Day Trips & Beyond: November Events Roundup

The start of the holiday season means it’s time to do some daytrippin’.

Closed for cleaning. Texans’ favorite convenience store, famous for its Beaver Nuggets, wall of snacks, and squeaky-clean restrooms, has come to West Texas. But this Buc-ee’s Travel Center has none of that. While the other locations never close, this one behind a barbed-wire fence never opens.

Those jokesters west of the Pecos River have a dry sense of humor and way too much time on their hands. They’re known for turning cinderblock utility closets along the highways into works of art like a faux Mini-Target (gone) and, of course, the famous Prada Marfa outside of Valentine. The artist for the Baby Buc-ee’s prefers to go unidentified.

The original tiny Buc-ee’s appeared in April 2022, but was painted over two days later. This one appeared just as mysteriously in June 2023. Along a desolate stretch of desert highway, the building about the size of a toolshed on the north side of the highway offers none of the amenities of the full-service Buc-ee’s, but it does have a lot of charm.
World’s Tiniest Buc-ees, On US90 west of Sanderson, Never open, but always there until it’s not.

Burn ban. The final performance of award-winning, Houston-based artist, and composer Lisa E. Harris’ four-part performance series, Elements IV: Fire, will be set against the backdrop of David Best's monumental sculpture, Houston Temple.

Original plans were to burn the temple after the performance to let the memorial messages left at the temple float to the heavens. Due to an ongoing drought and a burn ban in Houston the bonfire will be replaced by a fire performance by Renegade Carnies. Following the performances, a participatory ceremonial burn will take place inviting guests to detach memorial inscriptions and other pieces of the temple and place them in a custom-made, decorative fire receptacle where their emotional power will be released.

Resembling an Asian pagoda, the temple has a rocket-shaped spire rising 35-feet above the gravel parking lot behind the Orange Show Center for the Visionary Arts. The structure was designed by Best, who constructed nine temporary temples at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert and other sculptures around the world.

During the temple’s six-month lifespan, visitors were invited to write memorials on squares of wood to loved ones who have passed. The burning of the temple on November 9 was meant to send the messages on to the spirit world and to be cathartic for the sender.
Nov. 9, “Burning” of David Best’s Houston Temple, Houston, www.full.orangeshow.org/davidbest

Travel Notes:

Stone libraries. West Texas harbors some of the oldest storytelling in America. Seminole Canyon State Park shelters a particularly spectacular collection of rock art that is accessible to the public. Because of the extreme heat in the desert region west of Del Rio hikes to see the rock art in remote areas of Seminole and Presa canyons can best be done in fall, winter, and spring. The Friends of Seminole Canyon State Park is currently taking reservations for several hikes to rock art sites. Shumla Treks offers guided tours in Seminole Canyon and surrounding areas in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. The tours with a professional archaeologist will start again next year.

As a reminder. The time to start a spring showing of wildflowers on your property is now. Many native wildflowers, including our beloved bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes, require colder soil temperatures combined with appropriate watering or rainfall for seeds to germinate in the fall and be ready to bloom in the spring. Native wildflowers provide critical habitat for pollinators, many of which have seen declines in their population. To find resources for information and seeds go to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Native Plant Society of Texas, and Wildseed Farms.

Free parking. On Nov. 3, visitors will get free day-use entry at all Texas State Parks in honor of Texas State Parks Day, a tradition born from the centennial celebration in 2023. Texas has more than 80 parks throughout the state that offer a variety of outdoor day-use activities. Reservations are recommended and can be made at tpwd.texas.gov. Parks will operate as they normally do and will control admissions by their established capacity limits. All other fees will still apply on that day.

Other November Events:

Jump to a region: Big Bend | Gulf Coast | Hill Country | Panhandle | Piney Woods | Prairies & Lakes | South Texas | Out of State

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BIG BEND

Tom Lea and Fred Darge
The museum on the campus of Sul Ross State University is currently showing rare paintings by two of the Southwest’s premier documentarian artists. The collection includes Lea’s (1907-2001) paintings that he did for TIME/LIFE exploring the journey of beef cattle, but were never published. Based in Dallas, Darge (1900-1978) was an obscure artist who chronicled the disappearing way of life in the West.
Alpine, www.museumofthebigbend.com

GULF COAST

Elements IV: Fire
The final day of David Best's sculpture, Houston Temple. A participatory ceremonial burn will follow the final performance of Houston-based artist Lisa E. Harris’ interdisciplinary series.
Nov. 9, Houston, www.full.orangeshow.org/davidbest

Kites and Castles
The Surfside Flyers Kite Club will be out in force at Stahlman Park with their high-flying acrobatics, plus there will be professional sandcastle building demonstrations.
Nov. 9, Surfside Beach, www.visitsurfsidebeachtx.org

Red Dirt Barbecue and Music Festival
Sample the fixings from some of the best barbecue joints in the state while listening to the bands.
Nov. 9, Victoria, www.reddirtbbqvictoria.com

Fort Bend County Libraries’ Book Festival
Author Stacey Swann is the headliner at the annual festival from 10am-2pm at the George Memorial Library. Her debut novel, Olympus, Texas, is set in a modern-day rural Texas town. There will be storytelling, writing workshops, and a book sale.
Nov. 16, Richmond, www.fortbend.lib.tx.us/basic-page/community-reads-author-stacey-swann-headline-fbcl-book-festival

