Hill Country Sun, April 2015

Find us on FacebookHillCountrySun

Don’t miss the26th Annual

LLanoCrawfish

openR

wimberLeyarts fest at Blue Hole

Regional ParkR

Bell Springs Winery’s new

sideCar tasting room

RFather & son team

wagonmastersrestoring original

Grand WagoneersR

Bard of the BlancoErnie Lees’s

hiLL CountrypoetryR

The Hill Country’smost completeCaLendarof events

Serving Austin, Bandera, Blanco, Buda, Bulverde, Burnet, Canyon Lake, Castroville, Comfort, Concan, Driftwood, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Georgetown, Gruene, Henly, Hancock, Johnson City,Kerrville, Kyle, Lakeway, Llano, Leakey, Luckenbach, Marble Falls, Medina, New Braunfels, San Antonio, San Marcos, Sattler, Sisterdale, Stonewall, Wimberley, Utopia, Uvalde, Vanderpool & More

APRIL 2015

26th Annual Llano

Crawfish OPen

26th Annual Llano

Crawfish OPen

APRIL 2015 R HILL COUNTRY SUN

DALE WATSONand his Lone Stars

Texas Jamm Band, Amber Digby, Mary Sarah,Jake Penrod & his Million-Dollar Cowboys,

and Breelan Angel, + Special Guests

TRACY BYRDJake Penrod & his Million-Dollar Cowboys,

Mary Sarah, Janice Maynard & The Country Stardust Band,Glen Collins & The Alibis, Kevin Moon,

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HAL KETCHUMKelly Willis, Stephen Chadwick,

Tessy Lou and the Shotgun Stars, Mary Sarah,Jake Penrod & his Million-Dollar Cowboys,

+ Special Guests

JOHNNY BUSHJake Penrod & his Million-Dollar Cowboys,

Jesse Raub Jr., Genevieve Allen,Mary Sarah and Melissa Brooke Band,

+ Special Guests

CODY JOHNSONJake Penrod & his Million-Dollar Cowboys

The Bayou Blackbirds, Danny Dillon & West 105,Michael Dart and the Skyline Wranglers,

Mary Sarah and Amya Rodriguez, + Special Guests

MICKEY GILLEYMary Sarah, Coby Carter, Kylie Frey,

Michael Dart and the Skyline Wranglers,Jake Penrod & his Million-Dollar Cowboys,

+ Special Guests

DOUG STONEJade Jack, Jake Ward, Mary Sarah, Brett Mullins,

Bobby Flores, Jake Penrod & his Million-Dollar Cowboys,+ Special Guests

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HILL COUNTRY SUN R APRIL 2015 PAGE 3

The Hill Country Sun is published monthly. For advertising rates or information, call Julie Harrington at 512-484-9716 (email [email protected]). Credit cards accepted.

•Circulation: 22,000. Distributed monthly to more than 450 popular Hill Country locations (see list of towns on front cover) and home delivered to all 5,276 Wimberley homes and 8,663 Dripping Springs homes by the US Postal Service.

•Co v e r: Kevin Fowler headlines the musical entertainment at the 26th annual Llano Crawfish Open April 18-19. (See story, page 9.) In addition to plenty of crawfish and delicious eats, you’ll find more great live music, plus a 5K, golf tourney, arts and crafts, vendors, team roping, motorcycle run, kids’ activities and more. Photo courtesy Kevin Fowler, Small inset photos courtesy Llano Crawfish Open.

•Deadline for calendar events is the 15th of each month.Email events/releases to [email protected].

www.hillcountrysun.comwww.facebook.com/HillCountrySun

Hill Country SUN

HENLY

Texas Hill CountryLocator Map

© 2015 by TD Austin Lane, Inc.

INDEXAustin J5

Bandera B10Bergheim D9

Bertram I2Blanco F6

Boerne D9Buchanan Dam F2

Buda J7Bulverde G10

Burnet G2Camp Verde B8

Canyon Lake G9Castroville C12

Center Point B8Clear Springs H11

Comfort C8Concan A11

Driftwood H7Dripping Springs H6

Fischer G8Fredericksburg C5

Georgetown K2Granite Shoals G2

Gruene H10Hancock G8Helotes G6

Henly G6Highland Lakes F2/3

Hondo B13Hunt A7Hye E6

Ingram B7Johnson City F5

Kendalia F8Kerrville B7

Kingsland F2Kyle I8

Lampasas G1Leakey A9Llano D2

Liberty Hill I12Luckenbach D6

Luling K10Marble Falls G3

Martindale J9Mason B2

Medina A9New Braunfels H10

Oak Hill I6Oatmeal H2

Pipe Creek C10Round Rock K3

San Antonio F12San Marcos I9

Sattler H9Seguin I11

Sisterdale D8Spring Branch F9

Startzville G9Stonewall D6

Utopia A10Vanderpool A9Wimberley H8

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Julie Spell HarringtonPublisher/Advertising

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MeliSSa Maxwell BallEditor/Design

[email protected]

ernie altgeltColleen BrookS

ernie leelaurel roBertSon

Writers

gerry BurnSDelonn Bowie

aDelle SpellDistribution

Kenzie, Luke and Julie HarringtonPhoto by Becky Roberson Photography.

April 2015Volume 25 • Number 10

ISSN: 1524-2315

Entire contents copyright © 2015 by TD Austin Lane, Inc.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any fashion without the

written consent of the publisher.


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Wimberley’s a great place to be April 18 and 19, as the Wimberley Valley Art League’s

7th Annual Arts Fest features the works of 87 juried artists, continuous live music, food, drink and much more. The fun runs from 10 am to 6 pm Saturday at Blue Hole Regional Park, where in addition to plen-ty of art, guests can enjoy a barbecue cook-off beginning at 11 am (judging starts at noon), and a classic car show sponsored by the Wimberley Classic Car Club at the Blue Hole parking area (just adjacent to Arts Fest).

Vendors will serve up Thai food, sliders, hot sandwiches, snocones, wine, beer and more. The musical lineup Sat-urday includes Gerry Burns at 11 am, the Steve Schoen Trio +One at 12:15 pm, Three Hands High at 1:30 pm, Arley Blan-kenship and Doug Floyd at 2:45 pm, and Split Milk at 4 pm.

Sunday, Arts Fest kicks off at 11 am, with music by The Rounders. Music con-tinues throughout the day, with The Ash Family at 12:15 pm, Andrew Hardin and Kelly Mickwee at 1:30 pm, Hot Texas Swing Band at 2:45 pm, and Erik Hok-kanen Duo at 4 pm.

A highlight Sunday is the unveiling of 15-plus giant boots at the “Baring Our Boots” party at 2:30 pm, an addition to Wimberley’s public art project “Boo-tiful Wimberley,” which includes 36 six-foot fiberglass boots de-signed and placed at locations all over Wimberley in 2014. During the event, guests will have a chance to vote on a favor-ite boot.

Wimberley Valley Art League, a non-profit organiza-tion organized more than 16 years ago by a small group of Hill Country artists, is host for the event. The group’s mem-bership now ex-ceeds 135. Ac-cording to Kaye Collins, committee mem-ber, “Our main goal is to try to promote interest in and recognition of artists in all as-pects of the visual and functional arts.” At Arts Fest, there will be art in many mediums — sculpture, paintings, jewelry, furniture and pottery, just to name a few, she adds.

The Wimberley Valley Art League (WVAL) is active within the local com-munity. Members volunteer at Market Days, display art work at the library, banks, and dental centers. The league also hosts monthly demonstrations and regular workshops, in addition to juried shows every two months. Each fall, the Wimberley Valley Art League hosts a popular studio tour.

