JUNE

  June 5–7 - San Antonio
SUMMER ART & JAZZ FESTIVAL... Local and nationally known jazz artists, arts/crafts fair & food vendors. Crockett Park.  www.sanantoniosummerartjazzfestival.com. (210) 772-2900.

  June 12–14 - Aransas Pass
THE OFFICIAL SHRIMPOREE OF TEXAS... The biggest shrimp celebration in Texas! Culinary chef stage preparations, carnival, parade, shrimp-eating contest, kid’s events, arts/crafts, fun competitions & live music. Johnson Community Park. www.aransaspass.org/shrimporee. (800) 633-3028.

  June 13 - East Bernard
CZECH KOLACHE-KLOBASE FESTIVAL... Come to Riverside Hall for polka dancing, arts and crafts, sausage and barbecue chicken, kiddie games, dancers, raffle and cakewalk. (979) 531-9747 or (979) 335-7907.

  June 13–14 - San Antonio
TEXAS FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL...
A Texas tradition for 44 years, the Institute of Texan Cultures presents 250 cultural organizations, a menu of 150 authentic foods, 65 artisans and craftsmen, and seven stages of music & entertainment representing the diversity of our state. For more info: www.TexasFolklifeFestival.org or (210) 458-2300.

  June 18–20 - Stockdale
71st ANNUAL STOCKDALE WATERMELON JUBILEE... Enjoy great entertainment! Thursday: Bull Buck Out & Spazmatics. Friday: Gary Allan. Stockdale City Park. Held since 1937. www.stockdaletx.org.

  June 27–28 - Sealy
KC JUNE MUSIC FESTIVAL... This summer classic is great for the whole family. Enjoy country and German polka dancing & music with bands Al Sulak and Country Sounds, Red Ravens and the Krenek Band. And don’t forget the great food! For info, call (979) 885-6370, or visit www.SealyKofC.org.

  June 28 & July 3–4 - Seguin
SEGUIN FREEDOM FEST... What’cha doin’ for America’s B-day? Enjoy family entertainment over Independence Day Weekend at Seguin’s patriotic concert in Central Park on June 28 and Freedom Fiesta July 3. Bring your Texas spirit on July 4 to the biggest small-town 4th of July parade in Texas, plus fireworks at Starcke Park! VisitSeguin.com. (800) 580-7322.

JULY

  July 4 - Richmond
GEORGE RANCH’S GAMES OF OUR FOREFATHERS & HISTORIC LUNCH... Celebrate Independence Day in the 1890s at George Ranch Historical Park, just 30 miles southwest of Houston. Enjoy an antique vehicles parade and play such vintage games as hoops & sticks, croquet & badminton, sack races, Victorian baseball and watermelon seed-spitting. The Historic Lunch (reservations required) features wieners, sausages, potato salad, ice cream & much more! www.georgeranch.org. (281) 343-0218.

  July 4–5 - Rockport
ROCKPORT ART FESTIVAL... The 46th Annual Rockport juried art show features food, live music & entertainment, kids’ tent, and original artworks by over 120 artists and master craftsmen. A fund-raiser for the Rockport Art Association. For more information, call (361) 729-5519 or visit www.rockportartcenter.com.

  July 9–12 - Port Aransas
ANNUAL DEEP SEA ROUNDUP... “The Oldest Fishing Tournament on the Texas Coast” is celebrating 80 years! A weekend of family fun that includes bay, offshore, fly fishing and junior divisions, plus a piggy perch contest. (800) 45-COAST or www.portaransas.org. Register today at www.deepsearoundup.com.

  July 10–11 - Sealy
SEALYBRATION... Family activities, carnival, arts/crafts booths, street dance, BBQ cook-off, slow-pitch/softball tournaments, and live main stage entertainment. Admission. For more info: www.Sealycommunityfoundation.org or call (877) 558-7245.

  July 10, 17, 24, 31 - San Antonio
22nd ANNUAL BALCONES HEIGHTS JAZZ FESTIVAL... Free General Admission. Outdoor seating on the amphitheater lawn is free on a first-come basis. Jazz fans typically begin re-serving spots with blankets & lawn chairs the morning of each concerts. No coolers allowed; food & beverages are available for purchase at a variety of booths, plus adjacent food court inside Wonderland of the Americas. For info: (210) 732-0055 or www.sanantoniocentral.org.

  July 23–25 - Clute
THE GREAT TEXAS MOSQUITO FESTIVAL... The annual festival is a fun-filled, 3-day event for the entire family. It includes a variety of contests for all ages, arts/crafts & food booths, carnival, BBQ cook-off, and great musical headliner entertainment. Clute Municipal Park. In its 35th year! www.mosquitofestival.com. (800) 371-2971.

  July 23–27 - Moulton
TOWN AND COUNTRY JAMBOREE ...Celebrate summer with a parade, chicken dinner, dances, softball, antique tractors, car show, IBCA BBQ & CASI chili cook-offs, crafts, horseshoe & washer pitch games, live musical entertainment and kid’s events at City Park. (361) 596-7205.

  July 31–August 1 - Houston
25th INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL... Celebrating the birth of jazz with 25 renowned entertainers in numerous outdoor musical venues around the city at various locations. For more info:  www.houstoninternationaljazzfestival.com or (713) 839-7000.  

SEPTEMBER

  September 11–13 - Anahuac
TEXAS GATORFEST... As the “ Alligator Capital of Texas”, Anahuac celebrates the gator and its wetlands habitat with air boat rides, the Great Alligator Roundup, street dances, beer gardens, musical entertainment, kid’s events, arts & crafts, cook-off, gator education tent, and much more! (409) 267-4190. www.texasgatorfest.com.

  September 18–19 - Karnes City
LONESOME DOVE FESTIVAL... In salute to opening weekend of South Zone Dove hunting season, enjoy a dove cook-off, sporting clays, team shoot, outdoor skills demos, live music, vendors, kid’s activities, and more. A fundraiser by the Rotary Club. www.lonesomedovefest.com. Email: lonesomedovefest@outlook.com.

  September 19–20 - San Antonio
JAZZ’S ALIVE... Celebrating over 25 years of jazz in the park! The best jazz musicians present two days of free out-door festivities in beautiful Travis Park. Events include a ticketed Starlight Gala & champagne brunch at Saint Anthony by the park. Visit www.jazzsa.org or www.fallartfestivals.com.

  September 26 - Hallettsville
HALLETTSVILLE KOLACHE FESTIVAL... Enjoy a downtown parade, kolache presentation & eating contest, “42” domino tournament, classic cars, bike show, arts & crafts, Czech and German foods, live entertainment, biergarten, children’s activities and more! Held at KC Hall. www.hallettsville.com. (361) 798-2662.

OCTOBER

  October 8–11 - Houston
37th ANNUAL FESTA ITALIANA ... The Italian Cultural & Community Center of Houston brings culture to life at its weekend celebration of Italy! Enjoy music, homemade Italian food & wine, pasta-eating contest, I Madonnari competitions, bocce ball contests, wine tasting, grape stomp, children’s events, arts/crafts, cooking demos, and more. University of St. Thomas at Montrose Blvd. www.HoustonItalianFestival.com.   v