Tearing up the floor at Wurstfest. If you can’t polka or two-step, just wait for the next Chicken Dance.

It’s become a yearly tradition for us to head down to Wurstfest in New Braunfels to share the joys of beer, sausage and polka with a few friends. Both the Longhorns and the Aggies had won football games when we went this Saturday, so the grounds were extra-packed with jovial fans–and a few in burnt orange even offering congratulations to those in maroon after their team beat No. 1 Alabama. Usually we’d park somewhere in town and trek on foot to the festival, but this time we caught the Wurst Wagen from the park-and-ride at the New Braunfels VFW, which was worth the money: $20 each for parking, admission, a ride to the front gate and some drink tickets, which saved us from standing in a couple of long lines at the event.

Once inside, we headed to the food pavilion for dinner. I went in with a strategy to try at least a little of a lot of different offerings: a Wurst-kabob (with five different types of sausage and a dinner roll), bratwurst hot dog, fried sauerkraut, fried pickles, fried cheesecake, and a kolache. These went fast among our group of six people, and when we were full, we agreed that we should come back next year to try the things we didn’t get around to (I’ll get you next time, apple pancakes…next time!).

Aside from the food area and the dance hall, another popular stop for a lot of people was the hat vendor. I think this photo of my new headgear is a perfect testament to the great time we had. Yes, the wings actually flap. Even the cashiers at Buc-ee’s on our way home were impressed.

It’s pretty rare that I’m drawn to an event on the strength of a poster alone, but then I saw this:

Lightning! A famous scientific rivalry! …Fictitious metal?

My curiosity was piqued, so I checked out the website. At the center of the event is a “fictional smack down”/stage show portraying Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, who personify the competing electrical technologies that emerged in the late 1800s. Add costumed entertainers, music, vendors, mad-science labs and a generous helping of ”steampunk” style (imagine combining Victorian Era technology with a Renaissance festival), and the ghost town of Unobtainium, Texas, crackles to life. The website predicts:  “Sparks will fly. Ray guns will be drawn. History will be re-made!” Even if it doesn’t sound like your kind of scene, you have to admire the earnest creativity behind the concept.

The imaginary town of Unobtainium can be found at Ball Farm in Dale, Texas, about 30 minutes southeast of Austin. Tesla and Edison are set to take shots at each other throughout the day before the actual showdown at 10 p.m. Saturday and again at 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit http://showdownatunobtainium.com.

Last week I took some time off to host my dad while he visits from out of state, which means I got to play tour guide. In his previous visits, we already explored most of the sights around my home in Austin, so this time I made plans to get out and stretch our legs in the surrounding area.

I let dad rest up on his first evening here, but the next day, we were off to explore downtown Bastrop and Bastrop State Park. Among the downtown shops and eateries on Main Street, we especially enjoyed the sign to the right (which, naturally, points to a door that can’t be opened). In the park, the loblolly pine trees still bear scorch marks as a reminder of the Labor Day fires that burned the area more than a year ago, but the trails were all open. Newly built wood bridges span many of the creek beds. More sun gets through the sparse canopy than it used to, but there’s plenty of healthy, green growth underneath.

After our six-mile morning hike, we jumped in the car again to head out to Round Top. For a little country town, a lot of events happen here, and this weekend was no exception. The beautiful concert hall at Festival Hill was hosting a chamber orchestra performance, but unfortunately, we were too late to attend, so we browsed the cute shops in historic buildings at Henkel Square instead. At dinnertime, we found an Oktoberfest celebration at Scotty & Friends Restaurant, complete with lederhosen, accordions and German tunes by Das Ist Lustig (“That’s Fun”). I enjoyed a huge cheeseburger and dad had a plate of tender sauerbraten and sauerkraut at one of several tables on their outside deck beneath a huge oak tree. It was pretty much perfect except for a few yellowjackets that seemed to really like hanging out with dad, too–one of them eventually drowned itself in what was left of his beer. Prost!

Last Saturday, we gathered more of the family together to head down to Boerne for the Harvest Moon Celebration. We overshot the location at the Boerne Visitor Center at first, not expecting it to be essentially in the parking lot of a Walmart. But once on the grounds, encompassed by the historic Menger-Kingsbury-Shumard House, we lost track of our surroundings and found ourselves immersed in a fascinating birds-of-prey demonstration by Last Chance Forever. Founding falconer John Karger and volunteers led an engaging hourlong presentation that featured hawks and falcons  flying over the audience; a juvenile (but huge) bald eagle; insights into raptors’ roles in the environment; and how to tell birds apart by their colors and shapes from afar. One of the hawks decided to hunker down in a tree directly over my head rather than swooping in for a proffered treat—luckily he didn’t do any decorating on me. An owl presentation later in the evening, plus belly dancing, a children’s costume contest and henna tattoos, made this little fall festival a real treat.