The group’s spring event—originally a tiny exhibit on the south side of the

Wimberley Square—has evolved into what is now the popular Wimberley Arts

Fest. The event grew quickly and outgrew the Square, prompting

the move to a larger venue at Blue Hole Regional Park.

Arts Fest is made pos-sible by local volunteers, many from sister non-profit groups not connected to the Wimberley Valley Art League. “The fest is definite-ly a community wide effort,” Kaye smiles.

Arts Fest will offer a “People’s Choice Award,” an opportunity for visitors to vote on their favorite exhibit. “The winner will be award-ed a free ad in Southwest Art

magazine, a nationally recog-nized publication within the art

world,” Kaye explains. There’s plenty more to

do at the beautiful Blue Hole Regional Park includ-ing hiking the nature trails or taking a stroll along beautiful Cypress Creek. Free shuttles will also be

available to take guests from the Arts Fest to and from the Wimberley Square and the EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens, where the annual Butterfly Festival is happening Saturday (See story, page 5.). There, guests can enjoy butterfly arts and crafts, games, live music, guided nature walks, conces-sions, and more.

FYI • Wimberley Arts Fest at Blue Hole is Saturday, April 18, from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, April 19, from 11 am to 5 pm. Parking is available adjacent to Blue Hole Road. Free shuttles will be available from the parking lot to the exhibits. Interested in promoting your business at Arts Fest? Sponsors are still being accepted. For more information, visit the web site at www.wimberleyartsfest.com.

Wimberley Arts Fest’s featured artist D. R. Jones of Wimberley and the artwork he created for the festival. See his work and that of nearly 90 artists April 18-19 at Blue Hole Regional Park. Photo courtesy Wimberley Valley Art League.

Celebrate art in beautiful setting April 18-19

More Keep Wimberley Bootiful art boots will be revealed at the “Baring Our Boots” party April 19 at Blue Hole Regional Park. Photo courtesy WVAL.

accepted. Concessions and game and craft tickets may be purchased on the EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens’ web site or at the festival.

FYI • The EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens is located at 1101 Farm Market 2325 in Wimberley. Admission is free; donations gratefully accepted. Concession, game tickets

and Butterfly Train ride tickets will be available. Parking is available at Wimberley

High School and Danforth Junior High. Visitors can take a free shuttle from parking lots or walk

the short distance to the EmilyAnn. Parking at EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens will be limited to handicapped park-ing only. For a complete schedule of events, including all productions at the EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens, visit www.emilyann.org. For more information, call 512-847-6969.

WIMBERLEY H The EmilyAnn The-atre’s spring season officially begins April 18 at the 17th Annual Butterfly Festival from 9 am to 5 pm.

The festival features the live release of 3,000 butter-flies; opening ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial Plaza; a Butterfly Flight House; a Commemorative Air Force flyover (weather permitting); displays of butterfly art; games and crafts; concessions; guided nature walks; and live music and lots of other family friendly entertainment.

Admission to the Butterfly Festi-val is free, but donations are gratefully

BUDA H The 18th annual Buda Country Fair and Wiener Dog Races comes to Buda City Park April 25-26, sponsored by the Buda Lions Club. There’ll be plenty of family fun, including a barbecue cookoff, a bake-off, pet parade, the Buda Bee and the world-famous wiener dog races at 10:30 am and 2 pm. Guests can also enjoy 100 arts and crafts booths, food, live music, kids’ activities and more both days. Saturday hours are 9 am to 6 pm. Sunday hours are 9 am to 5 pm, with wiener dog races at 10:30 am and finals at 3 pm.

FYI • Admission is $5, kids 12 and under get in free. Parking is available at Cabela’s with free shuttles to City Park. For more information, visit the web site at www.BudaLions.com.

World famous wiener dog races, country fair in Buda

Wiener dog races April 25-26 in Buda.Photo courtesy Buda Country Fair.

HILL COUNTRY SUN R APRIL 2015 5 PAGE 5

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DRIPPING SPRINGS

See BELL SPRINGS’ SIDECAR, page 7

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BBQ • Brew PubGourmet Burgers

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MODERN ORTHODONTICS FROM FRIENDLY PEOPLE.

Like us on Facebook /HillCountrySun

By laurel roBertson

Bell Springs Winery — the bucolic country vineyard and tasting room on Bell Springs Road — is

coming to town with the opening of a speakeasy-style tasting room in Drip-ping Spring’s new historic district.

Owners Angie and Nate Pruitt have completed work on their Sidecar Tasting Room on Old Fitzhugh Road.

The couple completely renovated an original 1940s woodframe house and outfitted it in Prohibition-era decor and furnishings (including a 1911 pia-no with a Hollywood history).

They chose the name Sidecar for this second tasting room because it “rides alongside” their original winery and tasting room — and as an historic reference to the ’20s and the drink made famous in that decade.

While the original Tasting Room out at Bell Springs Winery still offers leisurely afternoon wine-sipping over-looking pastoral country scenes, Side-car has a more uptown feel.

Its close proximity to Dripping Springs’ growing number of restau-rants and entertainment venues makes it convenient for diners to drop in for a glass of wine before dinner or for a nightcap afterwards.

Sidecar also offers an expanded drink menu, including wine cocktails

and Bell Springs Cider. Like the original Bell Springs Tast-

ing Room, Sidecar serves “nibbles” to accompany the wine — a selection of meat and cheese plates, along with some extraordinary sweets. And guests can enjoy live piano music Fridays and Saturdays.

Nate says he tried to reuse as much of the original house material as possi-ble during the renovation.

“We had new batten boards special-ly milled to match the originals, and even turned the old wooden siding into into rustic drink tables,” he points out.

Angie brought her designer’s eye to the interior, using historically-accurate pressed tin ceiling panels, stained wood wainscoting, antique style wallpaper and a 30’ long bar that runs the length of the main room.

The lighting fixtures, wall trim and furniture all reflect the period theme.

Outside, covered front and back porches offer a choice of sun or shade at any time of day or year.

Washer pits and an outdoor stage are surrounded by bright landscaping. A new parking lot in the rear supplies ample off-street parking for both Side-car and its next-door-neighbor, Pink West Salon.

Nate is still hatching ideas for what to do with the original smokehouse and outhouse on the property, but it will be something fun, he assures us.

“This is the prototypical new busi-ness for Dripping Springs,” Nate says. “We worked closely with the City to comply with historic, architectural, lighting and color ordinances. It was a pleasant mutual partnership.”

He says he’s excited about the next five years in Dripping Springs, as more restaurants and shops bring people to town to spend the day. Nate and Angie are firmly planted here, they say, with their two young children planning to attend Dripping Springs schools and call this their hometown.

Bell Springs Winery sources grapes

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Bell Springs Winery’s new Sidecar Tast-ing Room, now open in Dripping Springs. Stop by the unique speak-easy style ven-ue in the historic dirstrict on Old Fitzhugh Road. Photo by Alex Fitch Photography.


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from all over the world (including Texas) to produce the current re-serve of five red, five white and one rose wines. Their wines can be purchased at both of the tasting rooms, through the Bell Springs Winery web site and as a member of their Wine Club. Bell Springs wine-by-the-glass is also available at the Mercantile Wine and Tapas Bar and Homespun Restaurant in Dripping Springs.

