Day Trips & Beyond: November Events Roundup

November means it’s time to celebrate chili, sausage, and the holidays.

Photo by Gerald E. McLeod

One of the inspiring stories at the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock is that of Daniel Webster “80 John” Wallace, whose modest cross-shaped board-and-batten house (pictured on the left above) belied his wealth. Born into slavery in Victoria County, Wallace joined the cattle drives at age 15 and went on to become one of the most successful African American ranchers in West Texas. In 1877 he went to work on Clay Mann’s 80 Ranch, where he earned his nickname. While working for Mann as top hand, Wallace took $5 of his monthly pay and saved the rest. At age 25 he went back to school to learn to read, write, and cipher. By 1885 he purchased his own ranch between Colorado City and Sweetwater in Mitchell County. When oil was discovered on his land, he moved into a new house in town so his children could go to school. He died in 1939 at age 74. The ranch is still owned by his descendants.

In the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center, youngsters of all ages get to do hands-on learning activities under the watchful eye of Hank the Cowdog, head of security at the M-Cross Ranch (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)

Ranch learning. It’s understandably difficult to get the stroller set to be interested in the historic architecture encompassed in the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock. Other than the ride on the trolley, there’s not much to hold a youngster’s attention on the 1½-mile trek around the 19 acres with more than 50 structures rescued from ranches around the state and beyond.

That was until last month, when the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center opened at the Ranching Center, giving children a place to play and learn about ranching guided by Hank the Cowdog, head of ranch security. Author John R. Erickson, creator of the Hank the Cowdog series of youth books, wrote a set of five books explaining the intricacies of ranching, and the play area is linked to their stories. In the area just outside the main building, young and old get to smell and touch livestock feed, see how a windmill works, learn about solar panels, understand the ecology and wildlife of a ranch, watch a hologram saddle a horse, and just play.

On the west side of the Texas Tech University campus and across the Marsha Sharp Freeway, the Ranching Center includes a museum with an exhibit of costumes from Taylor Sheridan’s 1883 production, plus Western art and artifacts. The real stars of the show are the houses, churches, and ranch equipment. There are buildings from 6666 Ranch, Charles Goodnight’s JA Ranch, the Pitchfork Ranch, plus ranch headquarters buildings, line camp cabins, dugouts, and all sizes of mansions on the prairie. “We are passing on our heritage through stories,” said Communications Manager Adrian Hawkins.
National Ranching Heritage Center, 3121 Fourth St., Lubbock, 806/742-0498. Open daily. Free. ranchingheritage.org

The rock walls at Aztec Ruins National Monument in the northwest corner of New Mexico went through two major construction periods in the 12th and 13th centuries. At different times the people at Aztec were influenced by those of Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. The ancient people abandoned the site around AD1250 for unknown reasons. (Photo by Gerald E. McLeod)

Home of ancients. This year the Aztec Ruins National Monument turns 100 years old. It was established by presidential proclamation by Warren G. Harding on Jan. 24, 1923. In 1987, Aztec Ruins was designated as a United Nations World Heritage Site alongside Chaco Culture National Historical Park and five other prominent Chacoan sites managed by the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. Not as well-known or as scenic as Chaco Canyon or Mesa Verde National Park, the Aztec Ruins are nonetheless loaded with mystery and beauty.

In New Mexico about 20 miles south of the Colorado border, the ruins have nothing to do with the Aztec people of the Valley of Mexico. In fact, the multistory communal dwellings are probably centuries older than the society in Mexico. The site in the fertile Animas River Valley was primarily built in waves from AD1110 to AD1124 in a similar style as the ruins in Chaco Canyon. It was abandoned by 1150 at the same time Chaco Canyon was depopulated. Then, 100 years later, migrants from Mesa Verde used the previous buildings as a foundation for additional construction. Aztec Ruins were again abandoned around 1252 for unknown reasons.

There is no charge to wander the grounds of the ruins made of stacked sandstone blocks. The rooms are small with 8-to-10-foot-high wood ceilings that remain intact even after centuries in the dry climate. The self-guided tour directed by placards explaining the features follows a path knocked through the walls by pothunters in the 1800s.

In the 1930s the Great Kiva in the center of the plaza was reconstructed by Earl H. Morris. The circular room built partially underground was probably used for ceremonial purposes, but no one knows for sure because the people left no written records.

The centuries-old stone walls are significant, but the most remarkable part of the Aztec Ruins National Monument is the reconstructed Great Kiva in the central plaza of the pueblo. Earl H. Morris, an archeologist, excavated the ruins for five years, beginning in 1916 when he was 25 years old, for the American Museum of Natural History in New York. As an expert on the ancient civilizations of the Four Corners area, he returned in 1933 to reconstruct the Great Kiva. The exact use of these large, circular rooms built partially underground (there were 29 smaller kivas at the site) is not known, but you get the feeling of walking into an ancient cathedral as you descend the stairs.

