Texas RV Travel blog

There are many Market Days and Farmers’ Markets in Central Texas.

Usually Farmers’ Markets are for best for local grown fruits, vegetables, and homemade jams, jellies and salsas. During Market Days, anything goes! You will find antiques, furniture, collectibles, jewelry, crafts, candles, music CDs, Mexican imports, bird houses, hats, clothing, leather goods, books, plants, wind chimes, sculpture, glass catchers, gazing balls, framed art, drawings, photography, nuts, baked goods, honey butter, homemade preserves and canned fruits. You will also meet the people who grew, made or crafted the items you are buying.

Bastrop Farmers’ Market is open year-round on Fridays from 1 to 5 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM. Bastrop’s Farmer’s Market is part of the River Valley Farmers Market Association, so everything offered for sale is grown and produced by the merchant. Bring your egg cartons, planting pots, canning jars or bags (paper or plastic) to the market for recycling. WIC coupons accepted. After shopping, take a tour of historic Bastrop or relax at one of the many parks in Bastrop.

Blanco Market Day
Historic Courthouse Square
Blanco, Texas

Blanco Market Day is held every third Saturday of the month March through November on the front lawn of the courthouse. Setup time for vendors is 730 AM and Market Day ends around 4 PM. Dogs are welcome! After you shop, grab a periwinkle blue bike (Blanco Blue Bike) for FREE use at one of several locations around Blanco. Grab a bike an pedal out to swim or fish at Blanco State Park.

Boerne Market Dat
Main Square Gazebo
Boerne, Texas

Boerne Market Days are held the second weekend of each month. Items for sale include antiques, arts and crafts, clothing, pottery, jewelry, Texas souvenirs and gourmet food products. Eat lunch on Main Street or enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Cibola Creek. Plan to visit the Cibolo Nature Center.

Elgin Farmers Market
410 North Main (next to Elgin Library)
Elgin, Texas

Elgin Farmer’s Market is part of the River Valley Farmers Market Association. Everything offered for sale is grown and produced by the merchants. Open seasonally on Tuesdays from 1 PM to sellout. Bring your egg cartons, planting pots, canning jars or bags (paper or plastic) to the market for recycling. WIC coupons accepted. While you are in Elgin, stop at Southside Market or Meyer’s Elgin Sausage for some famous Elgin Hot Sausage.

Gruene Market Days
1641 Hunter Road
New Braunfels, Texas

Market Days in Gruene are held on the third full weekend of the month, from February through November, and on the first weekend of December. Market day opens at 10 AM and closes at 5 PM. Gruene Market Days are special in that all products are made by the vendors themselves. Admission is free. While you are there, eat at the Grist Mill on the Guadalupe River, take a tubing trip, or stick around to hear live music at the oldest dance hall in Texas, Gruene Hall.

Kyle Market Day and Farmers Market
Front Street (between Kyle City Hall and the Historic Train Depot) under the Water Tower

Kyle Market Day is held the first Saturday of the month, April through November, 9 AM to 2 PM. Enjoy live music by popular local musicians. Stroll along the downtown streets and view the local attractions. Take a swim in the Municipal Swimming Pool, located in Gregg-Clark Park.

San Marcos Farmers Market
204 S. Edward Gary
San Marcos, Texas

This market is a member of the San Marcos/New Braunfels Farmers Market Association, a non-profit organization formed to provide a place where Central Texas farmers may market their fresh, homegrown and homemade products to the local consumer. San Marcos Farmers Market is open every Tuesday, year round, from 3 to 6 PM. This market offers homegrown fruits and vegetables, homemade breads and pastries, fresh eggs, homemade salsa, jams and jellies, flowers and plants. Find lavender in all forms and other natural products. Bring your swimsuits and swim or tube down the crystal clear San Marcos River across the street from the market place. Grab a trolley and go shopping at the Outlet Mall,

Sunset Valley Farmers Market
3200 Jones Road
Sunset Valley, Texas

Open every Saturday morning from 9 AM to 1 PM. The emphasis is on organic, sustainable production of food. This farmers’ market has won awards for being one of the best in the area, state and nation. Enjoy live music and bring your dogs!

Wimberley Farmers’ Market
Lions Field on FM 2325
Wimberley, Texas

The Wimberley Farmers Market is open every Wednesday from 3 to 6 PM. Park directly across the street.