FYI • Bell Springs Winery’s Sidecar Tasting Room is located at 501 Old Fitzhugh Road in Drip-ping Springs. Hours are 2 pm to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, 2 pm to 10 pm Friday, noon to 10 pm Sat-urday and noon to 8 pm Sunday. For more information, see their Facebook page (Sidecar Tasting Room) or call 512-643-7398. More information about Bell Springs Winery is available at www.bellspringswinery.com

Bell Springs Winery owners Nate and Angie Pruitt with their sons Reston, 4, and Ellis, 1. Photo courtesy Nate Pruitt.

Nate and Angie completely renovated an original 1940s wood frame house and outfitted it in Prohibition-era decor and furnishings (including a 1911 piano with a Hollywood history) at the Sidecar Tasting Room. Photo by Alex Fitch Photography.

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LOCATED NEXT TODRIPPING SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Festival features nature tours, kids’ activities, more

LAGO VISTA H The Balcones Songbird Festival is April 24-27 at Balcones Canyon-land National Wildlife Refuge in Lago Vista. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the primary purpose of the refuge is to protect the nesting habitat of the gold-en-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo, two highly endangered migratory birds.

The event features birding and nature tours with expert guides Friday through Monday. Registration and information about each tour is available on the web site. Tours fill up quickly, so plan accordingly.

A Saturday program, Advanced Young Birders, is offered at 8 am and again at 1 pm. Sunday, don’t miss Fledgling Fest with free family events from noon to 5 pm. Activities include Geocaching 101 and Orienting, and a Raptor Show at 1 pm and 3 pm. Kids can earn a Nature Ranger Passport as they play nature games, see live animals, build a birdhouse, capture and identify creekside critters and more.

FYI • The Balcones Songbird Festival is hosted each year by the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. For a full listing of events and to register for nature tours, visit the web site at www.balconessongbirdfestival.org. For more information, call 512-965-2473.


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By ernie altgelt

One of the most iconic and legend-ary automotive brands in the United States is, without a

doubt, Jeep. Since its first model’s incep-tion, introduction and use during the Sec-ond World War as a durable “general pur-pose” military vehicle (GP – hence the name) to today’s current and cushier ver-sions, no other make has represented, captivated and/or inspired the national spirit like these four-wheeling wonders.

And although the product line, while always retaining its rugged roots, has continued to stylistically evolve through-out its 65-year history, to many the finest and most well-appointed examples were those produced from 1963 until 1991 – the production run of the tough and tricked-out Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

While no longer available as “new” from the dealerships, thanks to a Ker-rville-based (and very focused) father and son team known, appropriately enough, as the Wagonmasters, “showroom quali-ty,” exactingly restored original Grand Wagoneers are still to be had, satisfying that never-ending worldwide demand for these uniquely-American rides.

The Wagonmaster story began in 1978 when Leon Miller, a successful rancher and businessman in Eagle Pass, purchased his first Grand Wagoneer. As he recalls, “With the leather and wood trim, I thought it was the most beautiful

sport utility vehicle I had ever seen.” Over the years, the admittedly very

contented customer continued driving Wagoneers, periodically trading up for newer models.

However, when Jeep announced that “1991 would be it” for these popular fore-runners of the luxury SUV market, a dis-tressed Leon felt driven to contact the manufacturer to verify the story.

Unfortunately his call confirmed the “bad news” but also led to his introduc-tion to, and subsequent friendship with, one of the vehicle’s original chief design-ers, Mr. Brooks Stevens. It was Brooks who suggested the idea of acquiring and then restoring existing Wagoneers since new ones would no longer be available.

And, that’s just what Leon did. Since 1993, after “retiring” and then relocating to the Texas Hill Country, he, his son Chip who joined the team in 2008 and their very able staff of nine, have “renewed” and then sold 1,725 of these automotive treasures. Wow!

The Wagonmaster formula is simple. Find and purchase low-mileage, rust-free Wagoneers, then, as Chip volunteers, “Make them better than new.”

This entails replacing many of the original engine components such as the carburetor, water and fuel pumps, radia-tor, oil pump, even the A/C compressor and other essential parts.

The engines also get new main and

rear seals. Brakes, shocks and steering stabilizers are replaced as well. Every-thing, including the electrical systems, are inspected and corrected as needed.

The entire undercarriage is then un-dercoated to protect from deterioration and minimize noise.

When completed mechanically, these handsome brutes are truly ready to roll (on or off the road). Vroom, vroom!

Next, the exterior and interior are tackled. As Leon admits, “It was the cars’ looks that attracted me in the first place and, to our buyers, that’s still what counts.”

New paint, leather, carpeting, even an upgraded sound system including Bluetooth capability, are incorporated.

“It even smells like a new car.” Chip proudly states and, he’s not kidding. The entire process, depending on the vehicle’s condition, can take up to six months.

The success of their efforts are evi-

dent when taking into account the num-ber of units sold.

Many of their customers are repeat buyers, bringing back one restoration af-ter several fun-filled years and leaving with another.

Thanks to the Wagonmasters, these impressive like-new Wagoneers can be found garnering “oohs and ahs” around the world – Europe, Japan, Mexico, Cana-da and, of course, across the USA. And remarkably, most of these cars, thanks to the Wagonmaster reputation, are sold sight unseen!

FYI • Generally, Leon and Chip have 20 to 25 re-stored Jeeps in inventory and feature 10 to 12 on their comprehensive web site – which (aside from generous amounts of word-of-mouth) is their primary marketing tool.

For information regarding vehicle availability and pricing, financing, showroom location or general inquiries, contact Chip at (830) 660-5187 or, via e-mail at [email protected]. For additional information visit the web site at www.wagonmasters.com. Happy Wagoneering!

Father, son together restore classic Wagoneers

Father and son team Leon LEFT and Chip Miller are the Wagonmasters, renon-wned restorers of original Jeep Grand Wagoneers. Photo courtesy Wagonmasters.

DRIPPING SPRINGS H The 28th annual Founders Day celebration April 24-26 kicks off with the Mighty Thomas Carnival (opening at 4 pm) and the Grand Parade at 6:30 pm Friday downtown on Mercer Street. This year’s theme is “Destination Drippin.’” After the parade, enjoy a cookoff competition, live music and a street dance featuring Jimmy and the Mustangs and the Michael Myers Band. Saturday and Sunday, don’t miss the Mighty Thomas Carnival plus peruse more than 150 arts and crafts booths and vendors, enjoy cook-off competitions, food and drink. Saturday eve-ning’s entertainment will be provided by the Carport Casanovas and the Bobby Pounds Band.

The Annual Founders Day Festival honors and celebrates the founding of the Dripping Springs community in 1850 by the Moss, Wal-lace, and Pound families. Proceeds from the fes-tival are donated back into the community and directly benefit local non-profit organizations, churches, school and park programs, youth groups, and charities.

FYI • Admission to Founders Day is free. For more information, visit the web site at www.foundersdayfestival.com.

Family fun at Dripping’s Founders Day celebration

Mighty Thomas Carnival at Founders Day. Photo courtesy Founders Day Festival.


FRIO/SABINAL RIVER VALLEY

Spend a day in Utopia! Utopia is a charming Hill Country town nestled in the Sabinal Canyon between Bandera & Garner Park

Main Street UtopiaFrench Country Antiques, Collectibles

Gifts, Books, Jewelry, AccessoriesClosed Sun & Mon • 282 Main St, 830-966-5544

mainstreetutopia.com

The Laurel TreeSeasonal gourmet cuisine in a charming setting

Open Saturday for lunch & dinner18956 Hwy 187, 830-966-5444 for reservations

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Utopia GolfPrettiest 9-Hole Course in Texas

Home of the movie “Seven Days in Utopia”20567 Hwy 187, 830-966-5577

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River Rim Resort

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Warning... Experiencing Fall on the Frio could become habit forming

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Paradise is closer than you think!

