Texas Arts and Music Festival

The eighth annual Texas Arts & Music Festival in historic Downtown Brenham is just around the corner! Join us October 21-22, 2023, for a family-friendly weekend of art, music, street food, and activities in the streets of Downtown Brenham.

Each year the Texas Arts & Music Festival brings live music and world-renowned mural artists for live art installations for the public to enjoy.

Texas Arts and Music Festival will feature live music throughout the day on Saturday, October 21 with Nite Moves Band opening the main stage at 4:30pm. Headlining Saturday night at 7pm will be Reverend Horton Heat, the undisputed heavyweight champion and godfather of Psychobilly music. This band has reinterpreted the country-blues-rock roots of America to produce a toe-tapping, mind-blowing, psychobilly sound that is unforgettable to any and every one that has been fortunate enough to hear it. The concert, along with the festival, are family-friendly and FREE to the public. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy live music and delicious food and refreshments from local restaurants and food trucks.

The Art Village will be open on Saturday, 10am-8pm and Sunday, 11am-2pm. Artists and Craftsmen from across Texas will be set up offering their unique handmade creations to the public.

The Texas Arts & Music Festival is the perfect weekend to enjoy all that historic Downtown Brenham has to offer! Check out our lodging partners, and plan your weekend now.

For more information, visit the TAMF website.

Photography by Natalie Lacy Lange

10 Fall Happenings Around Brenham

The days are getting shorter and the promise of lower temperatures means that it’s time for fall! The Fall happenings in Brenham and around all of Washington County make it a favorite time of year to visit.

Mark your calendar and reserve your rooms for these TEN fabulous fall happenings around Brenham!

1 . Oktoberfest at Home Sweet Farm Biergarten

SEPT 29-30 It’s time for Oktoberfest at HSF Biergarten in Downtown Brenham, September 29-30. The tap wall will be filled with several fine imported German beers. Come raise a glass, chug a boot, and enjoy some live music by Beau Hinze & The Back Porch Shufflers and Sparky Parker. Prost, Ya’ll!

2 . Scarecrow Festival in Chappell Hill

OCT 14-15 Visit one of the most charming communities in Texas for the Scarecrow Festival. The festival boasts more than 250 exhibitors (home décor, gardening, artists, craftsmen, jewelry, clothing, etc.), delicious country-style food, live music, and tours of the National Register Chappell Hill community. A special Children’s Activity Corner provides pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, barrel train, and more.

3 . Hocus Pocus Party

OCT 19 Join a bewitching blend of nostalgia and fun hosted by Glamfetti at Westwood Cinema 6. Tickets include movie, popcorn, glass of bubbly (non-alcoholic is available), themed photo opps, and more!

4 . Antique Shows

OCT 14-28 Round Top is just down the road, and there are several fabulous fall antique shows and year-round venues in Washington County. The LaBahia Antique Show (Oct. 20-28) between Burton and Round Top is celebrating over 30 years of incredible treasures. Antiques at the Pavilions will offer a variety of dealers at the pavilions of the Texas Cotton Gin Museum, Oct. 19-25. Look for all the antique dealers in Burton, as well as the world renowned Leftovers Antiques, open year-round between Brenham and Burton on HWY 290 W.

5 . Wine & Wander in Burton

OCT 20 Head to Burton for “Wine & Wander” October 20, at the Texas Cotton Gin Museum. Enjoy shopping and heavy appetizers catered by Blue Willow Cafe. Sip local wines from Busted Oak Cellars and meads from Rohan Meadery, and listen to the soulful music of Samuel Paul Brown.

6 . Texas Arts & Music Festival

OCT 21-22 The Texas Arts & Music Festival is the source of Downtown Brenham’s beautiful murals! This free, family-friendly event takes place in Downtown Brenham October 21-22, and includes live music, live mural installation, an art village, pop-up galleries, and much more. Music headliner for Saturday night will be Reverend Horton Heat!

7 . Mask-erade on Main

OCT 28 Join us for a spooktacular free family-friendly event in Historic Downtown Brenham, Saturday, Oct. 28. Grab the kids and costumes and head downtown for Trick-or-Treating at your favorite Main Street Brenham businesses! There will be plenty of family fun to sink your fangs into!
There will be food trucks, face painting, and more!

8 . Christmas Magic at Hermann Furniture & The Giddings Stone Mansion

NOV 3-5 Hosted by Hermann Furniture, the oldest furniture store in Texas, this festive weekend is more than a shopping event. The store will be decked wall to wall with seasonal decor, and they will have design seminars, door prizes, pop-up shops, wine and hors d’oeuvres. The festivities include a luncheon at the Giddings Stone Mansion on Saturday, November 4. Luncheon tickets are $30 per person with reservations required. Entry to store and design seminars is free.