Wimberley Market Days
Lions Field on FM 2325
Wimberley, Texas

Wimberley Market Days are held on the first Saturday of each month from March or April through December, from 7 AM to 3 PM. With approximately 450 vendors, this is the second largest flea market in Texas. No dogs allowed, but there are kennels where you may board Fluffy. The event is free, but you must pay for parking.

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There are a lot of festive activities and in February. I wanted to post about Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day events. I will return with market days and Black History Month celebrations.

Mardi Gras

January 25-February 5, 2007
Mardis Gras ! Galveston
Galveston, Texas

January 31-February 3, 2008
Mardi Gras Weekend
Port Arthur, Texas

February 1-2, 2008
Mardi Gras DFW
Fair Park, Dallas, Texas

February 2, 2008
Bud Light Mardi Gras River Parade
San Antonio River Walk

February 1-3, 2008
Mardi Gras Upriver
Jefferson, Texas

February 5, 2008
Mardi Gras on Main
Kerrville, Texas

Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2008
Ninth Annual Valentine’s Day Dinner
Brownsville, Texas

February 14, 2008
Valentine’s Murder Mystery Dinner
Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Bryan/College Station area

February 15-17, 2008
St. Valentine’s Day Motorcycle Massacre
Boerne, Texas

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This is a listing of select events from around Texas during January 2008. I am late with this month’s listing, so I started with this weekend.

January and February 2008 - all month
Rainbow Trout Harvest
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
- Catch and keep rainbow trout, five per person, no size limit, no fishing license or trout stamp needed (9-4 daily). Entrance fee plus $5.

January 10-13, 2008
Windows on Texas Music
Fredericksburg, Texas
- See and hear a life Texas talent. Free.

January 19, 2008
Keepin’ Austin Weird Chase
Austin, Texas
- For all people that love puzzles, codes and adventure! $30 per person.

January 19-20, 2008
Winter Antiques Show
Round Top, Texas
- The Original Round Top Antiques Fair offers +/-300 vendors spread across four sites.

January 21, 2008
Martin Luther King Jr. Grande Parade
Houston, Texas
- Annual MLK, Jr. parade, featuring 15 floats and 30 marching bands from around the US, begins at 2 pm.

January 23-February 24, 2008
Washington’s Birthday Celebration
Laredo, Texas
- Approximately 400,000 people attend this month-long event that includes parades, carnival, air show, fireworks, live concerts and family fun.

January 25-27, 2008
29th Annual World of Wheels
Abilene, Texas
- Hosted by Key City Truckers, presented by Bud Light, Abilene Civic Center.

January 25-27, 2008
26th Annual East Texas Boat, RV, and Camping Expo
Longview, Texas
- Interactive activities (dog/retriever tank, Kid Fish) and live entertainment.

January 26, 2008
Kid Fish Celebration
Landmark Inn State Historic Site, Castroville, Texas
- Kids fish (children 4-12) for stocked rainbow trout in the millstream, from 830 am-4 pm, all fishing gear provided. Free. Adults $5.

January 26-27, 2008
A Ride With Bob (Wills) musical with Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel
Texarkana, Texas
- The story of Bob Wills and western swing as can only be told by Ray Benson. Ticket prices vary.

January 27-April 6, 2008
Native Words – Native Warriors
Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, Texas
- Exhibit on loan from Smithsonian Museum honors hundreds of Native Americans who used their native languages to send and receive coded messages for the US military during World War I and II.

January 31-February 3, 2008
First Monday Trade Days
Canton, Texas
- First Monday Trade Days takes place Thursday through Sunday before the first Monday of every month.

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WurstFest, OctoberFest, OktoberFest = Big Family Fun

In the 1830s, the largest ethnic group to immigrate to Texas from Europe were persons of German birth or descent. As early as 1850, Germans constituted more than 5 percent of the total Texas population. Celebrate the rich and diverse culture of Germany by attending one of the fests in October.

Eat: Homemade pies and funnel cakes, all types of sausages, served on a stick for easy walking around, or on a bun. Corn on the cob, turkey legs, German potato pancakes served with sour cream and applesauce, hot German potato salad, caramel apples. Yummm!

