Day Trips & Beyond: June Events Roundup

It’s June and time to head to the beach, go to the oldest dance hall, or just attend an event to taste the local color.

Summer road trip. From Sabine Pass to Boca Chica, Texas has 367 miles of shoreline.

The Texas Constitution guarantees the public the right to walk on coastal beaches. The challenge can be finding the right access point. Galveston in the north, Corpus Christi in the center, and South Padre Island at the southern tip offer some of the best beaches in the state.

After the devastating hurricane in 1900, Galveston built a 10-mile, 17-foot-tall seawall to protect the island city. Visitors can park along the longest continuous sidewalk in the U.S. and descend stairs to the sandy beach.

To find secluded beaches, head south on the Bluewater Highway (FM 3005/257) toward Surfside Beach. Access roads cutting through the dunes allow vehicles to drive on the beach. Take the ferry north from Galveston to Bolivar Peninsula and the beaches become more rugged with excellent opportunities to find seashells.

The Corpus Christi-Rockport-Port Aransas metro area might be considered the Riviera of Texas. Corpus Christi has McGee Beach along the seawall in downtown, and Rockport has a lovely beach park right in town.

The best beach of them all is beautiful Mustang Island beach stretching 18 miles from Port Aransas to JFK Causeway from Corpus Christi. The six miles of beach in town are protected from vehicular traffic, but you’ll need a parking permit. South of the barriers, sun worshipers can park their vehicles right at the water’s edge.

A few miles south of the JFK Causeway the island becomes Padre Island National Seashore. Established in 1962, the National Seashore beach stretches 65.5 miles of the 113 miles of the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. The miles and miles of peaceful beach are open to visitors for fishing, camping, or beachcombing. It is the only place in the world where all five threatened and endangered species of sea turtles found in the Gulf of Mexico nest. During the summer the National Park Service collects the turtle eggs and then releases the hatchlings. For the latest updates, call the Hatchling Release Hotline at 361/949-7163.

The white sands of South Padre Island at the southern tip of Texas are some of the most beautiful beaches on the coast. In town you can walk out of your hotel onto the beach. Cameron County provides several access points along the island with parking lots and bathhouses. Isla Blanca County Park at the southern tip of the island offers pavilions right on the beach with concessionaires, a RV park, and amphitheatre. This is a great place to watch the SpaceX rocket launches from Starbase, Texas (the former Boca Chica).

Cathedral of two-steppin’. The story goes that when Pat Molak first saw the old dance hall in Gruene in 1974 he wasn’t too impressed. Built in 1878, it had been used as a hay barn for several years and was surrounded by a dilapidated town that had seen its best days when cotton was king. Still, Molak and his business partner Mary Jane Nalley took a chance and purchased the nearly century-old building on the banks of the Guadalupe River outside of New Braunfels.

Beginning in 1975, Gruene Hall became the centerpiece of the popular tourist town, and an incubator for young musical talent coming out of Central Texas. A young George Strait played there, as did Robert Earl Keen, Asleep at the Wheel, Pat Green, and Lyle Lovett. Over the years a constellation of stars have walked across the well-worn stage. The success of the dance hall spawned several restaurants, bars, and retail businesses.

After a long illness, Pat Molak passed away on March 29, 2025, at 76 years old. Over the next several months the dance hall will host a 50th Anniversary Music Series, photo contest, special merchandise, and a community event this fall. On June 13, what should have been Pat’s 77th birthday, the hall will unveil the Pat Molak Legacy Wall featuring never-before-shared memorabilia.
June 13, 4pm, Pat Molak Wall Unveiling, Gruene Hall, Gruene, gruenehall.com

Hoodoo wonders. For nearly four years the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, about 40 minutes outside of Santa Fe, N.M., has been closed to the public. That changed late last year when it reopened for a month before closing for the season. This will be the first full season the remarkable geological formations will be open to visitors since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Monument, on the Cochita Pueblo in north-central New Mexico, is accessible by hiking trails that range from 5,570 feet to 6,760 feet above sea level. The cone-shaped rock formations are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago that left pumice, ash, and tuff deposits over 1,000 feet thick. Precariously perched on many of the tapering hoodoos are boulder caps that protect the softer pumice and tuff below. Some tents have lost their hard, resistant caprocks, and are slowly disintegrating. While fairly uniform in shape, the rock formations vary in height from a few feet up to 90 feet. Looking like the tops of wizard hats, the landscape is remarkable in its unique beauty.