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Retreat to the Hills for a Week orWeekend of Relaxation & Adventure

By ernie altgelt

Every third weekend in April, Llano finds itself swamped and swim-ming amid thousands of snapping,

strutting, steaming, spicy and, most im-portantly, super savory crawfish. Yep, these curious crustaceans annually come a’calling – and a’clawing – in the expectation of enticing, excit-ing and engorging countless crawfish cravers (of the hu-man variety) from here to the far bayous of Beau-mont and everywhere in between.

And, happily (or, hun-grily) it’s almost that time again as the eagerly antici-pated 2015 Llano Crawfish Open prepares to play host once more April 18-19 to these oh-so cute creek critters, their famished fans and bucket-fuls of related fun. Click, click!

First celebrated in 1989, the “open” initially grew from the charitable need of a motorized wheelchair for local individual. Area residents wanted to hold a fund rais-er but weren’t sure what to do. Enter the “Beaumont Connection.”

Each year a group of visiting deer hunters from Beaumont made Llano their base camp. When they heard that the town’s citizenry was looking for some-thing “fun and different” to generate do-nations, these guys had just the thing – a traditional Cajun crawfish boil!

Add to the mix a golf tourney (to at-tract those who weren’t quite sure about the little snappers) and an event was born.

Folks came, consumed and contributed. All agreed, it was a hoot but, more impor-tantly, the imported crawfish ultimately netted the $400 needed for the purchase of the wheelchair.

Realizing that there were so many other deserving charities, local volunteers

soon decided to make the Llano Crawfish Open an annual hap-

pening and, for the next quar-ter century, that’s exactly what they did, again and again and again!

This month’s open marks the 26th annual it-eration. Over the years, the

number of participants – human and crawfish – has

grown exponentially. Attendees are expected to number in the

thousands and, to accommodate, 17,000 pounds of crawdads have offered their services (and their heads and tails as well!).

The Beaumont Connection will be on hand to oversee the cuisine while local volunteers will run everything else in-cluding the two-day golf tournament to be held at the challenging Llano Golf Club, the various (and exciting) live auc-tions and the kid’s activities (which in-clude crawfish racing), arts and crafts shopping fair, the team roping rodeos, a 5K race, and motorcycle run.

And don’t forget the not-to-be-missed, top-shelf entertainment-fueled day concerts and nightly dances. Dale Watson and Amber Digby headline Fri-day evening, and don’t miss Kevin Fowl-

er — performing with Dub Miller — Sat-urday night.

With the majority of the activities tak-ing place in the very comfy and commo-dious City Park facilities, all agree that the Llano Crawfish Open is truly a one-stop cavalcade of boiled bliss.

So, grab your bibs, put on your danc-ing boots and sidle on over to Llano this April. But you better be snappy. There’s

gonna be a crowd!FYI • For more information about the multi-day,

multi-activity event, including times, directions to the City Park, ticket pricing, to register in the golf tournament, ven-dor participation, as well as race, motorcycle run and rodeo entry requirements visit the web site at llanocrawfishopen.com. The event primarily takes place on Friday and Satur-day, April 17 and 18. Extended activities including the team rodeo starts on Thursday, April 16. All proceeds raised ben-efit area charities.

Go crawfish crazy at annual Llano Open

Dale Watson ABOVE (Photo courtesy Dale Watson) and Amber Digby RIGHT (Photo courtesy Amber Digby) perform Friday, April 18, at the Llano Crawfish Open. Catch Dub Miller and Kevin Fowler April 19.


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I like rain. Thankfully, we had a lot of it these past few months. As you know, spring is here in Texas, we have a

bumper crop of wildflowers. It’s the time when the hills put on their famous dis-play of color and bloom. People come from all around the world to see our wild-flowers. How lucky we are to live right here to enjoy them.

Mary Lee Gowland of Kerrville con-tributed an interesting poem this month that I want to share with you. Mary Lee is a published poet, and the leader of the Hill Country Poets in Kerrville.

The Hill Country Poets meet on (usu-ally) the second Sunday of each month at Unity Church in Kerrville. What an inter-esting and excellent group of poets! You’ll find me there frequently.

This poem about rain, is called a Pan-toum. The Academy of American Poets says the form originated in Malaysia in the 15th century as a short folk poem.

Look at the poem closely. Mary Lee doesn’t capitalize the first word in each

line, except for the possessive “I.” Note that the second and fourth line

of each stanza, become the first and third line of the next.

I can’t wait to try to write my first pantoum! What an interesting way to transition from one stanza to the next.

Of course, as a songwriter the sym-metry, repetition, and rhythm appeals to me. I hope you like it, too.

Try to write one yourself. It can be a lot of fun, and might be a good exercise to stimulate the creative juices.

Our subject next time will be “sum-mer” (in the Hill Country of course). There is much to write about that can be both visual and expressive.

Your subject can be almost anything. Write about the heat, a cold swim, or just being alive in the great outdoors. I can’t wait to see what you write! Send your poems to Ernie Lee at [email protected].

I’ll read each one, and print the one we liked best. We’ll talk about why and

how the poem worked. We’ll discuss the devices the poet used, such as simile or metaphor.

Don’t be shy. You’d be surprised how many people are already writing things down and keeping them hidden. What a tragedy – you never know when some-thing you write may touch someone else.

Thank you for participating in this

Rain PantoumMary Lee Gowland, Kerrville, Texas

just before it rainsthe landscape holds its breathdeer blink and flick their earsmy heart beats in its chest the landscape holds its breathan almost too-full feelingmy heart beats in its chestthe sense of overflowing an almost too-full feelingswelling and rolling like the oceanthe sense of overflowingfear of love and death swelling and rolling like the oceanI slip out of my skinfear of love and death beneath it all a calm I slip out of my skinbecome a slippery fishbeneath it all a calmjust before it rains

column. If you are a published or prac-ticed poet, you can reach out and share your work with us.

Give us some insight into your poem. How, why, and what method you chose to express your work. I’m pleased and hon-ored to be your host and facilitator.

So, until next time, happy writing. I’ll be waiting to read you!

hill country Poetry

Ernie Lee, The Bard of the Blanco Exploring the pantoum

To advertise call Julie at 512-484-9716

or email [email protected]


ByJASTON WILLIAMS

JOE SEARS ED HOWARD

Reserve your tickets now! www.wimberleyplayers.org

Box Office 512-847-0575WIMBERLEY PLAYHOUSE

450 OLD KYLE RD.

April 24 - May 17Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm

Sunday 2:30 pmDirected by Aaron Johnson

Produced by Terri Bisett

Presented by special arrangement withSamuel French, Inc.

Sharp, satirical & hilarious!Meet 20 residents

of a small Texas town, allplayed by Will Mercer andR. Michael Clinkscales...

amazing fun!

WIMBERLEY PLAYERS PRESENT

NOTE: Dates or locations for the events listed in the Calen-dar may change. Some require admission fees or reserva-tions. Please call ahead to confirm information.EVERY DAYGRUENE: Live music at Gruene Hall. Free music shows Monday through Thursday nights, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. www.gruenehall.com.EVERY SUNDAYBEE CAVE: Thundering Paws Pet Adop-tion Event. Noon to 4 pm at PetSmart, 12812 Shops Parkway #400. [email protected], 512-402-9725.SECOND SUNDAYBANDERA: Cowboy Camp. Live cow-boy music at Frontier Times Museum. Free. 1 pm to 5 pm. 830-328-0321.JOHNSON CITY: Taste Wine + Art. Rockin’ gospel to Latin music at the Kirchman Gallery. 830-868-9290.EVERY MONDAYCANYON LAKE: Seniors Bingo. 12:30 pm at Habitat for Safe Seniors, 2174 Old Road, Startzville. 830-899-2256.CYPRESS MILL: The Bunkhouse Gang at Wenmohs Ranch. Paint and enjoy fel-lowship of other artists. 830-825-3465.WIMBERLEY: Hill Country Community Band. First Baptist Church. 512-858-7960.EVERY TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAYWIMBERLEY: A premier hand blown glass lighting and art glass studio since 1992, Wimberley Glassworks hosts glass blowing demonstrations for travelers and art glass enthusiasts from around the world. wgw.com, 512-213-2110.

