Day Trips & Beyond: April Events Roundup
Start April with a scenic drive along fields of flowers
By Gerald E. McLeod, 7:00AM, Sat. Mar. 31, 2018
Wildflowers line the roads to lots of fun things to do around the state in April.
There are more than 5,000 species of wildflowers that grow in Texas and many can be found along our highways. The Texas Department of Transportation sows about 30,000 pounds of seeds in the right of way each year. This year may not be a great wildflower season, but it’s looking pretty good. If you’re looking for a flower peeping trip close to Austin try TX 12 between Dripping Springs and San Marcos, or FM 1431 between Cedar Park and Marble Falls. Willow City Loop north of Fredericksburg takes FM 1323 on a great drive no matter what flowers are blooming. Or head east on US 290 toward Houston for scads of color. Check for scenic drives at www.visitbrenhamtexas.com/category/wildflower-watch, www.facebook.com/TexasWildflowerReport, or at www.texas.wildflowersightings.org/sightings. If you know what part of the state you’ll be visiting, call the TxDOT Travel Hotline at 800/452-9292 Ext. 3, for the latest recommendations on finding colorful wildflower displays.
For the first time in history, Tall Ships America will begin its Tall Ships Challenge Series of races and port festivals in Galveston. While in port, the six ships will be open to the public for viewing and sailing opportunities, and many will feature dockside exhibits and a chance to interact with the crew. Each ship has its own educational program and mission, providing the public with a wide array of ways to participate and sail.
April 5-8, Galveston, 409/763-1877, www.tallshipsgalveston.com.
Travel Notes:
Members of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma will return to Caddo Mounds State Historic Site outside of Alto for Caddo Culture Day on April 14. The site was once a thriving village and ceremonial center for the Hasinai tribe. During the day, members of the tribe will demonstrate tribal customs and pay their respects to their forefathers.
www.visitcaddomounds.com.
From Sea Rim State Park to South Padre Island, volunteers will be fanning out to pick up trash in the Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup. There are 27 check-in points along the Texas coast ready to assign volunteers their own section of beach on April 21.
www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach/volunteer/cleanups/index.html.
The Lyrid meteor shower will streak across the night sky from April 16 to 25. Normally there are about 10 to 15 shooting stars an hour, but Lyrid is known for surges that can sometimes come in a burst of 100 meteors per hour. The meteor show is expected to peak in the northeast sky right before dawn on April 22.
http://earthsky.org/?p=158735.
Other April Events:
Avalon Faire
April 1-29, Kilgore, www.avalonfaire.com
Ennis Bluebonnet Trails
April 1-30, Ennis, www.bluebonnettrail.org
Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair
April 4-8, Sugar Land, www.sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com
American Chuck Wagon Association Championship Cook-off
April 5-7, Fredericksburg, www.americanchuckwagon.org
Glen Rose Bluegrass Jamboree Festival
April 5-7, Glen Rose, www.facebook.com/events/2097785563782982
Tall Ships Galveston
April 5-8, Galveston, www.tallshipsgalveston.com
Victoria TX Independent Film Festival
April 5-8, Victoria, www.vtxiff.com
Waltstock & Barrel Wine and Music Festival
April 6-7, Fredericksburg, www.waltstockandbarrel.com
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
April 6-8, Dallas, www.deepellumartsfestival.com
Llano Fiddle Fest Weekend
April 6-8, Llano, www.llanofiddlefest.com
Anniversary Weekend
April 6-8, San Antonio, www.texancultures.com
Viva Hemisfair!
