Day Trips & Beyond: February Events Roundup

Welcome aboard. Every year, the Official Tall Ship of Texas must go through her paces to maintain her seaworthy rating. This is a good time to use the Elissa as a training vessel and to give fans an opportunity to ride the wind. It’s a beautiful sight when the 1877 iron-hulled barque unfurls its sails. Tickets ($250/person) for some of the six-hour trips between April 8 and 22 have already sold out. So, if you’re interested in attending this annual event, you’d better act soon.

Maybe the trip on the Elissa doesn’t quite fit your lifestyle, but you’d love to see the 144-year-old ship in action. The harbor tour vessel SEAGULL II offers two-hour cruises following the Elissa for $35 per person. The double-decker boat is limited to 45 guests and is the perfect platform for photographers.

Launched in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland, Elissa is one of the oldest hulls still sailing. Records show she visited Galveston in 1883 and 1886 hauling Texas cotton. An engine added to the three-mast sailing ship in 1918 extended her career. By 1969, she was rusting in a salvage yard until being rescued by the Galveston Historical Foundation in 1975. When moored at the Texas Seaport Museum, the Elissa is open for self-guided tours offering a unique view into the history of sailing ships.

The Elissa and the Texas Seaport Museum are at Pier 21 on Galveston’s Harborside Drive. The museum chronicles the city’s maritime history and offers boat tours of the harbor.
April 8-22, Elissa Day Sails, Galveston, 409/765-7834, www.galvestonhistory.org

Black History Month. The journey of American Civil Rights has been long and arduous, and is one that has not been completed. Few Southern cities were more on the front lines of the struggle during the early days of the movement than Little Rock, Ark. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine’s efforts to break racial barriers and integrate the all-white Central High School in September 1957. The building remains an active school and part of the National Historic Site that includes a wonderful visitor center and museum.

The Arkansas capital city hosts six of the 100-plus sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. In addition the city’s historic attractions include the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.

While in the state’s largest city, you’ll want to try two of the area’s iconic restaurants. The Lassis Inn is the city’s oldest Black-owned eatery and was recently recognized with an American Classics Award from the James Beard Foundation. Famous for their fried catfish and buffalo fish ribs, the dining room was a regular meeting space for civil rights leaders. For barbecue head across town to Sims Bar-B-Que for their famous pork ribs.

Branding news. There are lots of Texans who can be described as being “all hat and no cattle.” That doesn’t mean they can’t have bragging rights of owning a real Texas livestock brand. You don’t have to actually own any animals to register a brand. You can record a brand at any time, but any current brands must be re-registered by Feb. 28 regardless of when it was originally filed. (There is a six-month grace period.) The registration is good for 10 years and will expire Aug. 30, 2031.

The age-old process of registering Texas livestock and equine brands is relatively easy. County clerks handle the registration for their jurisdiction, and you can register a brand in multiple counties. Simply fill out a short form that includes a drawing of your personal mark and pay the registration fee. In Travis County the fee is $26, but cost varies by county.
Feb. 28, Brand Registration, County Clerk’s Office, www.tscra.org

Travel Notes:

History on the edge. Hidden among our communities and neighborhoods around the state are many sites of historical, architectural, and cultural value. Early in January, Preservation Texas announced its 2021 list of Most Endangered Places in Texas. Among the nine places are the 1921 former Young County Jail in Graham, Old Fort Parker near Groesbeck, and Dunbar Historic District in San Marcos. Since 2004, more than 150 imperiled historical places have been identified on the nonprofit organization’s annual lists. Of these neglected properties, only 14 have disappeared, but many remain in jeopardy.

Cowboy cuisine. You might not have thought of Abilene as a foodie destination, but the West Texas town has more going on than you think. That’s what Rochelle White discovered, so she started her Abilene Food Tours to showcase the diversity of restaurants in her hometown. She offers four walking tours on a progressive meal to sample the food at eateries in downtown.

Mexico on a burro. After being closed for 20 months because of the coronavirus, the Boquillas Port of Entry has reopened. The tiny village surrounded by the Maderas del Carmen biosphere reserve and across the Rio Grande from Big Bend National Park is once again welcoming visitors. The border crossing is currently open Wednesday through Sunday. A valid passport or passport card is required as well as proof of COVID-19 vaccinations. The 300 residents of Boquillas del Carmen depend on tourism for their livelihood, making the closure particularly difficult.

New central park. In late January officials in San Antonio broke ground on Civic Park, the first phase of redeveloping Hemisfair Park in downtown. The $27 million project will turn a 5-acre vacant lot at the corner of South Alamo and East Market streets into a large public green space. On the back side of the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center and across the street from the River Walk, the new park is a few blocks south of the Alamo complex, which is also currently under construction. When this phase of the redevelopment is completed in late 2023 it will include a large lawn and event space, a shaded promenade, water features, and charging stations.

