 per person admission. Call (830) 997-1908 for more information.

The Art of Daniel Adams at Artisans at Rocky Hill - 7/4-18

Artisans, 234 West Main, presents “Feathers and Flora”, a collection of paintings of colorful hummingbirds, birds, animals and flowers by master illustrator Daniel Adams. Artist reception from 5 to 8 pm during First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg.

Independence Day Celebration at Chisholm Trail Winery - 7/5

Taste award-winning Chisholm Trail wines and enjoy live music. Wood-fired pizza will also be available. Chisholm Trail Winery is at 2367 Usener Road, west of town. Call (830) 990-2675 for more information.

Scholarship Fest - 7/5

Annual event being held this year in conjunction with horse racing weekend. Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the races and prizes will be awarded between races. Proceeds provide local students with scholarship opportunities. 11 am to 10 pm. $25 per person for horse racing and Scholarship Fest; $20 for Scholarship Fest only. Proceeds raised from the event go toward the Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association's Scholarship Fund benefiting youth in Gillespie County. Please call 830/997-2359 for more information.

July 4th Chili Cookoff at Becker Vineyards

Chili sampling, Peoples’ Choice judging and Official judging. CASI-sanctioned event to raise money for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fredericksburg.

10 am to 5 pm. $5 per person for 10 chili samples. Becker Vineyards is 11 miles east on Jenschke Lane off of Hwy 290.

“Celebrate America” Show at Rockbox Theater - 7/4-5

What if you could gather all those great bands of yesterday to perform their greatest hits for you live and in person, all together and on the same stage? The original and “authentic” sounds of the bands of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Harry James and more? It sounds like an impossible dream, but it isn’t. The great sound of the greatest bands of the swing era…”the Greatest Music of the Greatest Generation”… is alive and well, and can once more be heard in person, courtesy of the dedication and musical artistry of the Sentimental Journey Orchestra.

An authentic 19-piece big band featuring full sections of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, rhythm and vocalists, under the direction of leader Ted Conerly, serves up a banquet of the Big Band’s Greatest Hits. Tickets available online.

Friday showtime is 4:30 pm. Saturday showtimes at 4:30 and 8 pm. $37 – $47 adults; $17 youth. Rockbox Theater is at 109 South Llano. Call (830) 997-7625 for details.

3rd Annual Kite Festival at Pedernales Cellars - 7/4

Join Pedernales Cellars, 2916 Upper Albert Road, for its annual celebration of American Independence Day with a show of free-flying kites. Bring a picnic and a kite and Pedernales Cellars will offer a selection of fine wine and free live music to make for a perfect afternoon of celebration.

Noon to 5 pm. Event is free but wine tasting fees do apply. Call (830) 644-2037 for more information.

4th of July Fireworks

Enjoy this Fredericksburg tradition of fireworks at 9:40 pm at Lady Bird Johnson Park after a day of celebration. Starts at 9:30 pm. Admission is free.

“Live Free & Fly” 4th of July Celebration in Luckenbach Texas

Annual event featuring Walt and Tina Wilkins and friends. Live music all day. Special guest this year are The Warren Hood Band, Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay, and Brennen Leigh & Noel McKay. A great Family day in Luckenbach, Texas. 1-6pm This is an outdoor event. Please bring your lawn chairs, dogs on leashes, grandmas, aunts and uncles. The World famous Lawn Mower Parade happens at 4pm. Fundraiser benefits the Harmony Project.