From blistering bike races to fruit and music festivals, August boasts a lineup of events every bit as sizzling as Texas’ triple digit temperatures. Here are 10 of the hottest happenings in the Lone Star State this month.
Tractor pulls are always a highlight at the annual De Leon Peach and Melon Festival. Contributed by De Leon Free Press
De Leon
Now – Aug. 6: The 107th Annual De Leon Peach and Melon Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Texas and always ripe with family fun each August. Juicy highlights of the multi-day event include a street parade at 9 a.m. Saturday, melon auction, peach dessert contests, coronations, seed-spitting contests, a carnival, a free watermelon slicing, tractor pulls, live musical entertainment and more. More at www.peachandmelonfestival.net.
Schulenburg
Now – Aug. 7: The Schulenburg Festival, known as “The National Party of Texas,” 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 The Triumphs, Carson Jeffrey, Texas Unlimited Band, Dos Borrachos, Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager. Tickets are sold at the gate –– admission is $20 on Friday, $25 on Saturday and free on Sunday (children 12 and under are always free). More at www.schulenburgfestival.org.
Parker McCollum takes the stage at KOKEFEST. Photo by Steve Peters
Hutto
Aug. 5 – Aug. 6: The 5th annual KOKEFEST brings two days of live Texas Country music to Hutto each August with headliners including Clint Black, Turnpike Troubadours, Muscadine Bloodline and Robert Earl Keen. Kokefest takes place at Hutto Park at Brushy Creek and general admission tickets are $65 on Friday and $85 on Saturday. More at www.kokefest.com.
Cedar Park
Aug. 12 – 13: The Cedar Park Rodeo, presented by Bud Light, 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 bustin’ (a fan favorite). The Cedar Park Rodeo is sanctioned by the Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association and ticket prices range from $14 to $29. More at www.hebcenter.com.
Sonora
Aug. 12 – 13: The 49th annual 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 on Saturday, rodeo performances on Saturday and Sunday, and a dance on Sunday featuring Roger Creager and Josh Ward. Find out more and purchase tickets at www.sonorarodeo.com.
Denton
Aug. 19 – 27: Ride on over to Denton for nine thrilling nights of live country music, first-class rodeos, livestock shows, kid and fun zones and more at the 94th North Texas Fair and Rodeo. Western-themed excitement also includes mutton bustin’, tractor pulls and nightly performances from country music talents. Daily general admission varies between $15-$30 based on the day, but admission is always $5 for children 7-12, and free for children 6 and under. A season pass, valid for each day of the fair, is $120, and a four-day pass is $60. More at www.ntfair.com.
Austin
Aug. 20: Austin’s Annual PRIDE celebration, taking place at Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia Street, is one of the largest opportunities for local non-profit organizations, social groups and causes to gain exposure in the LGBTQ community. Expect amazing entertainment with CupCaKKe as the festival headliner, free inflatable games and carnival rides, Drag Queen story time, more than 100 vendors and booths, food, drinks and more. The parade is free and open to the public and festival tickets can be purchased at the gates ($20 for adults, $10 for 7-17, free for 6 and under). Festival gates open at 11 a.m. and the parade, which starts at the Capitol and marches down Congress, ending at the Congress Bridge/Cesar Chavez, starts at 8 p.m. More at www.austinpride.org.
The AIA Sandcastle competition first started in 1986 with just a few architects and has grown into a family event of architects, designers, engineers, and contractors who are members of AIA-Houston. Contributed
Galveston
Aug. 20 – 21: View sand sculptures like you’ve never seen before at the 35th AIA Sandcastle Contest and Viewing, which brings more than 60 teams of architects together to compete in sculpting the best creations and the chance to win the prestigious Golden Bucket Award. The AIA Sandcastle Competition is a fundraising event for AIA Houston and ArCH Foundation and one of the top five revenue-generating events for the city. The castles remain for public viewing on Sunday without the crowds on East Beach at 1923 Boddeker Drive. More at visitgalveston.com
RELATED: Drop by LaKing’s in Galveston for candy, ice cream and nostalgia
Fredericksburg
Aug. 25 – 28: The 134th Gillespie County Fair, taking place at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds and Exhibition Hall, is the oldest continuous county fair in Texas. Expect four fun-filled days of events, including a carnival and midway, fair food, livestock judging, agricultural and household exhibits, arts and crafts, antique tractor shows, live music and dancing, and live pari-mutuel horse racing. More at www.gillespiefair.com.
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The Hotter’N Hell Hundred brings more than 13,000 riders from around the world to Wichita Falls. Photo by Richard Cleaver
Wichita Falls
Aug. 25 – 28: 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 each August –– 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 for the event you want to participate in and find out more at www.hh100.org.
If You Go
Getting there:
Schulenburg is 1 hour, 15 minutes from Austin.
De Leon is 2.5 hours from Austin.
Hutto is 30 minutes from Austin.
Sonora is 3 hours from Austin.
Denton is 3 hours, 15 minutes from Austin.
Galveston is 3.5 hours from Austin.
Fredericksburg is 1.5 hours from Austin.
Wichita Falls is 4 hours, 15 minutes from Austin.