Though dad has already headed home, the fall weather is so lovely that I might keep this going and venture out somewhere else this weekend…I have my eye on Wurstfest in New Braunfels. What are your plans for this weekend?

A friendly passerby offered to take our photo at last year’s fair with Big Tex and (because of our woeful skill at midway games) the most expensive stuffed animal I’ve ever owned.

There’s a little more than a week left to visit the State Fair of Texas, that grand showcase of food, entertainment, amusements, exhibits and Texas hospitality that lights up Dallas’ Fair Park each fall.

This year, be sure to look for Texas Highways at the Texas Historical Commission’s Heritage Trails table in the Food and Fiber Pavilion, where you can enter a daily drawing for a free subscription to the magazine. They also have some copies of the November issue to give away (while supplies last), along with plenty of information on exploring the state’s 10 scenic driving trails.

After that, there’s enough to do at the fair to fill a day or a whole weekend. When my husband and I made the trip last year, we made it our mission to try all the food finalists in the Big Tex Choice Awards. My favorite was the fried guacamole, while he savored the buffalo chicken in a flapjack, which took the fair’s top award for 2011. There’s a new roster of deep-fried delicacies to lure adventurous eaters back each year–among the 2012 awards, “Best Taste” honors went to Deep Fried Jambalaya, and the Fried Bacon Cinnamon Rolls were deemed “Most Creative.” (Can you tell I’m trying to convince him that we should make the drive again this year?)

Other fair favorites include games and rides on the massive midway, pig races, museum exhibits, headliner concerts, and the nightly parade and light show. Don’t miss out–the fair runs until Oct. 21.

It’s said that you can’t get blood from a stone, but how about getting a horny toad out of one?

That’s what’s said to have happened in Eastland, Texas, when the old courthouse was being torn down in 1928. A time capsule in the courthouse’s cornerstone since 1897 was opened, and to the surprise of thousands of people gathered for the event, a horned lizard sealed up in the box 31 years ago was still alive. Named “Old Rip,” after Rip Van Winkle, the horny toad was taken on a national tour before dying less than a year later. (According to the story, that wasn’t the end of his adventures.)

Today, Old Rip lies in state in a casket at the Eastland County Courthouse, and the city celebrates this legendary lizard at RipFest each October.  This year’s event on Saturday, Oct. 6, features a full day of activities, including a parade, car show, bull riding, live entertainment.

If you’d prefer to make some weekend plans that aren’t reptile-related, don’t fret — there are lots of options. It’s officially fall, which means Texas is buzzing with big events to choose from:

Gonzales: Come and Take It Festival, Oct. 5-7

Gruene: Music and Wine Festival, Oct. 4-7

Huntsville: Fair on the Square, Oct. 5-6

Rockport: Seafair, Oct. 5-7

Southlake: Southlake Oktoberfest, Oct. 4-6

Waco: Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo, Oct. 4-13

Victoria: Bootfest, Oct. 5-6

About a year after the Second Battle of Adobe Walls and later fighting in the Red River War, Quanah Parker and his band of Comanches surrendered themselves at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1875. During the next 35 years, Parker continued to represent his people, and also became known as a rancher, statesman and Native American Church leader. (Photo from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission)

One of the most compelling stories in Texas history is that of kidnapped settler Cynthia Ann Parker and her son, Quanah Parker, who became the last chief of his Comanche tribe. (Be sure to pick up your October 2012 issue of Texas Highways for Russell A. Graves’  story on the recently established Quanah Parker Trail–a preview can be found here.) Part of Quanah Parker’s legacy is his role in the Second Battle of Adobe Walls in 1874, in which he led hundreds of men in an attack on an outpost of white buffalo hunters. The hunters held their ground, meaning a defeat for the southern plains tribes that would hasten their movement to reservations and the extermination of wild buffalo in the region.

On Saturday, this important period in Texas frontier history is examined during the Adobe Walls Trek, an annual event presented by the Hutchinson County Museum in Borger. Expert presentations begin at 9 a.m.  in front of Borger’s City Hall, then continue by caravan to the sites of the 1864 and 1877 Battles of Adobe Walls. There is no charge to participate, though donations are welcome. For more details, call the museum at 806/273-0130.

