August’s lineup of Texas festivals is as sizzling as its triple-digit weather. From a sweet peach and melon festival and rowdy rodeos to a sweltering bike race and sandcastle competition, here are 10 of the hottest festivals happening in the Lone Star State in August.
DeLeon’s Peach and Melon Festival heats up the town every August. Contributed
De Leon
Aug. 2-5: Ripe with family fun, the 108th Annual De Leon Peach and Melon Festival & Tractor Pull is one of the oldest festivals in Texas. Juicy highlights of the multiday event include everything from a parade, carnival and coronations to seed-spitting contests, watermelon slicing, live music and an epic tractor pull. More at www.pmdfestival.com.
Schulenburg Festival brings continuous live music for four days each August. Contributed
Schulenburg
Aug. 3-6: Dubbed “The National Party of Texas,” the annual Schulenburg Festival brings four days of continuous live music and entertainment to Wolters Park. Expect everything from a chili cook-off and Jackpot Bloody Mary contest to parades and rodeo action. This year’s performers include Cory Morrow, William Clark Green, and Texas Unlimited Band. Admission is $20 on Friday and $25 on Saturday night. Admission is free on Thursday, before 5 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday (children 12 and under are always free). More at www.schulenburgfestival.org.
Georgetown
Aug. 5: Make a beeline to Georgetown for the Blazin’ Beer Crawl –– a self-paced walking event featuring craft beer tastings at downtown retail stores and restaurants. This year’s event takes place from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Hot and spicy snacks will be available at various participating merchant locations, restaurants will have event day specials, and food trucks will be set up during the event. General admission tickets are $30 and include a keepsake tasting glass and a map of all of the participating merchants. More at https://mainstreet.georgetown.org/beercrawl/.
Cedar Park
Aug. 11-12: The Cedar Park Rodeo returns to H-E-B Center at Cedar Park for two evenings of professional rodeo events including bare back riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, girls barrel racing, girls breakaway roping, team roping and mutton busting. The Cedar Park Rodeo is sanctioned by the Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association and the United Professional Rodeo Association. Ticket prices range from $25 to $35 for adults and $20 to $30 for children 2-12. More at www.hebcenter.com.
Make plans to attend the 50th Annual Sonora Outlaw Rodeo this August 11 and 12. Contributed
Sonora
Aug. 11-12: Celebrating 50 years, Sonora Outlaw Rodeo and Sutton County Days unfolds at the Sutton County Fairgrounds with festivities including a parade, food vendors, craft vendors, children’s activities, rodeo performances, and live music from La Maquinaria Nortena on Friday and William Clark Green with Dylan Gully on Saturday. Find out more and purchase tickets at www.sonorarodeo.com.
Horseshoe Bay
Aug. 11-12: The 10th annual Beer by the Bay Music Festival brings two nights of non-stop country music hits from top artists, beer tastings from some of Texas’ favorite local breweries, and delicious food prepared by the resort’s award-winning culinary team. Two talented performers are headlining this year’s event –– multi-platinum country music superstar Easton Corbin on Friday night and country music hit-maker Eli Young Band on Saturday night. More at https://www.hsbresort.com/events/beer-by-the-bay/.
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The 31st Annual Austin PRIDE Festival and Parade will take place Saturday, August 12, with over 400,000 projected attendees. Contributed
Austin
Aug. 12: More than 400,000 people are expected to attend the 31st Annual Austin PRIDE Festival and Parade at Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia Street. Come decked out in your most fabulous pride attire and expect amazing entertainment, free games and carnival rides, drag queen story time, more than 100 vendor booths, food and drinks and more from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The parade is free and open to the public, kicking off at 8 p.m. at the Texas State Capitol Building, marching down Congress Avenue, and ending on the Ann Richards Bridge. Festival tickets can be purchased at the gates ($20 for adults, $10 for 7-17, free for 6 and under). More at www.austinpride.org.
The competition is considered one of the world’s largest amateur sandcastle competitions and draws thousands of spectators to watch teams vie for the coveted Golden Bucket Award each August. Credit Visit Galveston
Galveston
Aug. 12-13: Every year, more than 60 architectural teams put their eyes and shovels on winning the prestigious Golden Bucket Award at the annual AIA Sandcastle Competition, a fundraising event for AIA Houston and ArCH Foundation and one of the top five revenue-generating events for the city. Sandcastle sculpting and awards take place on Saturday. View the architectural marvels and enjoy free sandcastle building lessons on Sunday at East Beach, 1923 Boddeker Drive. More at www.visitgalveston.com/events/annual-events/aia-sandcastle-competition.
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Denton
Aug. 18-26: Saddle up for nine thrilling nights of live country music, first-class rodeos, livestock shows, kid and fun zones and more at Denton’s 95th Annual North Texas Fair and Rodeo. Fill up on Western-themed excitement including mutton busting, tractor pulls, and nightly performances from country music talents. General admission varies between $20 and $30 based on the day, a four-day pass is $80, and admission is always $5 for children 7-12 and free for children 6 and under. More at www.ntfair.com.
When searching for a way to celebrate the Wichita Falls centennial in 1982, Roby Christie, of the Wichita Falls Bicycle Club, proposed a bicycle ride – 100 miles in 100 degree heat, coining the name: Hotter’N Hell Hundred. Contributed
Wichita Falls
Aug. 24-27: As one of the country’s oldest and largest cycling events, the Hotter’N Hell Hundred brings more than 13,000 riders from around the world to Wichita Falls for four days of challenging and inspiring activities –– think 100-mile rides combined with 100-degree temperatures. Riders choose their racing distances, riding 100-mile, 75-mile, 100K, 50-mile, 25-mile or 10K routes. Register and find out more at www.hh100.org.
