MARCH

  March 1–31 - Flatonia
PARADE OF QUILTS... Czech us out! Shop owners display a profusion of heir-loom and contemporary quilts throughout downtown stores during the month of March. Flatonia is located at Exit 661on I-10, between Houston & San Antonio.  www.flatoniachamber.com. (361) 865-3920. Email: flatoniacofc@sbcglobal.com.

  March 4,11,18,25; April 1,8,15,
22,29 and May 6,13,20,27 - Brenham - WINE DOWN AT PLEASANT HILL WINERY... “Wine Down” on Fridays on the deck and watch the sun set. Enjoy wine by the glass and a cheese board or share a bottle with friends. 3pm-sunset. Every Friday in March, April & May. Pleasant Hill Winery, 1441 Salem Road. www.pleasanthillwinery.com. (979) 830-VINE (8463).

  March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, Aug 18, Sept 15, Oct 20, Nov 17, Dec 15 - Gruene/ New Braunfels - COME AND TASTE IT... Meet Texas’ best wine-makers the third Thursday of each month, except January. Enjoy complimentary tastings of three featured wines and one select craft brew. Music, prizes and food samples. On Gruene Historic District’s Grapevine Patio. Also live entertainment nightly at Texas’ oldest dance hall. (830) 606-0093. www.GrapevineinGruene.com.

  March 12, 19 and April 2, 9 - Independence - COLES HOMES TOURS... Enjoy free tours of early Texas homes and the Mound Hill Schoolhouse in Old Baylor Park. www.independencetx.com.

  March 12, April 9, May 14 - Anderson
STAGECOACH DAYS… Fanthorp Inn visitors experience cross country travel via stagecoach. Learn about the Inn’s history & 1840s-60’s stage lines connecting Texas towns. Presentations throughout the day. Coach rides 11am-3pm (dependent on weather & teams) with suggested adult ride donation of $10 & children $5. Open to all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. February through July and September on the second Saturday.  www.birthplaceoftexas.com.

  March 18-19 - Round Top
ROUND TOP FESTIVAL INSTITUTE HERBAL FORUM & WORKSHOP... Limited groups on Friday & events all day Saturday include a plant sale. Register at www.festivalhill.org, or call (979) 249-3129.

  March 19–20, April 16–17, May 21–22 New Braunfels - OLD GRUENE MARKET DAYS... Browse outside booths of authentic artists & craftsmen in this turn-of-the-century town set on the beautiful Guadalupe River. Also visit Historic Gruene Hall and over 25 specialty shops & restaurants. www.GrueneTexas.com; (830) 832-1721; or www.GrueneMarketDays.com.

  March 25–April 2 - Burton
LA BAHIA ANTIQUE SHOW AT LA BAHIA HALL... During the Round Top Festival, 8am. A wide variety of antiques, collectibles, vintage items and porcelain restoration at the show. Free admission/parking.  www.labahiaantiques.com. Held at 290W & 237TX, Burton, TX.

  March 26 - Flatonia
SPRING MARKET DAY WITH TEXAS INDEPENDENCE RELAY EXCHANGE... Arts & crafts, jewelry, hand-crafted one of a kind items, food, drinks, music & more! CHEER on the TIR runners on South Main St. Downtown Flatonia. (361) 865-3920. For details: www.flatoniachamber.com or flatoniacofc@sbcglobal.net. 

  March 26 & April 23 - Anderson
MUSIC MAKES A CELEBRATION... On these 4th Saturdays, experience life & music of early Texans & travelers at Fanthorp Inn. Tap a tambourine or take a turn on the dance floor led by our dance instructor. Costumed guides also describe workings of an Inn & its successful Innkeeper. Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site, 579 S. Main off Hwy 90 (ten miles east of Hwy 6). 11am-3pm. (936) 878-2214. www.birthplaceoftexas.com.

APRIL

  April 2 - Schulenburg
3rd ANNUAL SCHULENBURG SAUSAGEFEST... Enjoy live music, sausage-making contests in 5 categories, street dancing, arts/crafts, children’s activities, antique cars & tractors, homemade wine & sauerkraut contests, tasty foods & much more. Downtown Schulenburg on Historic North Main. 12noon-10pm. www.schulenburgsausagefest.com. (979) 743-4514. (866) 504-5294.

  April 7–17 - Brenham
UNITY THEATRE PRESENTS “JERRY FINNEGAN’S SISTER”…  Enjoy an intimate Studio Series comedic drama. Brian has spent the last 10 years of his life wrestling with an unrequited “something”  for his best friend’s sister. But now she’s about to get married. Unity Theatre, 300 Church Street. Thurs 7:30pm, Fri/Sat 8pm, Sun 4pm. (979) 830-8358. www.unitybrenham.org.

  April 8–10 - Burnet
BURNET BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL ...“The Bluebonnet Capital of Texas” hosts arts/crafts, entertainment, parade, scholarship pageant, fun runs, pet parade, destruction derby, carnival, gunfighters and dance. Call for more details: (512) 756-4297.

  April 15–16 - Burton
27th ANNUAL BURTON COTTON GIN FESTIVAL... The cotton era comes alive! Festivities feature gin tours, tractor pull, music, parade, auctions, live music, folklife demonstrations, petting zoo, contests, and more. Texas Cotton Gin Museum, 307 N. Main Street. www.cottonginmuseum.org. (979) 289-3378.

