Heat Up Summer 2023 with These Hill Country Events
Summer is the time when city dwellers start to long for wide open spaces and countryside vibes. Find both in the Texas Hill Country, plus fairs and festivals, great food and wine, family-friendly activities, arts, culture, and tons more.
Start with this list of things to do this summer in Fredericksburg, Stonewall, Johnson City, and Hye to plan your Hill Country escape.
Wine & Dine in Hill Country Style
Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival
Sample Texas craft beers at the second-annual Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival on June 9th and 10th. Featuring great breweries from Austin, Dallas, Houston, and more, you can compare brews while listening to live music and snacking at the food court.
Bourbon & Bites Sensory Experience
Celebrate National Bourbon Day on June 14th at Bending Branch Winery in Comfort, Texas. Taste four Bending Branch bourbons paired with tasty bites, and practice identifying their unique smells and flavors. These bourbons are sourced from Kentucky, and aged here in Texas.
Fredericksburg Peach Festival
Celebrate all things peach at Grapetown Vineyard and Farm’s Fredericksburg Peach Festival on July 1st. Sample peach wines, peach-inspired cocktails, peach BBQ, peach cobbler, and more. Plus shop with local vendors and enjoy live music all day. Bring the kids—there are activities for them, too.
State Championship BBQ Cook-Off
Discover the best of Texas BBQ at the State Championship BBQ Cookoff on July 21st and 22nd. The competition will be at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds, with plenty of tasty brisket, chicken, spare ribs, pulled pork, and jackpot beans to sample. Come hungry!
Becker Vineyards Annual Grape Stomp
Wrap up the summer season with Becker Vineyards’ Annual Grape Stomp on September 2nd and 3rd. This traditional method of extracting juice from grapes is as low-tech as it gets. All you need are feet. Put a juicy footprint on the back of a t-shirt for a fun memento.
Summer Arts & Performance Events
16th Annual Thomas Michael Riley Texas Music Festival at Luckenbach
Head out to quirky Luckenbach on June 9th and 10th for a musical event starring some of Texas’ favorite musicians. Shows start at noon and go on all day! Enjoy cold beer, hot food, and an “only in Texas” vibe at this annual music celebration.
Elton Dan and the Rocket Band at the Rockbox Theater
On June 10th, Elton John tribute group Elton Dan and the Rocket Band come back to the Rockbox Theater. This high-energy show recreates some of the magic of everyone’s favorite colorful piano prodigy. (If you can’t make it, the Rockbox Theater has fun shows most weekends—including lots of tribute bands.)
Annie Get Your Gun at Fredericksburg Theater
The wild west comes to Fredericksburg with this summer’s production of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, playing June 16th - July 2nd. Watch sharpshooter Annie Oakley as she reaches stardom in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show.
Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance Summer Concert Series
Bring your lawn chairs and a picnic to the Fredericksburg Marketplatz on select Sundays this summer for a free concert series by the Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance. Concerts start at 6:30 PM and end at 8:15 PM.
Concert Schedule
June 25: Soul Sessions
July 23: The Georgia Park Band
August 27: Floyd Domino's All-Stars
September 17: Bob Appel
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Family-Friendly Events in the Hill Country
“Little Pioneers” Summer Series at the Pioneer Museum
Every Thursday in June and July, kids can practice hands-on, pioneer-style crafts in the Little Pioneer Summer Series. Kids can discover traditional artisan skills like blacksmithing, quilting, baking, candle making, and much more.
Stonewall Peach JAMboree & Rodeo
Head to Stonewall on June 15th - 17th for the 62nd Annual Peach JAMboree and Rodeo. You’ll find rodeo events like Mutton Bustin’ and goat roping, plenty of BBQ by the pound, and live music and dancing. Sample the goods at the peach baking, preserve, and salsa cook-off, join the peach eating contest, and watch as a new Peach Queen is crowned.
The Spongebob Musical at Fredericksburg Theater
Hang with the gang from Bikini Bottom in a hilarious performance of The Spongebob Musical at the Fredericksburg Theater on July 27th - 30th. This kid-friendly show includes original songs written by greats like David Bowie, Steven Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, Panic! At the Disco, Sara Bareilles, and many more.
92nd Annual Blanco County Fair & Rodeo
From August 16th to 19th, get the classic country rodeo experience at the Blanco County Fair & Rodeo in Johnson City. Events include goat and lamb shows, a parade, and a rodeo dance, plus events like goat roping and team roping. There’s even Stick Pony Barrel Racing for the littlest cowboys and cowgirls.
135th Annual Gillespie County Fair
The oldest continuous county fair in Texas is back from August 25th - 27th. This is the quintessential county fair with livestock shows, arts and crafts exhibits, live music, horse racing, and carnival rides. And don’t forget the fair food! Meats on a stick, funnel cakes, fried goodies…it’s all here.
A Hill Country 4th of July
Hye 4th Fest
Celebrate Independence Day at Silver Dollar Winery’s Hye 4th Fest on July 1st. Enjoy wine and beer from Silver Dollar and other breweries and wineries. Feast on pizza and BBQ plates, and dance to live music. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for the fireworks after dark!
Fredericksburg Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks
Get patriotic with the annual Fourth of July Parade. Watch dozens of colorful floats, live bands, and plenty more as they march down Main Street, starting at 10 AM. At 9:30 PM, catch the fireworks display at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, with additional viewing areas at Oakcrest Park, Gillespie County Fairgrounds, and more.
4th Fest Independence Day Parade and Fireworks in Johnson City
Johnson City’s Independence Day Parade starts at LBJ High School, follows N Nugent Ave, and continues around the historic town square. After dark, the fireworks display will begin at Blanco Co. Annex. This is a great place for an old fashioned small town Fourth!
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Summer Community & Wellness Events
Summer Solstice Fest at Swallow’s Eve
Spend the longest day of the year focused on wellness and self-care at Summer Solstice Fest on June 21st. This all-day event includes yoga sessions and soothing sound bowls, fresh food and wellness shots, and fun sessions like flower crown making and dream analysis. Get your vibes right!
Live Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds
Catch the galloping thrills of live quarter horse and thoroughbred racing at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds this summer. On the weekends of July 1st, July 15th, August 12th, and August 26th, head to the tracks to pick your favorites and place your wager.
SPCA Puppy Yoga Fundraiser
Start your day with downward facing dog and raising money for dogs on July 9th. Join the Hill Country SPCA and Good Foundation Yoga in the Swallows Eve Barn to practice yoga alongside adorable puppies! After, enjoy a light breakfast spread, wellness shot, and mimosa bar while you learn more about the HCSPCA.
Enchanted Fredericksburg Ranch
Come feel the heat of the glassblowing studio (or hot shop) and watch as our resident glassblower, Paul Simonette, turns molten glass (from a raw glass furnace kept at 2,100-degrees F.) into a lovely and functional piece of art.
You Do You During Your Hill Country Summer
No matter how you celebrate summer—winery tours, visits to the countryside, soaking in as many pools as possible—The Vind can help you plan the perfect trip. Start with one of our weekend itineraries that you can tweak and adjust to your liking.
Or use the Create a Trip option to get recommendations for lodging, restaurants, and fun things to do in the Hill Country.
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