More information about the Battles of Adobe Walls and their implications for Texas history can be found in this booklet on the museum’s website.

And while you’re in the region, you might also be interested in stopping by the Calf Fry Cook-Off, Barbecue and Beach Party in Canadian (about an hour east of Borger) on Saturday. Pro tip: If you don’t already know what a “calf fry” is, let your education begin by just eating and enjoying — then ask.

The kids are back in school, and we’re already working on the winter Texas Events Calendar, but hopefully there’s still room in everyone’s schedule for summer’s last hurrah – Labor Day!

In addition to the usual holiday celebrations, many communities choose this weekend to put on some of their biggest and most unique events.

West puts on its signature Czech heritage festival, Westfest, this Friday through Sunday. Along with the expected festival offerings of a parade and carnival, this event stands out for its cultural displays, including costumes, polka music and dancing, and (my favorite) tasty kolaches. Saturday is the main day for musical entertainment, with Brave Combo and Larry Joe Taylor performing.

Marfa’s Labor Day weekend tradition is the annual Marfa Lights Festival, named for the eerie nighttime phenomenon seen in the desert nearby. From Aug. 31-Sept. 2, the festival will present free concerts, a parade, 5K run and other activities, plus the event’s first soapbox derby.

Then, if you’re already out in Marfa, you might as well take a short drive to Alpine to see the hot-air balloons at the Big Bend Balloon Bash, which runs Sept. 1-3. The balloons are only in flight from about 7:30-10 a.m. (weather permitting), but if an evening visit is more your speed, check out the 8 p.m. Fire Concert at Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport on Sunday.

Galveston’s newest addition to the Labor Day event roster is the BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival, happening Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at Moody Gardens. More than 400 craft beers will be featured at more than 10 events, including beer tastings, food pairings, seminars, poolside parties and a live country music concert. Tickets can be purchased in advance (which also is a good time to plan a safe ride home).

A roundup of other events this Labor Day weekend:

Anna: Hammerfest 2012

Bertram: Oatmeal Festival

Boerne: Kendall County Fair

El Paso: Sun City Music Festival

Granbury: Hoodstock Music Festival

Waelder: Fiesta Guacamole

As musicians and fans roll in for the annual Navasota Blues Festival this Friday and Saturday, I wondered: How did this town get its title as the “Blues Capital of Texas?”

Mance Lipscomb died in 1976 in his hometown of Navasota, Texas.

A key figure in the area’s music heritage is songster and blues musician Mance Lipscomb, who was born in Navasota in 1895 and spent much of his life as a tenant farmer before releasing his first album 1960. (The term “songster” refers to traveling musicians who played in a wide variety of styles that influenced and blended with blues music as it’s known today.) After being signed by a major label at age 65, Lipscomb became a regular at music festivals and blues clubs around the country before returning home to Navasota in his final years. Today, the city celebrates his musical legacy with a two-day festival featuring celebrated local and regional blues performers.

This year’s Navasota Blues Fest is Aug. 10-11 at the Grimes County Expo Center (yes, it’s inside with air conditioning – an important detail during a Texas summer!) For details, check out our event listing here.

Other events happening around the state include:

Alpine: Big Bend Ranch Rodeo, Aug. 10-11

Chappell Hill: Lavender and Wine Fest, Aug. 11

De Leon: Peach and Melon Festival, Aug. 7-11

Howdy, folks! My name is Erin, and I’ve mostly worked behind the scenes here at Texas Highways as editor of the event listings on the website, as well as in the magazine and the Texas Events Calendar. I’m excited to join the team on TexasHighways.com to highlight the wonderful events the Lone Star State has to offer on my new blog, Texas To Do.

Let’s get started with some picks for events happening around the state this weekend. If you’ve never experienced the Texas Panhandle, this weekend would be a great time to make the drive to Dalhart for the XIT Rodeo and Reunion. Starting in 1937, cowboys who worked the once-sprawling XIT Ranch gathered here to reminisce with their families, and put on a rodeo and free barbecue for the public. Today, the event has grown into a massive affair that triples the size of the town, offering the World’s Largest Free Barbecue, a fiddlers’ contest, arts-and-crafts show, concerts and more. Check out the links below for details on the XIT Rodeo and Reunion, and other events this weekend.

Dalhart: XIT Rodeo and Reunion, Aug. 2-4

Llano: Hill Country Hammerfest Aerobatic Contest, Aug. 3-4

Tomball: Tomball Night, Aug. 3

San Antonio: Final Night of the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival, Aug. 3