April 6-8, San Antonio, www.hemisfair.org
Wooden Boat Festival
April 6-8, Port Aransas, www.portaransasmuseum.org
Walker County Fair & Rodeo
April 6-14, Huntsville, www.walkercountyfair.com
Jonestown Cajun Cook-off
April 7, Jonestown, www.facebook.com/events/1503767423263720
Bloomin’ Fest
April 7, Lampasas, www.lampasaschamber.org
Historic Country Schools Open House
April 7, Fredericksburg, www.historicschools.org
Cajun Heritage Festival
April 7, Port Arthur, www.setxac.org
San Antonio Book Festival
April 7, San Antonio, festival.saplf.org
Dogwood Festival
April 7, Woodville, www.tylercountydogwoodfestival.org
Heart of Texas Airshow
April 7-8, Waco, www.heartoftexasairshow.com
Scarborough Renaissance Festival
April 7-May 28, Waxahachie, www.srfestival.com
An Evening with Sophia Loren (rescheduled from 2017)
April 8, Galveston, www.thegrand.com
Stuporbowl XIII
April 8, San Marcos, www.unicyclefootball.com
Marfa Myths
April 12-15, Marfa, www.marfamyths.com
Fountainwood Observatory Public Night
April 13, Georgetown, www.southwestern.edu/offices/observatory
Fiesta de la Flor
April 13-14, Corpus Christi, www.fiestadelaflor.com
Bluebonnet Festival
April 13-15, Burnet, www.bluebonnetfestival.org
Buffalo Gap Food and Wine Summit
April 13-15, Buffalo Gap, www.buffalogapsummit.com
Poteet Strawberry Festival
April 13-15, Poteet, www.strawberryfestival.com
1836 Chuckwagon Races
April 13-22, Palestine, www.1836chuckwagonrace.com
Caddo Culture Day
April 14, Alto, www.visitcaddomounds.com
Art Car Parade
April 14, Houston, www.thehoustonartcarparade.com
Science of Sports
April 14, Johnson City, www.sciencemill.org
Schulenburg Sausage Festival
April 14, Schulenburg, www.schulenburgsausagefest.com
Texas Bluebonnet Festival
April 14-15, Chappell Hill, www.chappellhillmuseum.org
Attwater’s Prairie Chicken Festival
April 14-15, Eagle Lake, www.attwater.org
Houston Wing CAF – Annual Open House and Fly-In
April 14-15, Houston, www.houstonwing.org
Folkfest
April 14-15, New Braunfels, www.texashandmadefurniture.org
Train Show
April 14-15, New Braunfels, www.newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org
The Marksmen in Concert
April 15, Fredericksburg, www.fredericksburgmusicclub.com
Stupid Bowl IV
April 15, San Marcos, www.unicyclefootball.com
East Texas Wildflower Trails
April 15-May 31, Henderson, www.visithendersontx.com
Old Settler’s Music Festival
April 19-22, Tilmon, www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org
Feather Fest & Nature Photo Festival
April 19-22, Galveston, www.galvestonfeatherfest.com
Fiesta San Antonio
April 19-29, San Antonio, www.fiesta-sa.org
Buc Days
April 19-May 5, Corpus Christi, www.bucdays.com
Thoroughbred Racing
April 19-July 22, Grand Prairie, www.lonestarpark.com
Poetry at Round Top
April 20-22, Round Top, www.festivalhill.org
Real Ale Anniversary Party
April 21, Blanco, www.realalebrewing.com
Burton Cotton Gin Festival
April 21, Burton, www.cottonginmuseum.org
Rockets 2018
April 21, Jal, N.M., www.systemsgo.org
Spring Native Plant Sale and Festival
April 21, Kerrville, www.riversidenaturecenter.org
San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Re-enactment
April 21, La Porte, www.sanjacinto-museum.org
Frontier Day at Fort Concho
April 21, San Angelo, www.fortconcho.com
Texas Adopt-a-Beach 2018 Coastwide Spring Cleanup
April 21, Various locations, www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach/volunteer/cleanups/index.html
National Parks Fee-Free Day
April 21, Various locations, www.nps.gov
Art Car Parade
April 21, Victoria, www.fivepointsmuseum.com
JAM Fest
April 21, Victoria, explorevictoriatexas.com/content.php?i84=22
Butterfly Festival
April 21, Wimberley, www.emilyann.org
Migration Celebration
April 21-22, Brazoria, www.migrationcelebration.com
Thanksgiving 1598
April 22, El Paso, visitelpasomissiontrail.com
Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival
April 23-28, Stephenville, www.larryjoetaylor.com
Ford Mariachi Festival
April 24-26, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/ford-mariachi-festival
Big Bend Open Road Race
April 25-28, Sanderson/Fort Stockton, www.bborr.com
Rockets 2018
April 26-28, Fredericksburg, www.systemsgo.org
Hill Country Film Festival
April 26-29, Fredericksburg, www.hillcountryff.com
Third Coast Music Festival
April 26-29, Galveston, www.thirdcoastmusicfestival.com
Battle of Flowers Parade
April 27, San Antonio, www.battleofflowers.org
Frontier Days
April 27-28, Alvin, www.alvinrotary.org
Fort Martin Scott Days
April 27-28, Fredericksburg, www.ftmartinscott.org
Granbury Wine Walk
April 27-28, Granbury, www.granburywinewalk.com
Denton Arts & Jazz Festival
April 27-29, Denton, www.dentonjazzfest.com
Poppy Festival
April 27-29, Georgetown, www.poppy.georgetown.org
Balcones Songbird Festival
April 27-29. Marble Falls, www.balconessongbirdfestival.org
Texas SandFest
April 27-29, Port Aransas, www.texassandfest.org
Ranch Day
April 28, Lubbock, www.nrhc.ttu.edu
Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors BBQ Cook-off
April 28, Shreveport, La, www.arklatexambassadors.com
Pecan Pie Festival
April 28, Tatum, www.facebook.com/events/771617949690881
Wimberley Arts Fest
April 28-29, Wimberley, www.wimberleyartsfest.com
Gerald McLeod has been traveling around Texas and beyond for his "Day Trips" column for more than 25 years. Keep up to date with his journeys on his archive page.
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Gerald E. McLeod, Oct. 4, 2024
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Day Trips, travel, wildflowers, Lyrid meteor shower, Caddo Culture Day, Texas beaches, Tall Ships America