Carnival for kids: fun for all ages

Dance: Polka, Country Western, Clogging

Drink: Beers from all over the world and German wines

Exhibits: arts & crafts, quilting, homemade items, unique gifts just in time for Christmas

Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg
October 5-7

Held on the town plaza, this traditional Oktoberfest celebrations features great food, beer, colorful costumes and live music.

Oktoberfest in Southlake
October 5-7, 2007

This event is always guaranteed to be an exciting one! Now in the sixth year of this 3-day festival being held in Southlake Town Square boasts an expected attendance of nearly 50,000 over the weekend.

Beethoven Halle Oktoberfest
October 5, 6, 12 and 13

The Beethoven Halle & Garten in San Antonio is set to celebrate the ultimate German festival! Music, food, and dancing are just part of the festive offerings. Past performers include the Beethoven Concert Band, Raffin Organ Grinders, Bohemian Dutchmen, the Markman Polkateers, the Cadence Cloggers and more! Enjoy German foods, Bratwurst, Knockwurst, Potato Pancakes.

Lancaster Oktoberfest
October 12-13, 2007

Traditional beer and wines will be available plus food, music and fun when this Oktoberfest gets underway this month. A carnival atmosphere rules with plenty of fun things for the kids as well. Don’t miss Lancaster’s annual Oktoberfest celebration.

Wurstfest in New Braunfels
November 2- November 11, 2007

This is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the Americas. Get ready for lots of live music, food to satisfy the largest appetites and lots and lots of beer. Dedicated to sausage (wurst) washed down with beer.

Tags: festivals, wurstfest, okoberfest, octoberfest, polka, sausage, family fun

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Blanco County Fair & Rodeo
August 16-18
Blanco County Fairgrounds, Johnson City

Includes youth rodeo, junior lamb show, queen contest, parade, junior steer show, washer pitching contest, rodeo and dance.

77th Annual North Texas State Fair
August 17-25
North Texas Fairgrounds, 2217 N. Carroll Blvd.
Denton, Texas

Features a world championship rodeo, music, carnival rides and games, fiddling contest, petting zoos and barbecue cook-offs. Main Budweiser stage artists: Stoney LaRue, Tommy Alverson, Johnny Rodriguez, Mark David Manders, Johnny Cooper, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Cory Morrow, Sammy Kershaw, and Max Stalling.

Gillespie County Fair
August 23-26
Gillespie County Fairgrounds, 530 Fair Drive
Fredericksburg, Texas

Old-fashioned country fair includes parimutuel horse racing, dancing, concerts, carnival and more. Music on Saturday night by The Derailers with special guests the Dust Devils.

Labor Day Weekend

Central Texas State Fair
August 30- September 2
Bell County Expo Center; 301 West Loop 121
Waco, Texas

The Central Texas State Fair includes horse shows, livestock shows, carnival, country music night, a rock and roll night, and a Hispanic night. PBR bull riding, stunts by United Freestyle Stunt Team, automobile destruction derby and monster truck rides.

Fayette County Fair
August 30-September 2
Fairgrounds; Highway 77 to Giddings North
LaGrange, Texas

The Fayette County Country Fair is four days of fun during the Labor Day weekend. Events include a livestock and poultry show, agricultural exhibits, culinary exhibits, hay show, talent show, a parade, free dancing every night, and a German-Czech mart with good food, drinks and live music. Features a large carnival, shuttle buses and plenty free parking. Music by Eli Young Band, Wade Bowen and Jerrod Birmingham.

Kendall County Fair
August 30-September 2
Kendall County Fairgrounds; Highway 46 (1 mile east of downtown)
Boerne, Texas

The Kendall County Fair offers visitors to kick up their heels during the Labor Day weekend. Activities include parade, carnival, rodeo, street dances and fireworks. Music by Wade Bowen, Cross Canadian Ragweed and Reckless Kelly.

Red River Valley Fair
August 29-September 1
Paris and Lamar County Fairgrounds; Sixth Street and Center Street
Paris, Texas

The Red River Valley Fair includes a carnival, livestock show, live entertainment, a chili cookoff, children’s barnyard, antique tractor exhibit, food, clowns, and family entertainment. Performers include Gene Watson and The Plain Label Band. There is also a showcase of agriculture, a home & garden showcase, commercial exhibits, and community exhibits.

Tags: county fair, rodeo, state fair

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