Day Trips & Beyond: September Events Roundup

September means the cool breezes will soon be blowing in from the north.

Experience three nights of music under the stars in Marfa. There will also be vendors, community dinners, Tarot card readings, and a sandlot baseball game, along with all the fun. (Photo by Nick Simonite courtesy El Cosmico)

The Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love flies high in the mountain air of Marfa. This year’s outdoor festival begins with Texas native Kacey Musgraves and ends on Saturday night with a lineup that includes Neko Case. In between are hours of fun and exploration. Don’t have camping gear? Stay in a classic RV, a teepee, or rent a tent and sleeping bag. You can even buy a Yeti cooler already stocked with Shiner beer. Sept. 22-25, Marfa, www.elcosmico.com

Built in 1936, many of the Art Deco buildings in Fair Park were meant to be temporary for the centennial celebration but have survived. In 1986, Fair Park was declared a National Historic Landmark. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)

Fair Park in Dallas is home to the world’s largest collection of Art Deco buildings and the only unaltered pre-1950s world’s fair (Texas Centennial Exposition, 1936) site remaining in the U.S. Home to the State Fair of Texas (Sept. 30-Oct. 23), the 277-acre complex also contains several museums and the Cotton Bowl. At a time other than during the State Fair, take a free self-guided tour of the grounds with a map provided by the Friends of Fair Park. The Dallas Center for Architecture also provides guided tours of Fair Park and downtown.

Travel Notes:

UtopiaFest has become a Hill Country tradition in the scenic landscape outside of Utopia. In its eighth year, this year’s lineup includes an eclectic list of famous and near famous bands in a family-friendly, BYOB atmosphere. There is a limited number of tickets sold, so order early. You can even rent a tent that will be waiting for you when you arrive. Sept. 29-Oct. 2, Utopia, www.utopiafest.com

Blair House Inn’s nationally recognized cooking school has released its 2017 schedule of classes. This year’s courses cover French, Italian, Mediterranean, German, and New Orleans cuisines, or barbecue and sauces. Cooking school happens Monday through Wednesday with hands-on instruction. Make your reservation early; these popular events sell out. Jan.-Dec. 2017, Blair House Inn, Wimberley, www.blairhouseinn.com

The National Book Festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress, enters its 16th year with dozens of authors in attendance, including Stephen King, talking about books and writing. There will be a behind-the-scenes pavilion on the world’s largest library as well as book sales and signing. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center houses the nation’s largest book festival. Sat., Sept. 24, Washington, D.C., www.loc.gov/bookfest

Sonoma County Vineyard Adventures offers complimentary self-guided tours of some of northern California’s most famous wineries. At the start of each tour, guests receive a map that leads to unique information about the winery and vineyard. So far there are seven wineries mapped, with two more to be added soon. Year-round, Sonoma County, Calif., www.sonomavineyardadventures.com

Other September Events:

West Fest
Sept. 2-4, West, www.westfest.com

Marine Biology Tours
Sept. 3, Galveston, www.galvestonhistory.org

Observatory Open House
Sept. 3, 8-10pm, Clifton, www.centexastronomy.org

Art Haus at Pour Haus First Birthday
Sept. 4, New Braunfels, www.facebook.com/arthausnb

Michael Hearne’s Big Barn Dance
Sept. 8-10, Taos, N.M., www.michaelhearne.com/bigbarndance

Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown
Sept. 9, Santa Fe, N.M., www.ediblesmackdown.com

Neches River Rally
Sept. 10, Beaumont, www.bigthicket.org/neches-river-rally

Bluebonnet Air Show
Sept. 10, Burnet, www.bluebonnetairshow.com

Mermaid Week
Sept. 10-17, San Marcos, www.mermaidsocietysmtx.com

HummerBird Celebration
Sept. 15-18, Rockport, www.rockporthummingbird.com

Round Top Fall Antique Show
Sept. 16-Oct. 2, Round Top, www.roundtop.org

Shakespeare’s Legacy
Sept. 17, Festival Institute, Round Top, www.festivalhill.org

Denton Blues Fest
Sept. 17-18, Denton, www.dentonblackchamberonline.org

Sheppard Air Force Base Air Show
Sept. 17-18, Wichita Falls, www.sheppard.af.mil

South Texas Maize
Sept. 17-Nov. 20, Hondo, www.southtexasmaize.com

West Texas Book Festival
Sept. 19-24, Abilene, www.texasbookfestival.org

Texas State Forest Festival
Sept. 21-25, Lufkin, www.texasstateforestfestival.com

Galveston Island Wild Texas Shrimp Festival
Sept. 23-25, www.galvestonislandshrimpfestival.com

Splice Records River Revival
Sept. 23-25, New Braunfels, www.splicerecordstx.com

Kolache Fest
Sept. 24, Hallettsville, www.hallettsville.com

Autumn Plant Sale and Market
Sept. 24, Mercer Gardens, Houston, www.hcp4.net

Fried Chicken Festival
Sept. 25, New Orleans, La., www.friedchickenfestival.com

Czech Heritage Festival
Sept. 25, Victoria, www.victoriaczechs.org

Houston Art Fair
Sept. 29-Oct. 2, Houston, www.houstonartfair.com

Texas Heritage Music Day
Sept. 30, Kerrville, www.texasheritagemusic.org

State Fair of Texas
Sept. 30- Oct. 23, Dallas, www.bigtex.com

Bootfest
Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Victoria, www.bootfest.org

Oktoberfest
Sept. 30-Oct. 2, Fredericksburg, www.oktoberfestinfbg.com

Gerald McLeod has been traveling around Texas and beyond for his "Day Trips" column for the past 24 years. Keep up to date with his journeys on his archive page. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips," is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 40312, South Austin, TX 78704.