Horseracing at the Gillespie Country Fairgrounds – right here in Fredericksburg – is a favorite Hill Country summer activity.

Horse racing has been taking place in Gillespie County for more than a century. And for the past two decades, the Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association has been offering pari-mutuel betting.

The track is a Class 3 track and the association offers live quarter horse and thoroughbred races during the summer.

There are four live racing weekends each year: two in July and two more in August.
The dates in July are usually the first and third weekends and the two in August are on the second and fourth weekends. The dates for 2013 are:

• July 6-7, 2013
• July 20-21, 2013
• August 10-11, 2013
• August 24-25, 2013

The last race weekend in August always takes place with the Gillespie County Fair, which is the oldest, continuous county fair in Texas. And, this year, the fair is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

Each race day, gates open at 11:00 a.m., post time is 1:00 p.m., and races run until approximately 6:00 p.m.

The Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association is a nonprofit organization that raises scholarship money for local youth. Almost all of the work for the races is done by volunteers.

So if you are looking for a fun time to come out and bet on the ponies, Gillespie Downs in Fredericksburg is the place to be.

Did you know an old abandoned railroad tunnel near Fredericksburg is home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats during the summer months?

The tunnel was originally constructed in 1913 as part of a railroad spur from San Antonio to Fredericksburg, Texas. It was abandoned in 1941 and the bats began to make it their summer home soon after that.

Today it is known as Old Tunnel State Park. Some people refer to it as the Fredericksburg bat cave. But unlike other bat caves in the Texas Hill Country, the tunnel is open on both ends.

The bats return to the Texas Hill Country in late spring, typically around May and make their home in the tunnel until around October. They usually emerge about an hour or so before sunset, but that can vary by an hour or more each evening. It is always best to call (866) 978-2287 for the current emergence time.

Many of the bats emerge from the south end of the tunnel and have to circle counter-clockwise to gain enough altitude to get above the trees that have grown up at the end of the cave. They then stream toward the river to get water before they leave on their nightly hunt.

The bat tunnel is located about 10 miles south of Fredericksburg on the Old San Antonio Road. There is a parking area and both upper and lower viewing decks.

The upper viewing deck is open nightly at no charge. The lower viewing area is open on Thursday through Sunday evenings for special educational presentations and the fee for the lower viewing area is $5 per person regardless of age. Seating is first come, first served and is limited to 70 visitors.

Take the short, scenic drive out to the Old Tunnel State Park and enjoy our nightly bat emergence.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is one of the best places in the Texas Hill Country for hiking and rock climbing.

Enchanted Rock is a huge, pink granite dome that covers more than a square mile. It is the second largest granite outcropping in the United States, and is located 18 miles north of Fredericksburg on Ranch Road 965.

It is known as Enchanted Rock because the Native Americans in the area believed it was haunted due to the cooling-down noises the granite made at the end of the day. Plus the rock glistens in the moonlight.

There is much to do in the park. So this summer, take the Enchanted Rock challenge and do one or more of these activities:
• Hiking
• Technical rock climbing
• Primitive camping
• Geological study
• Bird and wildlife watching
• Star gazing (minimal light pollution)

The park is open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

It’s best to arrive early, though. One: to beat the summer heat. And two: to nab a parking space. Once the park reaches parking capacity, rangers temporarily close the park (sometimes as early as 11:00 a.m.) until sufficient parking is available again.

If you’re up to the challenge, come and enjoy the beauty of Enchanted Rock here in the Texas Hill Country.

The Texas Hill Country is fast becoming Texas Wine Country, and Fredericksburg is in the heart of it along Wine Road 290.

Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 is a group of a dozen wineries located along or near a 45-mile stretch of US Hwy 290 that runs from just east of Johnson City to about 15 minutes west of Fredericksburg.

Each of the wineries located along this Fredericksburg wine trail offer tours and tastings daily.  The wine road itself is not an actual tour, but numerous wine tour companies offer tours to a variety of the wineries.  Be sure to check our site or the wineries websites for tasting room hours and fees.

Wineries along this Texas wine trail host many special events each year.  They do grape stomps, various wine pairings with foods and offer a great chance to enjoy the Hill Country wineries.

The Texas Hill Country wine region has been ranked as the second fastest-growing wine region in the United States according to Orbitz, based on its bookings.

One of the things that makes Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 such a great experience is that it is a manageable distance along the trail from winery to winery.  Although there are dozens of wineries in the Texas Hill Country, Wine Road 290 offers the greatest concentration of wineries. You get to spend more time tasting wine and less time driving.

Visit our website for more information on Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 and the companies that offer wine tours to plan your winery outing.

Texas Flower Country Women’s 5K/10K Run at Wildseed Farms Saturday
Run through blossoming fields of flowers and head to the finish line for a champagne brunch at the Texas Flower Country Women’s 5K/10K Run on Saturday, May 11, at Wildseed Farms. The race will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Participants will enjoy a post-race champagne brunch, wine and beer tasting, free massages, great music and shopping in Wildseed Farm’s Blossoms Boutique and Lantana Nursery. Race registration is $50 per person for the 10K and $40 per person for the 5K and additional guest meals are available for $15 each. Proceeds benefit Any Baby Can of San Antonio. For registration and additional information, visit www.runintexas.com/flower.