HILL COUNTRY

Texas State Arts and Crafts Fair
The official arts and crafts fair of Texas since 1972 features some of the best craftspeople in the state at producing art, food, craft beer, gourmet food, and live music.
Nov. 1-3, Ingram, txartsandcraftsfair.com

Wurstfest
Celebrate the best of Texas’ German culture with a salute of sausage and the Chicken Dance.
Nov. 1-10, New Braunfels, www.wurstfest.com

Fossil Fest
Let the kids get their hands dirty exploring the world of fossils and rocks.
Nov. 2-3, Round Rock, www.austinpaleo.org/fest.html

Texas Craft Brewers Festival
Grab a sample from the more than 70 small and independent brewers plus try the variety of local food vendors at Fiesta Gardens from 2pm to 6:30pm.
Nov. 16, Austin, www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org

Texas Book Festival
The free festival in downtown celebrates all things literary.
Nov. 16-17, Austin, www.texasbookfestival.org

Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating
Surrounded by colorful holiday lights and protected from the chilly winds in the Marktplatz, this is a Hill Country Christmas tradition.
Nov. 23-Jan. 5, Fredericksburg, www.heritageschool.org/eisbahn

Fall Handmade Market
Just in time for your holiday shopping the largest market of its kind in South Texas brings together artisans with jewelry, apparel, leather goods, toys, home décor, and art. Every item is unique and handcrafted with care.
Nov. 22-23, Boerne, www.boernehandmademarket.com

PANHANDLE

Hard Times Come Again No More: Depression Era Photographs
Photographers Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Russell Lee, Marion Post Wolcott, Ben Shahn, Jack Delano, John Vachon, Arthur Rothstein, and others are represented in this unflinching record of the devastation that rendered enormous stretches of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas uninhabitable. The juxtaposition of the photographs and the paintings in the adjacent galleries from the same period by Texas Regionalists Charles Taylor Bowling, Jerry Bywaters, Otis Dozier, Thomas Stell, Jr., Everett Spruce, William Lester, John Douglass, Harry Carnohan, and Florence McClung reveals the power of art to create enduring images that continue to define an important chapter in American history.
Nov. 1-Feb. 8, Abilene, www.thegracemuseum.org

PINEY WOODS

Heritage Syrup Festival
See how they make ribbon cane syrup along with other folk arts, antique tractors, music, and unique shopping opportunities.
Nov. 9, Henderson, hendersontx.us

PRAIRIES AND LAKES

Texas Renaissance Festival
The weekend festival celebrates its 50th year with special entertainment and family fun.
Nov. 2-Dec. 1, Todd Mission, www.texrenfest.com

Texas Monthly Barbecue Fest
The barbecue capital of Texas welcomes a celebration of smoked meats. Get your general admission tickets before they sell out.
Nov. 2-3, Lockhart, www.texasmonthly.com/event/2024-tm-bbq-fest-lockhart

Scottish Gathering and Highland Games
The oldest Scottish gathering in the state brings the clans together for highland games, bagpipes, dances, storytelling, and more.
Nov. 8-10, Salado, www.saladoscottishfestival.com

Big Barn Dance Preview
Free performance by Michael Hearne & Shake Russell, Rick Trevino, and Scott Sean White as a warmup for the second annual Big Barn Dance at Bryan, March 27-29, 2025.
Nov. 9, Bryan, bigbarndance.com

Gault Site Tour
The archaeological site is one of the largest identified Clovis sites and helped establish that people were in the Americas as early as 20,000 years ago with deposits preceding the site near Clovis, N.M. More than 2 million artifacts have been recovered from the site. Tours begin at 9am. The site is between Salado and Florence.
Nov. 9, Florence, www.bellcountymuseum.org/events/2020/gault-site-tour42222

Friends of the Library Book Sale
Shop thousands of gently used books to help library programs.
Nov. 9-10, Bryan, www.friendsbcs.org

Parade of Lights
Join a huge spectacle as 100 floats and performers meander through downtown.
Nov. 24, Fort Worth, www.fortworthparadeoflights.org

SOUTH TEXAS

Jazz in the Tea Garden
Experience the dynamic sounds of Jose Amador and Terra Nova from 6:30-9pm. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Jingu House Café, with a portion of sales supporting garden preservation. Leashed pets are welcome.
Nov. 8, San Antonio, saparks.org/japanese-tea-garden

Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival
Enjoy free family fun, music, arts, crafts and museum admission as the museum celebrates the continued vibrancy and artistic traditions of Native American communities. Registration is free, but recommended.
Nov. 9, San Antonio, briscoemuseum.org/etn/yanaguana-indian-arts-festival

Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony
An annual holiday tradition featuring 27 illuminated floats, 5 entertainment floats, and over 100,000 holiday lights that brighten the River Walk from sundown to sunrise until the weekend after New Year’s Day. Tickets for the parade range from $12.50 to $40 and are sold online.
Nov. 29, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events

OUT OF STATE

Neon City Festival
The inaugural edition of this free, all-ages celebration of music, food, and art transforms the heart of Las Vegas into a sprawling, open-air playground.
Nov. 22-24, Las Vegas, Nev., www.neoncityfestival.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.