Other February Events:

Birding Festival
Feb. 2-5, Laredo, www.laredobirdingfestival.org

South Padre Island Kite Fest
Feb. 3-5, South Padre Island, www.spikitefest.com

Frida: Immersive Dream
Feb. 3-April 17, Dallas, www.immersive-frida.com/dallas

“Texas Women: A New History of Abstract Art”
Feb. 4-May 8, Corpus Christi, www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org

Old Jail Exhibit
Feb. 5, Fredericksburg, www.pioneermuseum.net/old-jail.html

Lunar New Year Festival: Year of the Tiger
Feb. 5, Houston, www.ccchouston.org/lunarnewyear

Lunar New Year
Feb. 5, Houston, www.asiasociety.org/texas

Titans of Tailgate
Feb. 5, San Antonio, www.culinariasa.org

Wharton County Courthouse Tours
Feb. 5, Wharton, cca.whartonchamber.com

Lunar New Year Houston
Feb. 5-6, Houston, www.lunarnewyearhouston.com

Kerrville Renaissance Festival
Feb. 5-6, Kerrville, www.kerrvillerenfest.com

Wild Cave Tours
Feb. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, Burnet, www.visitlonghorncavern.com/#cavern-tours

Behind-the-scenes Tour of Audubon Raptor & Education Center
Feb. 5, 26, Houston, www.houstonaudubon.org

Buddy Holly’s 85th Birthday
Feb. 6, Lubbock, www.buddyhollyhall.com

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
Feb. 10-27, San Antonio, www.sarodeo.com

Railroad Museum Grand Opening
Feb. 11, Cleburne, www.cleburnerrmuseum.net

Cupid’s Bow Bash
Feb. 11, Fredericksburg, www.fredericksburgrotary.org/event/cupids-bow-bash

Luckenbach Hug-In and Valentine Ball
Feb. 11-12, Luckenbach, www.luckenbachtexas.com

LaMardi Gras
Feb. 11-12, Rockport, www.lamarvfd.com

Todd Snider in Concert
Feb. 11-13, Fischer, www.devilsbackbonetavern.com

“Wendy Red Star: A Scratch on the Earth”
Feb. 11-May 8, San Antonio, www.samuseum.org

Valentine’s Day
Feb. 12, Bankersmith, www.grapetownvineyard.com

Three Tenors Perform Songs of Love
Feb. 12, Boerne, www.cavewithoutaname.com

Dairy Tours
Feb. 12, Gustine, www.vollemansdairy.com/dairy-tours

Museum Market
Feb. 12, San Antonio, www.samuseum.org

Market Days
Feb. 12-13, Boerne, www.boernemarketdays.com/boerne.html

JooYoung Choi: Songs of Resilience from the Tapestry of Faith
Feb. 12-Sept. 4, Dallas, www.crowmuseum.org

Helen Lee Estates Daffodil Garden
Feb. 15-March 15, Gladewater, www.texasforesttrail.com

Come and Taste It
Feb. 17, Gruene, www.grapevineingruene.com

11th Street Cowboy Mardi Gras
Feb. 17-19, Bandera, www.11thstreetcowboybar.com

Free Third Thursdays
Feb. 17, Corpus Christi, www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org

Frida: Immersive Dream
Feb. 17-April 17, Houston, www.immersive-frida.com/houston

Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Feb. 18-19, Alpine, www.lonestarcowboypoetry.com

Trade Days
Feb. 18-20, Fredericksburg, www.fbgtradedays.com

Continental Ranch Roundup
Feb. 18-21, Del Rio, www.continentalranchroundup.com

Mardi Gras! Galveston
Feb. 18-March 1, Galveston, www.mardigrasgalveston.com

Yachty Gras Grand Night Boat Parade
Feb. 19, Clear Lake, www.yachtygras.com

Day of Remembrance
Feb. 19, Fredericksburg, www.pacificwarmuseum.org/visit/events

Cave Creek School Open House
Feb. 19, Gillespie County, www.historicschools.org

Market Day at Varner-Hogg Plantation
Feb. 19, West Columbia, www.visitvarnerhoggplantation.com

Old Gruene Market Days
Feb. 19-20, Gruene, www.gruenemarketdays.com

Charro Days
Feb. 19-27, Brownsville, www.charrodaysfiesta.com

Lone Star Brass in Concert
Feb. 20, Fredericksburg, www.fredericksburgmusicclub.com

Eastside Market
Feb. 20, Waco, www.eastsidemarketwtx.com

Bird Banding
Feb. 22, Lake Jackson, www.gcbo.org

Sculpting Sound: Twelve Musicians Encounter Bertoia
Feb. 22-27, Dallas, www.nashersculpturecenter.org/programs-events/event/id/1845/sculpting-sound

Sombrero Festival
Feb. 24-26, Brownsville, www.sombrerofestival.com

Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas
Feb. 24-27, Beaumont, www.mardigrastx.com

Whooping Crane Festival
Feb. 24-27, Port Aransas, www.portaransas.org/whooping-crane-festival

Annual Rock Art Rendezvous
Feb. 25-27, Comstock, www.wittemuseum.org/events/event/rock-art-rendezvous

Mardi Gras Upriver
Feb. 25-27, Jefferson, www.mardigrasupriver.com

Granbury JazzFest
Feb. 26, Granbury, www.granburyjazzfest.com

Texas Mead Fest
Feb. 26, La Grange, www.texasmead.org/texas-mead-fest

Battle of the Paddle
Feb. 26, San Antonio, www.sariverauthority.org/whats-new/san-antonio-river-basin-paddling-race-series

Texas Independence Day Celebration
Feb. 26-27, Washington, www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/washington-brazos-state-historic-site

Lienzo Charro de San Antonio
Feb. 26-27, San Antonio, www.fb.com/sacharro

Buffalo Heritage Day
Feb. 27, San Angelo, www.fortconcho.com

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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 and follow him on Facebook.