FIRST TUESDAYSBANDERA: Cowboy Capital Opry. Silver Sage Senior Center. 830-796-4969.SECOND TUESDAYSWIMBERLEY: Art Society of Wimberley (ASW) Meeting. 6:30 pm at Art Room, 100 Melody Way, Suite H. Email [email protected] for more information.THIRD TUESDAYSNEW BRAUNFELS: Country Music. Knights of Columbus. 830-629-4547.LEANDER: Low Cost Pet Spay, Neuter and Vaccination. 512-260-3602, ext. 101.EVERY WEDNESDAYDRIPPING SPRINGS: Farmers Market. 3 pm to 7 pm at Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12. March to December, rain or shine. www.cityofdrippingsprings.com.WIMBERLEY: Farmers’ Market. Senior Citizen’s Activity Center on Ranch Road 12. 512-264-1637.THIRD WEDNESDAYSDRIPPING SPRINGS: Cook Off Club. 6:30 pm. VFW Hall. [email protected] WEDNESDAYSWIMBERLEY: Hill Country Neighbors. 10:30 am at the Wimberley Community Center. 512-847-2849.EVERY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAYWIMBERLEY: Live music at Cypress Creek Cafe. www.cypresscreekcafe.comEVERY THURSDAYDRIPPING SPRINGS: Coffee House with Light Dinners, Desserts and Open Mic. Hours are 6 pm to 9 pm. Thyme and Dough. 512-894-0001.

DRIPPING SPRINGS: Thursdays with Doug Moreland and the Flying Armadil-los. www.mercerstreetdancehall.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Live Music at Smoke ‘N Hops. www.smokenhops.com.SECOND THURSDAYDRIPPING SPRINGS: First Thursday. Participating businesses offer special events, food and music plus sale items. 5 pm to 9 pm. www.drippingspringstx.org.FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYCANYON LAKE: Noon Lions meet at Canyon Lake Golf Club. 830-899-4406.SECOND THURSDAYWIMBERLEY: Hill Country Bead Society. Meeting. Wimberley Community Center. 1 pm. Marilyn Pierce at [email protected] THURSDAYWIMBERLEY: Susanna’s Kitchen Coffee-house presents some of the best in the Hill Country’s musical talent. For listing of performers, visit the web site at www.wimberleyumc.org.EVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAYWIMBERLEY: Live Music at Linda’s Fine Foods. Delicious food, beautiful music at 500 Farm Market 2325. 512-847-5464. www.facebook.com/LindasFineFoods.EVERY FRIDAYBLANCO: Tasting Room Open and Brew-ery Tours at Real Ale Brewing Company. www.realalebrewing.com.GRUENE: Friday Afternoon Club at Gru-ene Hall. Broadcast live KNBT-92.1 FM Radio. 4 pm to 7 pm. 830-629-5077.WIMBERLEY: Bingo. VFW Hall on Ja-cobs Well Road. 512-847-6441.WIMBERLEY: Celebrate Recovery. First Baptist Church Youth Building. 7 pm to 9 pm, with pizza at 6:30 pm. 512-847-9035.SECOND FRIDAYCASTROVILLE: Friday Night Fever. Cars, trucks, bikes, food, shopping. 6 pm to 10 pm. Lundquist Automotive. www.castroville.com, 830-931-2479.UVALDE: Four Square Friday Enjoy late night shopping, food, live music and art at event named for the town’s original design with four town squares. 6 pm to 9 pm. Downtown. www.visituvalde.com.WIMBERLEY: Wimberley Area Parkin-sons Association Meeting. Chapel of The Hills Church, 11 am. 512-847-7953.WIMBERLEY: Wimberley Community Civic Club Meeting. (September through November, January through May) 11 am at Chapel in the Hills, 14601 Ranch Road 12. Milly Maxey at [email protected] or Aurora LeBrun at 512-847-3595.THIRD FRIDAYWIMBERLEY: Wimberley Parkinson As-sociation Meets at Chapel in the Hills Community Church. Speakers on sub-jects pertaining to Parkinson, members share happenings. 11 am at 14601 Ranch Road 12. Call Gae Koen at 512-847-7953.FOURTH FRIDAYBANDERA: Fourth Friday Jam. At the Silver Sage Corral starting at 6:30 pm. Call 830-796-4969 for information.EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAYFREDERICKSBURG: Rockbox Theater. Variety, music, and rock ‘n roll show, great family fun. 866-349-6688.EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAYWIMBERLEY: Live Music. Linda’s Fine

Foods. www.lindaallencatering.com.EVERY SATURDAYAUSTIN: Austin Farmers Market. Repub-lic Square. 512-236-0074.AUSTIN: Sunset Valley Farmers Market. Barton Creek Mall. 512-280-1976.BANDERA: Flying L Ranch Chuck Wag-on Dinner. Barbecue, wagon rides, roping lessons, branding, and more. Details at www.flyingl.com.COMFORT: Area Farmer’s Market. 8 am to 1 pm. Comfort Park, Highway 27.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Texas Music and Wine. www.solaroestate.com.FISCHER: Jackson Open Air Market. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm. 6341 Farm Market 32. 830-935-2781. NEW BRAUNFELS: Canyon Trail Chuck-wagon Supper and Cowboy Music Show. 830-626-8200, 888-408-7245.

Exploring the pantoum

Hill country calendar

HILL COUNTRY RIVER REGION H Make plans to attend now to attend the 15th annual Hill Country Nature Quest April 29-30 and May 1-3. Experience nature in a whole new way as you enjoy learning from experts during field trips, in workshops, on nature by kayak tours and other programs. All along the clear Frio, Nueces and Sabinal Rivers in Uvalde, Real and Bandera Counties near Concan, Uvalde, Utopia and Vanderpool. Nature Quest topics include birds, small cavity nesters, bluebirds, raptors, hummingbirds, bats, butterflies, insects, champion big trees and natural history. Also on the agenda: native plants, useful and medicinal plants, wildflowers, invasive plants, and how to make your own backyard a wildlife habitat.

Fieldtrip leaders and speakers include Tony Gallucci, Derek Muschalek, Bain Walker, Lee Haile, Tom and Sherry Collins, Rebecca Flack, Ken Cave, Sage Austin, Kelly and Donna Bryan, Charles and Nancy Floyd, Barbara Baggett, Chris Paulson, LeAnn Sharp and Anthony Sharp. A complete schedule is available on the web site.

FYI • Nature Quest is headquartered at Hill Country Nature Center, 10 miles west of Utopia and 5 miles east of Garner State Park on Farm Market 1050. For more information, call 830-966-2320 or email [email protected]. See a complete schedule and register online at www.hillcountrynaturequest.com.

Hill Country Nature Quest

Black chinned hummingbird. Photo courtesy Hill Country Nature Quest.