Aztec Ruins National Monument is an underutilized and even less understood relic of the past. Although it is much smaller than the ruins at Chaco Canyon and not as picturesque as the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, the Aztec Ruins are much more accessible. The park headquarters and museum, which are in the adobe house that Morris built at the site, are less than a mile through a residential neighborhood from the highway between Durango, Colo., and Farmington, N.M.
Aztec Ruins National Monument, Aztec, New Mexico. Open daily. Free. nps.gov/azru/index.htm

Travel Notes

Leaf Peeping. It’s time once again for staff at Lost Maples State Natural Area to publish their weekly report on the changes at the state’s most-watched fall colors. As of late October the maples hadn’t started turning gold yet, but cold, wet weather should bring on the changes.

What could possibly go wrong? They’ve been shooting anvils in Hamilton for 105 years, so they should know by now how to do it safely, if there is such a thing. There definitely is a thing called the American Legion Anvil Shoot at American Legion Cunningham Post 222 in Hamilton on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, from 5 to 8am (yes, that’s am). Free breakfast will be served after the shoot. The tradition started in 1918 after World War I. This is how it works: They stack two heavy anvils with a load of gunpowder in between, then shoot at it until the gunpowder explodes and the top anvil goes flying. Sound like fun? Evidently it was a common game played in pioneer times to celebrate special events.

Welcome home. To be honest, the Homestead Fair in Elm Mott, just north of Waco, had grown so crowded that nobody went there anymore (my apologies to Yogi Berra). For the 36th edition of the farm, arts, and food festival, traditionally held the weekend after Thanksgiving, the Christian community that hosts the fair has expanded it to three weekends, Nov. 24-26 and Dec. 1-2 & 8-9. That should spread out the crowds and make the family-friendly festival more enjoyable for all.

We’ll see. Texas did not benefit from the El Niño weather pattern this summer as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted, according to an article in the Brazos River Authority newsletter. Instead of a wet, cool summer, we had the second-hottest summer on record. Lakes Belton, Georgetown, and Proctor saw significant decreases while Lake Stillhouse was at its lowest level since it was built in the 1960s. The elevated fire danger resulted in 1,148 wildfires burning 129,133 acres. The unnamed author quoted John Nielsen-Gammon, director of the Southern Regional Climate Center at Texas A&M, as predicting a wetter and cooler winter than normal this year.

Other November Events

BIG BEND

Frank X. Tolbert-Wick Fowler Original Terlingua International Chili Championship
Nov. 1-4, Terlingua, abowlofred.com

Terlingua International Chili Cook-off
Nov. 1-5, Terlingua, casichili.net/terlingua-263648.html

Shumla Treks
Nov. 4, 5, 18, Comstock, shumla.org

Artwalk Alpine
Nov. 17-18, Alpine, artwalkalpine.com/artwalk-alpine-2023

GULF COAST

The old store at Villa San Felipe has been rebuilt in time for the 200th anniversary on Nov. 11

Lone Star Rally
Nov. 2-5, Galveston, lonestarrally.com

Greek Festival
Nov. 3-5, Corpus Christi, fb.com/greekfestivalcc

Surfside Kites and Sandcastles
Nov. 4, Surfside, fb.com/groups/445777642154789

Explore Bowhunting
Nov. 11, Needville, tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/brazos-bend

Father of Texas: San Felipe de Austin’s 200th Anniversary
Nov. 11, San Felipe, thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/san-felipe-de-austin-state-historic-site

Treasures by the Sea and Kite Fly-by Show
Nov. 11, Surfside, visitsurfsidebeachtx.org

Veronica & Kevin Koliba show the more than 500 nativity scenes in their collection in Port Lavaca Nov. 24-Dec. 10

Chris Shepherd’s Table to Stage With Katie Parla
Nov. 13, Houston, stageshouston.com/table-to-stage

Bird Banding
Nov. 18, Lake Jackson, gcbo.org

Nativity Exhibit
Nov. 24-Dec. 10, Port Lavaca, fb.com/p/annual-nativity-exhibit-100086458226649