Kid-friendly Celebrations:

Founders Day Celebration Saturday
Celebrate the May 1846 founding of Fredericksburg on Saturday, May 11, during the Fredericksburg Founders Day Celebration. The day will begin by honoring descendants with a wreath laying near the Vereins Kirche at Marktplatz, followed by a full day of events at the Pioneer Museum. From 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. enjoy re-enactors, historical demonstrations, hands-on activities, music and games. Admission to the Pioneer Museum events is $5 for adults; $3 for children ages 6 to 17 years; and free for children ages 5 and younger. For additional information, visit www.pioneermuseum.net.

Zoofari Exotic Animal Show Saturday
Bring the whole family to enjoy a free, educational program featuring a friendly and diverse group of animals of all sizes in a portable zoo.  Zoofari Animal Outreach will be at the Adelsverein Halle at downtown Marktplatz from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m on Saturday, May 11. Adults and children alike can see, interact with and touch both familiar and exotic animals from around the world in a safe environment of learning and play.  Past shows have featured warthogs, owls, kangaroos, porcupines, camels, zebras and more.

A Treat for Teachers and Former Teachers and Lovers of the English Language:

Gillespie County Historic Schools Open House Saturday
Visit the Meusebach and Grapetown Historic Schools during the Historic Schools open house on Saturday, May 11, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Former students and community docents will be available to share stories of school days from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Admission is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. Driving maps are available at the Visitor Information Center located at 302 E. Austin, or online at www.historicschools.org.

Fredericksburg Chorale presents “Dialogues and Dances” Saturday Evening
Enjoy new compositions, improvisations and original poetry by Fredericksburg community members at “Dialogues & Dances” Saturday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the Hill Country University Center. Admission is by donation. For additional information, visit www.FredericksburgChorale.com.

A Special Sunday Just for Mothers

Mothers Day Luncheon at Becker Vineyards Sunday
Enjoy a three-course catered lunch paired with award-winning Becker Vineyard wines during the annual Mothers Day Luncheon on Sunday, May 12, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the Lavender Haus Reception Hall at Becker Vineyards. Tickets are $65 per person, and available online. For tickets and additional information, visit www.beckervineyards.com.

Pedernales Cellars Hosts Roses and Rosé for Mother’s Day Sunday
Pedernales Cellars will celebrate Mothers on Sunday, May 12, from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. during their Roses and Rosé for Mother’s Day Celebration. The first 100 moms to arrive at Pedernales Cellars will receive a rose. Guests are also invited to taste the Pedernales Cellars Dry Rose and listen to live music by Phil Grota from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Admission is free. For additional information, visit www.pedernalescellars.com.

Founders Day is one of those days.

Fredericksburg was founded on May 8, 1846. Since the mid-1950s, the Founders Day celebration has taken place the second Saturday of May each year on the Pioneer Museum grounds.

This year, the Founders Day celebration will be held on Saturday, May 11.

The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Vereins Kirche at downtown’s Marktplatz. The ceremony honors the founding families of Fredericksburg.

A second wreath-laying ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the entrance of Der Stadt Friedhof (or City Cemetery), located at the 300 block of North Lee Street. Local historian Glen Treibs will give a tour of the cemetery and share some history about our earliest settlers.

A full day of events is planned at the Pioneer Museum, located at 325 West Main Street. For the price of regular admission, you get so much more! From 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., families can enjoy re-enactments, historical demonstrations and hands-on activities to learn activities such as blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, wire-fence making, corn shelling and rope making. There also will be antique tractors and engines in operation, as well as music, storytelling and games. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for children ages 6 to 17 years; and free for children ages 5 and younger.

A special social hour and dinner begins at 5:00 p.m. in the historic sanctuary at the Pioneer Museum, but this event already has sold out.

Don’t miss the fun! For additional information, visit http://www.pioneermuseum.net.

The bottom symbols portray the March 2, 1847 peace negotiations between Comanche tribes and the German pioneers. A group of settlers, led by John O. Meusebach, traveled north, deep into Comanche territory, and met with 15 to 20 Comanche chiefs. The agreement they reached allowed the Fredericksburg colonists to develop their settlement in peace.

The cowboy and dancers on the second level portray the settlers working and celebrating.

The third level represents the grapes and peaches, which have contributed so abundantly to the local economy.

The next level shows the importance of hunting deer, turkey and other wild game in the development of the colony as well as its importance in the area’s present-day economy.

Also playing a major role in Fredericksburg’s past and present are cattle, sheep and goats, which find plentiful grazing in the area.

The ship and oxcart on the next level portray the transportation of the pioneers arriving in this colony. Most came by ship from Germany to Indianola, a port on Matagorda Bay, and then by oxcart overland to Fredericksburg.

The settlers established a unique community in Fredericksburg as symbolized by the Sunday Houses, which dot the city, and the historic Nimitz Hotel, which serves today as the Admiral Nimitz Museum—a key element of the National Museum of the Pacific War.

Two of the community’s most recognized features today are the replica of the Vereins Kirche, the first church, and the cross atop Cross Mountain. These symbolize the devotion of the early settlers to the Christian faith.

The 12 tree branches at the top of the Maibaum are modeled after the burr oak, a species that is notable for its stately height and durable, useful wood. The trunk and branches are wrought iron and the leaves are copper with a natural patina.

The Fredericksburg Maibaum was contributed to the community by the Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance, a local organization devoted to fostering the arts in this area. The Alliance annually produces the Oktoberfest, a family festival, on the first weekend in October.