HILL COUNTRY CALENDAR

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EVERY SATURDAYWIMBERLEY: Tour Jacob’s Well. Hear stories about floods, divers, experience beauty of spring that started the town. 10 am. www.jacobswellspring.org.WIMBERLEY: Arnosky Family Farms Market. Flowers, fresh veggies, cheeses, more. Ranch Road 2325, Highway 165. 830-833-5428.WIMBERLEY: Saturday Evening Dinners at the Blair House Inn. blairhouseinn.com.UTOPIA: Lunch and Dinner Served at the Laurel Tree. A special dining experience. www.utopiagourmet.com.FIRST SATURDAYBANDERA: Market Days. Courthouse Square. 830-796-4447.BANDERA: First Saturday Book Sale. Public Library. 830-796-4213.

DRIFTWOOD: Driftwood Community Club meets to enhance community spir-it. Dinner at 7 pm. www.driftwoodtx.org 512-829-5101WIMBERLEY: Market Days. (March through December). 475-plus booths, free admission. 7 am to 4 pm. www.shop-marketdays.com.SECOND SATURDAYCASTROVILLE: Market Trail Days. Houston Square. 830-539-2316.WIMBERLEY: Second Saturday Gallery Trail. 15 galleries around Square stay open late offering art, wine and appetiz-ers. Facebook.com/SecondSaturdayGal-leryTrailSECOND AND FOURTH SATURDAYWIMBERLEY: Toastmasters Club, learn public speaking and leadership skills. 10:30 am at the Wimberley Village Library. 512-913-4804 for information.THIRD SATURDAYMARBLE FALLS: Bluegrass, Country and Western, and Gospel. 6 pm to 10 pm. Boys and Girls Club. 830-898-1784.EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAYROUND MOUNTAIN: Tours at Westcave Preserve. www.westcave.org.SECOND SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AUSTIN: Tours of Bright Leaf Natural Area. www.brightleaf.org.FOURTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAYJohnson City: Market Days. Food, arti-sans, vendors and more. 830-868-7684, JohnsonCityTexasChamber.com.APRIL 1 KERRVILLE: Texas Heritage Music “Cof-fee House Series” Features Texas musi-cians and open-mic performers. Schreiner University. www.texasheritagemusic.org.APRIL 1 - MAY 10 AUSTIN: “Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties.” Works by artists including Richard Avedon, Robert Rauschenberg, Faith Ringgold, Andy Warhol and more, in exhibit highlighting wide-ranging ap-proaches artists used to address fight for social justice. www.blantonmuseum.org. APRIL 1 - JULY 3SAN MARCOS: “Homegrown: Austin Music Posters, 1967 to 1982.” Poster art-ists in the late 1960s, ’70s and ’80s visually evoked the sound and defined the culture of Austin just as the city was establishing itself as one of the most vital music scenes in the country. More than 125 vintage piecesfrom he Wittliff Collections’ poster archives document this history and tes-tify to Texas artists’ mastery of the poster form using hand drawings and creative print techniques. www.thewittliffcollec-tions.txstate.edu. APRIL 1- JULY 6 AUSTIN: “Alice’s Adventures in Won-derland” Featuring more than 200 items, including letters, hand drawn illustra-tions and photographs. Harry Ransom Center. www.hrc.utexas.edu.APRIL 3 FREDERICKSBURG: First Friday Art Walk. Tour fine art galleries offering spe-cial exhibits, demonstrations, refresh-ments and extended viewing hours. www.ffawf.com.APRIL 3-5 KERRVILLE: Easter Hill Country Bike

Tour Cyclists enjoy three days of sup-ported bicycle rides in the Hill Country. Schreiner University. www.ehct.com.APRIL 4 BANDERA: Bandera Market Days. Courthouse Lawn. www.banderatexas-business.com/market-days.JUNCTION: Easter Pageant. www.junc-tiontexas.com.KERRVILLE: Here’s to the Heroes Easter-fest and Cook-Off. Barbecueand chili cook-off, live music, games and contests, an Easter egg hunt, car show, vendors and more. Flat Rock Lake Park. www.kerrvilleeasterfest.com.KERRVILLE: Hill Country Swap Meet. Kerr County Hill Country Youth Event Center. www.kerrmarketdays.org.LAMPASAS: Bloomin’ Fest Find arts and crafts, plants, wine tastings, food, live entertainment and children’s activities. 9 am to 5 pm. Downtown square. www.lam-pasaschamber.org.MARBLE FALLS: Citywide Garage Sale. More than 50 different garage sales con-verge in one location. 9 am to 4 pm. John-son Park. www.marblefalls.org.STONEWALL: Easter at the SauerBeck-mann Living History Farm. Celebrate Easter like a traditional 1915 German farm family with natural-dyed Easter eggs, lamb cake and grass nests as made by the early settlers. Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/lyndon-b-john-son, 830-644-2252.WIMBERLEY: Market Days Stroll along a shaded path to more than 475 booths filled with a wide variety of arts, crafts, antiques, gift items, clothing and more. Plus enjoy barbecue and delicious treats with live music under the pavilion. Lions Field, 601 Farm Market 2325. www.shop-marketdays.com.APRIL 4-5CYPRESS MILL: Bunkhouse Gallery Fine Art and Jewelry Exhibition and Sale. Paintings, jewelry and pottery, live mu-sic and wine provided by McReynolds Winery. A silent auction and raffle of an original painting benefits the Phoenix Center of Marble Falls. Bunkhouse Gal-

Betty Soo performs at Susanna’s Kitchen Coffeehouse in Wimberley April 16. She will be joined by Billy Crockett. Find com-plete info at www.wimberleyumc.org. Photo courtesy Susanna’s Kitchen Coffeehouse.



18th Annual BUDA Country Fair & Wiener Dog raCesApril 25-26 • Buda City Park • Buda, TX

512-565-0505512-295-3158

SAturdAy 9 am-6 pmSanctioned IBCA

BBQ Cook-offBeSt dreSSed WIener

dog ConteSt 8AmWiener dog races10:30 am & 2 pm

100 Arts & Crafts Booths • FoodLive Music • Kids’ Activities

“The Buda BEE” 3 pm$5 gen. Admission

Kids 12 & under get In FreeParking at Cabela’s

Free Parking w/ Free Shuttles to the Park

For info & Booth Space Availability

[email protected]

Sponsored by the Buda Lions ClubProceeds return to the community.

2 days of family fun& EntErtainmEnt

SundAy9 am-5 pm

Wiener dog races 10:30amFInals 3 pm

100 Arts & Crafts BoothsBake-off Turn in by 10:30 am

Judging at 11amFood Auction 1 pm

Live music • Kids Activities

Balcones Songbird Festival • April 24-27, 2015Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge • Lago Vista, Texas

Restore Habitat, Restore BirdsLearn the importance of habitat to birds at this years event!

Friday - Monday Birding & Nature Tours with expert guides. Register on the website See the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo and many other migrating species.