Cistern Illuminated
Nov. 25-Jan. 7, Houston, buffalobayou.org

HILL COUNTRY

Wurstfest
Nov. 3-12, New Braunfels, wurstfest.com

Still Making History Cemetery Tour
Nov. 4, Georgetown, williamsonmuseum.org

Texas Furniture Makers Show
Nov. 3-Dec. 15, Kerrville, kacckerrville.com

North Shore Craft Beer Fest
Nov. 4, Lago Vista, northlaketravischamber.org

Fossil Fest
Nov. 4-5, Round Rock, austinpaleo.org/fest.html

Folkfest
Nov. 11, New Braunfels, texashandmadefurniture.com/folkfest

Art Squared Arts Market
Nov. 11, San Marcos, artsquaredmarket.com

Texas Book Festival
Nov. 11-12, Austin, texasbookfestival.org

Come and Taste It
Nov. 16, Gruene, grapevineingruene.com/comeandtasteit

Take free dance lessons at the oldest dance hall in Texas, Gruene Hall, Nov. 21

Inspired Minds Holiday Bazaar
Nov. 17-Dec. 23, Buda, inspiredminds.art/holidaybazaar

Fall Colors Hike
Nov. 18, Johnson City, bambergerranch.org

Country & Western Dance
Nov. 18, Spring Branch, anhalthall.com

Daniel Pardo in Concert
Nov. 19, Fredericksburg, fredericksburgmusicclub.com

Swing Dance Lessons at Gruene Hall
Nov. 21, Gruene, gruenehall.com

Dickens on Main
Nov. 24-25, Boerne, dickensonmain.com

Sounds of the Season
Nov. 25, Boerne, cavewithoutaname.com

Christmas in Comfort
Nov. 25, Comfort, comfortchamber.com

PANHANDLE

The Art of Texas State Parks
Nov. 1-Feb. 18, 2024, Canyon, panhandleplains.org

World Championship Ranch Rodeo
Nov. 9-12, Amarillo, wrca.org

PINEY WOODS

REEL East Texas Film Festival
Nov. 9-12, Kilgore, reeleasttexas.com

German Sausage Festival
Nov. 12, Umbarger, stmarysumbarger.com/german-sausage-festival

PRAIRIES & LAKES

Real men in skirts play in the Highland Games in Salado Nov. 10-12

Vignette Art Fair
Nov. 3-4, Dallas, texasvignette.org

Billy the Kid Film Festival
Nov. 3-5, Hico, billythekidfilmfestival.com

Bastrop Field and Fun Fest
Nov. 4, Bastrop, tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/bastrop/park_events

Pearl Bluegrass Jam
Nov. 4, Gatesville, pearlbluegrassjam.org

Texas Monthly Barbecue Fest
Nov. 4-5, Lockhart, texasmonthly.com/event/2023-tm-bbq-fest-lockhart

Fall Japanese Festival
Nov. 4-5, Fort Worth, fwbg.org/japanesefestival

Round Top Wine Fest
Nov. 3-5, Round Top, exploreroundtop.com/winefest

Texas Renaissance Festival
Nov. 4-26, Todd Mission, texrenfest.com

Scottish Gathering and Highland Games
Nov. 10-12, Salado, saladomuseum.org

Eastside Market
Nov. 11, Waco, eastsidemarketwtx.com

Patrice Pike in Concert
Nov. 17, La Grange, thebugleboy.org

The World’s Largest Book
Nov. 20-Dec. 1, Dallas, iamtx.org/the-i-am-texas-book-tour

Lost Pines Wassail & Small Business Saturday
Nov. 25, Bastrop, visitbastrop.com

Homestead Fair
Nov. 24-26, Waco, homesteadfair.com

Texas Barbecue Blowout
Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Paris, texasbbqblowout.com

SOUTH TEXAS

J. Frank Dobie fans celebrate the art of a story around the campfire Nov. 3 in Oakville

Ofrenda: Juan O’Gorman and a Legacy of Muralism
Nov. 1-30, San Antonio, samuseum.org

Dobie Dichos
Nov. 3, Oakville, dobiedichos.com

Texas Butterfly Festival
Nov. 4-7, Mission, texasbutterflyfestival.com

The colorful Yanaguana Indian market happens Nov. 11 in San Antonio

NatureFest
Nov. 4, San Antonio, greensatx.org/nature-fest

Dine & Dance
Nov. 5, 19, Helotes, liveatfloores.com/allevents

Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival
Nov. 11, San Antonio, briscoemuseum.org/yanaguana

Lonesome Rose 5th Anniversary
Nov. 15-19, San Antonio, thelonesomerose.com

Ranch Hand Weekend
Nov. 17-18, Kingsville, ranchhandweekend.com

Ranch Hand Breakfast
Nov. 18, Kingsville, king-ranch.com/visit/special-events

The Velveteen Rabbit
Nov. 18-Dec. 24, San Antonio, magiktheatre.org

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.