Access to the National Monument requires two passes. The first is from the Bureau of Land Management through www.recreation.gov. These tickets are for a specific day and time, and must be purchased before arriving. The second is a Cochiti Pueblo Tribal Access Pass directly from the Pueblo prior to entering the monument. All visitors must check in at the Cochiti Visitor Center prior to entry. Check in begins no earlier than 7:45am with pilot vehicles leading visitors into the monument starting at 8am. The last pilot car will leave the Visitor Center at 1pm. All visitors must exit the monument by 4pm.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Thur.-Mon., Cochita Pueblo, NM, www.blm.gov/visit/kktr

Travel Notes:

Taking the waters. The Austin area just got a little warmer. On June 1 the Ottine Mineral Springs opened to the public. Formerly known as Warm Springs, the 40-acre site in Ottine, between Luling and Gonzales, has undergone a historic restoration and redevelopment to create a year-round wellness destination where visitors can experience the therapeutic mineral waters. The pools are now accepting bookings for day passes. Located adjacent to Palmetto State Park, Ottine has several mineral-rich pools of varying temperatures – including some refreshingly cool pools for summer. In addition to five new refreshing pools, guests can experience contrast therapy and spa services, and a locally and seasonally inspired food and beverage menus. Guests can enjoy a selection of juices, coffee, wine, beer, and cocktails from the bar, while soaking in the healing waters.

On Blueberry Hill. You know its summer when the blueberry farms of East Texas are open for pick-your-own. Blueberry Hill Farms opened on Memorial Day Weekend, and the season goes through mid-July. The farm and store outside of Edom has fields of blueberries and blackberries for picking, plus fruit trees for sale. The store and bakery carries all things blueberry, but the blueberry ice cream is the bomb. You can also purchase fresh, picked blueberries without having to do the work, but where’s the fun in that? For a list of PYO farms and orchards around the state, go to www.pickyourown.org.

Luxury doublewides. In 2009, El Cosmico, a collection of vintage house trailers, teepees, and yurts on 21-acres of desert on the outskirts of Marfa, became the chic campground hotel in West Texas. The far-out accommodations were the vision of Austin-based hotelier Liz Lambert, who is also behind the acclaimed Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin Motel, and Hotel San Jose, among other properties. In May it was announced that the original El Cosmico will close for good on July 1. A new El Cosmico will open in 2027 on 60 acres north of town featuring futuristic 3D-printed rooms.

Electric light show. The remarkable video light show projected on the San Fernando Cathedral has gone dark while it undergoes equipment updates. The Saga by French artist Xavier de Richemont debuted in June 2014, and has been a must-see for visitors since. Be sure to check the website if you’re journeying to San Antonio to see one of the most amazing free shows in the state.

Other June Events:

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

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BIG BEND

Billy the Kid Festival
Remember the day Billy the Kid broke into jail with reenactments, and art and food vendors.
June 1-2, San Elizario, www.billythekidfestival.com

Agave Festival
Salute the succulent plant that has been part of myth and ritual for generations with spirit tastings, films, dining, and music.
June 5-8, Marfa, www.agavemarfa.com

GULF COAST

Mural Fest
The city introduces five new murals in the downtown area with a party.
June 1-8, Corpus Christi, downtowncorpuschristi.org/events/mural-fest-2025

Juneteenth Celebration
Honor the day the slaves were freed in Texas where the celebration began with festivities and reenactments.
June 7-8, Galveston, www.visitgalveston.com/events/annual-events/juneteenth

Kolache-Klobase Festival
You need to Czech this out if you like Slavic food and music. There will be lots of polka music and lunch plates of traditional foods.
June 14, East Bernard, kkfest.com

HILL COUNTRY

Kerrville Folk Festival
The 52-year-old music festival enters its final week of the year.
June 1-8, Kerrville, www.kerrvillefolkfestival.org

Abendkonzert
Be a part of Boerne history by enjoying the 190-year-old Boerne Village Band, the oldest continuously active German band outside of Germany.
June 3, 17, July 1, 15, Boerne, www.ci.boerne.tx.us/1104/concerts-in-the-park

Music Connects Us
The Fredericksburg Music Festival and School will launch its first concert season this summer, featuring 12 concerts by 25 world-class musicians at five historic venues.
June 8-21, Fredericksburg, www.texascellos.org/fredericksburg-festival

Texas Water Safari
Catch a glimpse of the contestants and cheer them on as they make their way from Spring Lake in San Marcos to the Gulf Coast over four days and four hours in the world’s toughest canoe race.
June 13, San Marcos, www.texaswatersafari.org

Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival
Brewers from around the state come to town to see who walks away with bragging rights and to benefit the local Rotary Club.
June 13-14, Fredericksburg, fbgcraftbeerfestival.com

Shakespeare in the Park: The Tempest
Magic, betrayal, revenge, and family come together in one of the Bard’s most popular plays under the stars.
June 13-14, Kerrville, www.caillouxperformingarts.com

Peach JAMboree and Rodeo
Show your love for sweet Texas peaches with peach cobbler, peach ice cream, and nightly rodeo action.
June 19-21, Stonewall, www.stonewalltexas.com/peach-jamboree

Rock the Block
Join in with this family-friendly music series enhanced with local food trucks.
June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Pflugerville, www.pflugervilletx.gov/956/roack-the-block

THCW Austin Road Show
An evening of Hill Country wine at the Austin Central Library. Texas Hill Country Wineries is bringing 32 wineries and 90+ wines from the Hill Country to the Austin Central Library for a walk-around tasting from 5:30-8pm.
June 27, Austin, texashillcountrywineries.org