Saturday Advanced Young Birders (12-18yrs) - 8:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. Register on the website

Sunday FLEDGLING FEST ! Free Family Events Noon-5:00 p.m. Geocaching 101 & Orienting: Find the Birdy Earthquest Raptor Show1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Get your Nature Ranger Passport Fun with nature games & activities See live animals, build a birdhouse Capture & identify creekside critters

Join us for lunch with DeeDee’s Tacos and visit our MarketPlace!To see a full listing of all events and to register for the Nature Tours

check out our website or call 512-965-2473www.balconessongbirdfestival.org

SOCIAL EVENTS

Thursday eveningMovie Nite

Marble Falls

Friday afternoonWings & Wine

Flat Creek Estate

lery. www.wenmohsranch.com.SAN ANTONIO: 53rd Annual Starving Artist Art Show. 250 artists and crafts-men showing their own original works and unique crafts in Historic La Villita in downtown San Antonio. 10 am to 6 pm. 210-226-3593.APRIL 4, 18, 25 BANDERA: Cowboys on Main. Cow-boys, steers, horses, wagons, strolling cowboy musicians and gunfighter re-en-actments bring plenty of Western action to Bandera’s Main Street. Downtown. 830-796-4447.APRIL 4-19 FREDERICKSBURG: Wildflower Cel-ebration at Wildseed Farms. Colorful fields, shopping, butterfly gardens and activities. www.wildseedfarms.com.SAN MARCOS: Springs Fest. Hill Coun-try’s largest paddling festival at Rio Vista Park. www.kayakinstruction.org.APRIL 9-11 MARBLE FALLS: Paint the Town. Plein-air painting contest, auctions, an artist re-ception and children’s art contest. www.paintthetownmftx.org.APRIL 9-12 AUSTIN: Austin International Poetry Festival, Includes 30 diverse themed readings by poets from across the globe, open-mic opportunities, workshops for youth and adults, music, two complete anthology readings, poet symposium and printed anthologies of contest-winning

submissions. www.aipf.org.APRIL 10 UVALDE: Four Square Friday Enjoy late night shopping, food, live music and art at event named for the town’s original de-sign with four town squares. 6 pm to 9 pm. Downtown. www.visituvalde.com. APRIL 10-12AUSTIN: MotoGP Grand Prix of Ameri-cas. www.circuitoftheamericas.com.BLANCO: Wild Woman Weekend. Event created for women, by women, includes variety of artistic, physical, interactive events for all interests. www.wildwoman-weekend.org.BOERNE: Parade of Artists. Self guided walking/riding tour features 16 art ven-ues in the heart of Boerne. www.boerne-professionalartists.com.BURNET: 32nd Annual Bluebonnet Fes-tival. Enjoy live music, a carnival, food, golf, races and shopping. Downtown. www.bluebonnetfestival.org.WIMBERLEY: Community Chorus. Wimberley United Methodist Church. www.wimberleycommunitychorus.org.APRIL 10-26 FREDERICKSBURG: Wine and Wildflow-er Trail. This self-guided tour includes special events, tastings and discounts. Texas Hill Country wineries. www.texas-winetrail.com.APRIL 11 BANDERA: Frontier Times Museum Cowboy Camp. Enjoy listening to tradi-

tional cowboy music or bring your own guitar and join the song circle. 1 pm to 5 pm at Frontier Times Museum. www.fron-tiertimesmuseum.org.BOERNE: Second Saturday Art and Wine. Complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres plus art in local galleries. www.secondsaturdayartandwine.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Olive Festival. Ol-ives, wine, food, music, chef demos, olive seminars, artisans and children’s activi-ties. Texas Hill Country Olive Company. www.texasolivefest.com.FREDERICKSBURG: Bluebonnet Tractor Ride. Antique tractors, cars and trucks make a 20-mile loop through scenic Gillespie County. www.rustyiron.org.FREDERICKSBURG: Historic Country Schools Open House. Self-guided tour of schools listed on the National Register of Historic Places. www.historicschools.org.JOHNSON CITY: Stone Valley Music Fes-tival. Featuring Doug Stone and special guests. www.StoneValleyTexas.com.KYLE: Kyle Market Days. City Square Park. www.kylepard.com.LAMPASAS: Lampasas Hillacious Bike Tour. lampasashillaciousbiketour.com.LUCKENBACH: iRun Texas Lone Star Half Marathon and 5K Run through his-toric Luckenbach and along the Texas Hill Country’s scenic country roads. www.lone-star-half.com.SAN MARCOS: Texas Wild Rice Festival This one-of-a-kind educational event cel-

ebrates the San Marcos River and its en-dangered Texas Wild Rice with live mu-sic, art, local vendors and free hands-on workshops. Sewell Park, 601 University Drive. www.texaswildricefestival.org.SAN MARCOS: Youthfest. Family festival includes live entertainment all day, chil-dren’s activities, face painting and free games. San Marcos Plaza Park. www.gs-myc org/youthfest.html.STONEWALL: Reflections of the ’60s. Educational conference seeks to broaden understanding the impact of the 1960s on the fabric of our country. Guest speak-ers—include authors, former legislators and historians. 9:30 am to 2 pm. LBJ Na-tional Park. www.johnsoncitytexas.com/calendar_of_events/april.html. 830/868-7128 ext. 222.UVALDE: Junque. Trophy antique hunt-ing, a picker’s paradise at South Texas’ premiere market on the Square. 9 am to 6 pm. www.visituvalde.org.WIMBERLEY: KAPS 5K Color Fun Run and Festival. Family friendly community event features a “color” run followed by free art activities for the kids, barbecue, raffles, student performances and more at Katherine Anne Porter School. Race starts at 9 am, fun continues through 2 pm. 5K registration link and more information at www.kapschool.org. APRIL 11-12BANDERA: Mayhem on the Medina. Na-tional Reenactment Guild of America


HILL COUNTRY CALENDAR

reenactment event. Free admission, kids’ activities, period entertainment. www.MayhemOnTheMedina.com.BOERNE: Boerne Market Day. Main Pla-za. www.boernemarketdays.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Tour the Talent Studio Tour. Meet the artists, tour studi-os, see work and even buy a piece to take home. www.tourthetalent.com.FREDERICKSBURG: Pacific Combat Living History Program. World War II battle re-enactment including uniformed actors, guns, tanks and a flamethrower. National Museum of the Pacific War. www.pacificwarmuseum.org.GRUENE: Old Gruene Market Days. Nearly 100 vendors offer uniquely craft-ed items and packaged Texas foods. 10 am to 5 pm, Gruene Historic District. www.gruenemarketdays.com.NEW BRAUNFELS: Train Show. Special Lego layout, more than 300 tables with train items for sale. $7 ages 18 and up and over, $2 kids 5-17. Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Civic Cen-ter. newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org/trainshow.htm.ROUND ROCK: Texas Rattlesnake Festi-val. Learn about rattlesnakes in this edu-cational, no-kill event. Heritage Center at the Dell Diamond. www.texasrattle-snakefestival.com.APRIL 12 LAMPASAS: Chamber Foundation Golf Classic Hancock Municipal Golf Course. 512-556-5172.APRIL 14 KERRVILLE: A Night at the Mansion.Wine, food, auctions, music and inter-active demonstrations at this fundraiser event to support women’s education. Schreiner Mansion. 830-257-6068.APRIL 16 WIMBERLEY: Susanna’s Kitchen Cof-feehouse presents Betty Soo with Billy Crockett. Doors open by 7 pm; music at 7:30 pm. Free childcare by prior arrange-ment. Tamales, Wimberley Pie Company pie, pizza, coffee, soft drinks. Wimber-ley United Methodist Church, corner of Ranch Road 12 and County Road 1492. www.wimberleyumc.org, 512-722-3316. APRIL 16-17 AUSTIN: Mack, Jack and McConaughey Gala and Concert. Includes headliner en-tertainment, celebrity guests, a golf tour-nament and fashion show Friday, plus other surprises. Fundraiser—backed coach Mack Brown, ACM award-win-ning recording artist Jack Ingram and Academy Award-winning actor Mat-thew McConaughey—supports select or-ganizations that share the common goal of empowering children. www.mack-jackmcconaughey.orgAPRIL 16-19 DRIFTWOOD: Old Settler’s Music Festi-val. Americana, acoustic jazz and blues, bluegrass, old-time local faves and other artists from around the world. Plus arts and crafts, camping, food and libations. Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben Mc-Culloch. www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org.APRIL 17-19 BANDERA: Spring Benefit Trail Ride.