9 . Fall Festival of Roses at Antique Rose Emporium

NOV 3-5 The experts at Antique Rose Emporium host the Fall Festival of Roses during the first weekend of November. Explore the inspiring display gardens and attend seminars to grow your gardening knowledge. In addition to the seminars and endless fall garden inspiration, enjoy food trucks and shopping in the heart of Independence, Texas.

10 . Weekly Fall Happenings

WEEKLY EVENTS Some of our favorite fall happenings are so good, we have to share them every week! Antique carousel rides ($1 each), free entry to the Brenham Fire Museum (Saturdays in October & November), and the live demonstrations every weekend at Barrington Plantation, which is located within Washington-on-the-Brazos historical site are a few.

In addition to these fall happenings around Brenham, we have many daily events that include live music, theatre, and retail specials. See our full calendar of events here. Fall is prime time to visit the area, so make reservations with your favorite lodging partner soon!

Weekend Getaway with S.A. Foodie

Sometimes the best things in life are FREE … or pretty close …

TOP NINE FREE THINGS

to do and see in Washington County!

The ‘dog days’ of summer are here and you are dreaming of having fun—something beyond the blow up pool in the backyard. You NEED to get out of the house, experience a complete change of scenery, make some memories, feed your spirit … without breaking the bank! No worries. Head to the Brenham and Washington County area! It’s an easy drive away—halfway between Houston and Austin—and a world away from the hustle and bustle of big city life.

Window Shop in Historic Downtown Brenham and Chappell Hill

You’ll feel the stress melting away as you stroll our peaceful historic streets and experience small town friendliness and charm. Take a moment to sit in the shade of huge oak trees surrounding the Courthouse in Brenham or the historic buildings in Chappell Hill and don’t be surprised if you get a friendly wave or two. FREE!

New Splash Pad near Fireman’s Park

Take a seat at a nearby picnic table and watch the kids laugh and play in the cool, clean water. You might just want to join them! Good, clean fun for all. FREE!

Peeka Ranch Alpacas

Get up close and pet these beautiful animals. You’ll fall in love as soon as you gaze into their sweet eyes, complete with enviable long eyelashes! FREE for those under 17, $5 for adults! Appointments required.

Texas Cotton Gin Museum in Burton

History comes alive with this one-of-a-kind experience. Built in 1914, the Burton Farmer’s Cotton Gin is the oldest operating gin in the U.S. The museum is full of cotton memorabilia and the store offers fun, cotton-inspired shopping. Open Tuesday – Saturday from 10-3. The Museum is FREE for everyone. Tours at 10 am and 2pm are FREE for children 5 and under; Students $4; Adults $6.

Let Giant Murals Inspire Your Creativity

Drop by the Visitor Center in Downtown Brenham and pick up a passport or download a map here, that will direct you to all the breathtaking murals that have been painted by famed muralists from around the country. Truly inspiring—and great backdrops for selfies! FREE!

1. Chappell Hill Lavender Farm

Ahhhh, the sweet smell of lavender! Take a scenic drive to the Chappell Hill area and walk among the rows and rows of gorgeous lavender plants. The shop offers a variety of lavender-inspired soaps, food, gifts and more. Fresh air and lavender are FREE ! Open Thursday – Sunday, see website for hours.

Antique Rose Emporium

This 8-acre complex features nature in all its glory and is a definite “must see.” Photographers love the endless vignettes (charges apply for professional photo shoots). Gardeners are inspired by the creative uses of plants and found objects that dot the gardens. Nature lovers get their ‘fix’ of all things beautiful in these display gardens. FREE! Open Thursday – Sunday, see website for hours.

Old Baylor Park

Sprawling old oak trees shade this historic site, where stone ruins remain from Baylor University’s earliest days. Picnic tables and a playground make this a favorite stop for traveling families. An easy two-mile round-trip walk (or drive) takes you to Independence Cemetery, one of the most soulful historic cemeteries in the area. FREE!

Blue Bell Creameries

No trip to our area is complete without visiting the creamery. Browse the Blue Bell Visitor Center for all kinds of history, pictures, and videos. Savor a generous scoop of your favorite Blue Bell ice cream from the Parlor (only $1 per scoop) and a trip to the Country Store for a unique gift. Important Note: Observation Deck is not currently open, but the Parlor, Visitor Center and Gift Shop are FREE and open Monday – Friday 8am-5pm.

Plan a weekend stay to do it all! There’s plenty to do and see in the fresh open spaces of our area—without breaking the bank. You are FREE to roam our area. See you soon!

Tag: Murals