Canvas and Quilts: The Art of Ira and Kathy Kennedy
The intrepid couple earned their Day Trippin’ badges long ago by traveling the backroads of the Hill Country. They have expanded their storytelling through innovative dot painting (him) and quilts (her).
June 28-Sept. 28, Llano, www.llanofineartsguild.com

African American Book Festival
Promoting reading and writing, this event features authors and cultural leaders discussing literature in the community.
June 29, Austin, www.aaabookfest.org

PANHANDLE

Texas Route 66 Festival
Get your kicks with classic car shows, tours, movies, parades, live music, and more.
June 5-14, Amarillo, www.visitamarillo.com/events/route-66

Barbara’s Pearls: Barbara Bush’s 100th Birthday
The former first lady was known for her elegant pearls and the state historic site is celebrating with pearl-themed activities for her birthday. Because of Barbara Bush’s work in literacy, the books in Robin’s Reading Room located at the site will be available for reading. Each child will be able to take home a book.
June 7, Midland, thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/bush-family-home

Children Art + Literacy Festival
Children of all ages celebrate the art of storytelling, and the love of for books and art.
June 12-15, Abilene, www.abilenecalf.com

Fort Griffin Fandangle
The fast-paced spectacle re-creates the feeling of life in the Old West through song and dance.
June 20-28, Albany, www.fortgriffinfandangle.com

PINEY WOODS

Great Texas Balloon Race and Festival
Pilots from around the country compete for prizes. Spectators get to enjoy the food, drinks, music, specialty shaped balloons, balloon glow, and drone show.
June 9-15, Longview, www.gtbr.net

Texas Blueberry Festival
In celebration of the delightful little blue orbs, the town hosts an array of events in downtown with pick-your-own opportunities at nearby farms.
June 14, Nacogdoches, tbf.nacogdoches.org

Texas Shakespeare Festival
Be a part of the 40th season, featuring Twelfth Night, Steel Magnolias, Macbeth, Kiss Me, Kate, The Daisy Bradford 3, and The Princess and the Players.
June 26-July 27, Kilgore, www.texasshakespeare.com

Blueberry Season at Moorhead’s Farm
Shirley, the tasty little blue orbs are ripe by now. Check the farm’s website to see if they’re open yet.
June 28, Conroe, www.moorheadsblueberryfarm.com

PRAIRIES & LAKES

Chisholm Trail Roundup Festival and Rodeo
Don’t let this be your first rodeo as the barbecue capital celebrates the Old West in Lockhart City Park.
June 12-14, Lockhart, www.lockhartchamber.com/chisholm-trail-roundup

Juneteenth Cultural Festival
Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth celebrates the day 250,000 enslaved Black people were freed in Texas on June 19, 1865. The festival includes a musical celebration, a parade, a freedom festival, and a street dance.
June 20-21, Bastrop, bastropjuneteenth.com

Sounds of Navasota: Juneteenth Celebration
Mance Lipscomb’s hometown sponsors a concert series featuring Zydeco Joseph & The H-Town Players.
June 21, Aug. 9, Sept. 6, Navasota, www.visitnavasota.com

Luling Watermelon Thump
This is a huge street party with a carnival, seed spitting contest, and watermelon eating contest.
June 26-29, Luling, www.newsite.watermelonthump.com

Pet and Pal Parade
Register your pet at the courthouse beginning at 8am and then see who wins the prizes. Then stick around for the fireworks show in Fisherman’s Park.
June 29, Bastrop, www.visitbastrop.com/events/festivals/big-bang-celebration

SOUTH TEXAS

Fiesta Noche del Rio
The oldest outdoor dance performance of its kind in the U.S. happens every Friday and Saturday night in the Arneson River Theatre.
June 6-Aug. 3, San Antonio, www.fiestanochesa.com

OUT OF STATE

World Championship Running of the Tubs
For over a century, visitors have flocked to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, to bathe in the thermal waters. But you have a race when you take a bathtub and put it on wheels. To celebrate Hot Springs’ classic motto, “We Bathe the World,” teams from all over get their best bathtubs all dolled up. Four team members (the bath attendants) must push their bathtubs through the Historic Bathhouse Row while the team captain sits in the bathtub and steers. Throughout the course, teams will face various obstacles along the way, while dressed in elaborate costumes. The bathtub must be full of water at the start of the race and have at least 10 gallons of water left in the tub at the finish line. If that isn’t hard enough, each bath attendant must carry one of four items (bar of soap, bath mat, loofah mitt, bath towel) throughout the entire race and present all items at the end of the race. Throughout the entire race the crowd sprays the competitors with water in hopes to slow down, distract, of just annoy racers.
June 6-7, Hot Springs, Ark., www.hotsprings.org/events/world-championship-running-of-the-tubs

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Gerald McLeod has been traveling around Texas and beyond for his "Day Trips" column for more than 30 years. Keep up to date with his journeys on his archive page and follow him on Facebook.