Join the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders As-sociation and the Hill Country State Natu-ral Area Partners for their annual spring benefit trail ride. Hill Country State Natu-ral Area, 830-796-3045APRIL 18 AUSTIN: The Boston Brass and All That Jazz. 8 pm at Austin ISD Performing Arts Center. www.austinsymphonicband.org.BOERNE: Texas Corvette Association Open Car Show. Features hundreds of cars, including Corvettes from 1953 to the present. Main Plaza. 830-249-7277.JUNCTION: Outdoor Women Gone Wild. South Llano River State Park.www.junc-tion.texas.com.SAN MARCOS: Mutt Strutt. One-mile dog walk and pet fair includes dog races, pet contests, arts and crafts, food and prizes. Dogs must be on a leash. Proceeds benefit San Marcos Animal Shelter. San Marcos Plaza Park. www.muttstrutt.org.WIMBERLEY: Butterfly Festival. Includes a variety of interactive butterfly-themed events, food and flight house. Thousands of butterflies are released throughout the day. EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens. 512-847-6969, www.emilyann.org.APRIL 18-19DRIPPING SPRINGS: Saxet Gun Show. Dripping Springs Ranch Park. 512-858-4725, saxetshows.com.LLANO: 26th Annual Llano Crawfish Open.(See story, page 9.) Food, drink, live music, golf tournament, 5K and much more in this popular event. Complete de-tails at www.llanocrawfishopen.com,WIMBERLEY: 7th Annual Arts Fest at Blue Hole Regional Park. (See story, page 4.) Artists in various mediums, plus live music, food, drink and more. Keep Wimberley Bootiful boot reveal party 2:30 pm Sunday. www.wimberleyartsfest.com.APRIL 18-MAY 10 WIMBERLEY: “The Frog Prince.” Emily-Ann Theatre and Gardens. emilyann.org, 512-847-6969.APRIL 19-24 NEW BRAUNFELS: Texas Woodcarvers Guild Spring Seminars. New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center. www.texas-woodcarversguild.com.APRIL 22-25 AUSTIN: Moontower Comedy and Oddi-ty Festival. Features comics performing in group and individual shows. Ron White’s Texas Toasted show kicks off festivities. www.moontowercomedyfestival.com.APRIL 23 - MAY 17 KERRVILLE: Small Quilts. Preview of silent-auction quilts is available Memo-rial Day weekend at Schreiner University. Kerr Arts and Cultural Center. www.kac-ckerrville.com.APRIL 24 KYLE: Lake Kyle Jubilee. Live music, horseshoe and washers tournaments, games, crafts, children’s activities and fishing. Lake Kyle Park, www.cityofkyle.com/recreation/spring.APRIL 24-25SAN MARCOS: MR Fest Annual show-case of local music, art and comedy hosted by venues in and around downtown San Marcos. www.ktsw.txstate.edu.

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APRIL 24-26 AUSTIN: Austin Food and Wine Festival. www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com.DRIPPING SPRINGS: Founders Day Fes-tival. This three-day celebration kicks off with a grand parade and includes free music and entertainment on two stages, the Mighty Thomas carnival, food, beer, street dances, cook-offs, more than 150 booths and a washer-pitching tourna-ment. www.foundersdayfestival.com.FREDERICKSBURG: Texas History Days at Fort Martin Scott Includes living-his-tory interpretations, re-enactments, mili-tary drills and cannon firing. Fort Martin Scott. www.ftmartinscott.org.FREDERICKSBURG: Wings Over the Hills Nature Festival. Highlights unique winged wildlife of Texas Hill Country. Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park. www.wingstx.org.GEORGETOWN: Red Poppy Festival. Headliner concerts, Saturday street dance, parade, car show, art contest, bike ride, three-on-three basketball tourna-ment, children’s activities, food and craft vendors. www.redpoppyfestival.com.APRIL 24-27LAGO VISTA: Balcones Songbird Festi-val. Birding and nature tours, geocaching, raptor show, much more. Balcones Can-yonlands National Wildlife Refuge. Find complete chedule and details at www.balconessongbirdfestival.org.APRIL 24-MAY 17 WIMBERLEY: “Greater Tuna.” The Wim-berley Players present iconic Texas com-edy. Wimberley Playhouse, 450 Old Kyle Road. www.wimberleyplayers.org.APRIL 25 BOERNE: Brandon’s Revue Bring picnics, lawn chairs, kids and grandparents to enjoy live music. Cibolo Nature Center.www.cibolo.org.BURNET: Bluebonnet Air Show. High-land Lakes Squadron of the Commemo-

rative Air Force presents air show featur-ing vintage aircraft roaring through the sky, static displays and an air museum. Performances noon to 4 pm. www.high-landlakessquadron.com.KERRVILLE: Kerr County Market Days. Old-fashioned market on square features handmade crafts, artwork, homegrown plants, produce. 9 am to 4 pm. Kerr County Courthouse. www.kerrmarketdays.org.KERRVILLE: Spring Native Plant Sale and Festival. Riverside Nature Center. www.riversidenaturecenter.org.LAMPASAS: Citywide Garage Sale. Var-ious locations. 512-556-5434.SAN MARCOS: Feria Del Mariachi. An-nual mariachi music festival features competitions, workshops and perfor-mances. www.feriadelmariachi.com.SUNSET VALLEY: 2015 Sunset Valley ArtFest. Live music and kids. stage, food, more. www.sunsetvalley.org/artfest.APRIL 25-26BUDA: 18th Annual Buda Country Fair and Wiener Dog Races. Arts, crafts, food, live music and more. Parking at Cabela’s with free shuttle. Buda City Park. www.BudaLions.com. JOHNSON CITY: Market Days. www.johnsoncity-texas.com.APRIL 29 - MAY 3HILL COUNTRY RIVER REGION: 15th Annual Nature Quest. Texas Hill Coun-try birding-nature event features work-shops, guided tours and adventure. www.texasnaturequest.com, 830-966-2320.APRIL 30 KERRVILLE: Symphony of the Hills Concert: “Bach and His Disciples.” Cail-loux Theater, symphonyofthehills.org.MAY 9JOHNSON CITY: Johnny Bush and guests at Stone Valley Music Festival. www.stonevalleytexas.com.WIMBERLEY: 20th Annual Wimberley

Garden Club Tour — The Waterways of Wimberley. Showcasing seven spectacu-lar gardens. 10 am to 4 pm. wimberleygar-denclub.org. JUNE 6JOHNSON CITY: Hal Ketchum. www.stonevalleytexas.com.JUNE 27DRIPPING SPRINGS: Brent Thurman

Memorial Rodeo. Exceptional Rodeo at 6 pm and PBR Bull Riding at 7 pm at Drip-ping Springs Ranch Park. More informa-tion at www.brentthurman.com.JULY 24-26FREDERICKSBURG: 38th annual Hill Country Swap Meet. Car Corral, flea market. Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park. www.fredericksburgcarclub.com.

Step back in time at Bandera’s Mayhem on the Medina, a Reenactment Guild of America national competition event April 11-12. Find more information on the web site at www.MayhemOnTheMedina.com. Photo courtesy Mayhem on the Medina.

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Saturday, April 2510:30 am Carnival • Arts/Crafts • Cook off Competitions • Food • Beer • Music Live Music & Street Dance Featuring8:15 pm-10:00 pm Carport Casanovas 10:00 pm-midnight Bobby Pounds Band

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Hill Country Sun, April 2015

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