  April 16 - Flatonia
FLATONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CRAWFEST... Czech us out! A feast of crawfish, shrimp, sausage, potatoes, corn, beer, wine, tea, live music, dancing. Silent & live auctions. Door Prizes, 6pm-12 midnight. American Legion Hall. Tickets: $30 per person. Flatonia is located at Exit 661 off I-10, between Houston & San Antonio. www.flatoniachamber.com. (361) 865-3920. Email: flatoniacofc@sbcglobal.net.

  April 29–30 - Cameron
CAMERON DEWBERRY FESTIVAL ... Cameron celebrates Spring with the Dew-berry Festival! Come enjoy a cake and cobbler bake-off, youth fishing tournament, classic car show, arts & crafts fair, and much more! It’s where the fun begins. (254) 697-4979. Check out www.cameron-tx.com for updates on more events.

MAY

  May 6–7 - Brenham
126th MAIFEST CELEBRATION... Enjoy one of the oldest German festivals in Texas with your family. Colorful parade, spectacular performances, “all you can eat” Blue Bell ice cream with the Noon Lions Club, German food, live entertainment, quality arts/crafts and kid’s activities! Free admission. www.VisitBrenhamTexas.com.  1-888-BRENHAM (273-6426) or www.maifest.org.

  May 14 - Canyon Lake
COMMUNITY WIDE GARAGE SALE ...Over 100 booths with furniture, garage/yard items, antiques, gifts & re-gifts, and food. Free parking & admission. 10x10 booth indoors $35 (limited # available), outdoors $25. CRRC Rec Center, 125 Mabel Jones Dr. Saturday, 9am-4pm. For more info: www.crrcofcanyonlake.org or (830) 964-3003.

JUNE

  June 3–4 & June 9–11 - Lockhart
“BBQ CAPITAL OF TEXAS” CHAMPIONSHIP COOK-OFF & 44th CHISHOLM TRAIL ROUNDUP ...Join a western celebration with a RODEO, carnival rides & games, horseshoes, auction, live music concert & dances, arts/crafts, car show, bike ride and food vendors, all at the Lockhart City Park. Saturday Grand Parade downtown. www.chisholmtrailroundup.com. 512-398-2818.

  June 11–July 16 - Round Top
ROUND TOP MUSIC AT FESTIVAL HILL 2016... 100 young musicians from around the world study & perform in a series of orchestra & chamber music concerts with renowned international faculty, conductors & soloists. The Festival & Chamber Orchestras perform several times during June. Individual & season tickets available. Round Top Festival Institute, Hwy 237 at Jaster Road. (979) 249-3129. www.festivalhill.org.

  June 17–18 - Stonewall
55th PEACH JAMBOREE & RODEO ... Parade, dances, queen’s contest, rodeo, peach cobbler, peach-pit spitting & peach-eating contests, food, live music, Kid’s Peach Patch, washer & 42 tournaments, peach judging & auction, and more! (830) 644-2735, or visit www.stonewalltexas.com.

  June 18–19, July 16–17, Aug 20–21
New Braunfels - OLD GRUENE MARKET DAYS... Shop the exceptional handmade quality of sculptors, potters, jewelers, unique craftsmen and Texas-made foods, while enjoying live entertainment and 25 specialty stores & restaurants. Historic Old Gruene. (830) 832-1721. www.GrueneTexas.com or www.gruenemarketdays.com.

JULY

  July 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 23–24, 30–31; Aug 6–7, 13–14 - Brenham
HARVEST GRAPE STOMP... Start with a hayride out to the vineyard. Pick grapes, bring them back, pour them in the barrel, then step in & stomp or squish to music, which makes all the stress in your life fade away! Then as a memento, step out with your purple feet onto a keepsake t-shirt! Sat 11am-6pm & Sun noon-5pm. Windy Winery, 4232 Clover Rd., Brenham. (979) 836-3252. www.windywinery.com.

  July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - Brenham
“HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES” CONCERT SERIES… Cool off around the square in downtown Brenham. Enjoy live music every Saturday in July. Park benches and lush grass provide curbside seating, and the sale of beverages and food support this great series of musical events. Each concert begins at 7pm. Free admission & parking.  www.downtownbrenham.com. 1-888-BRENHAM.

  July 4 - Chappell Hill
FOURTH OF JULY PARADE & SUMMER COWBOY EVENT… Chappell Hill’s 40th Annual 4th of July Parade—the “Best Small Town Parade in America!” Featuring floats, cowboys, antique cars, & the renowned Marching Kazoo Band. Starts 10am in Downtown Chappell Hill. Cowboy demonstrators, pony rides and children’s activities begin at 10:30am. www.chappellhilltx.com. Free admission.

  July 4 - Washington
HEB PRESENTS “FIREWORKS-ON-THE-BRAZOS… Celebrate our nation’s independence where Texas declared her independence! Free Blue Bell ice cream treats and Coca-Cola drinks, live patriotic concert & fireworks extravaganza. Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site. For details, call 1-888-BRENHAM or visit www.whereTexasbecameTexas.org.

  July 23–24, July 30–31, Aug 6–7, Aug 13–14 - Brenham
CRUSH FOR FUN AT PLEASANT HILL WINERY…