Memorial Day Weekend in Kerrville
The quaint hill country town of Kerrville will come alive with activity this Memorial Day weekend as it welcomes visitors to enjoy and participate in a number of local events.
Typically known as the kick-off to summer fun and activities, the Memorial Day weekend provides just the right amount of time off for travelers to partake in and enjoy the numerous events and happenings that the Kerrville area has planned. Thousands of visitors are expected to make the trip to Kerrville in order to participate in the variety of art, music, craft and cultural events that are on the schedule, and it promises to be a very exciting and entertaining experience for all that attend.
The week end will mark the opening of the 43rd Annual Kerrville Folk Festival, a popular, family oriented event held each year on the Quiet Valley Ranch, just 9 miles south of Kerrville. The festival, which begins May 22nd and runs thru June 8th, is noted as the longest continuously running music festival of its kind in North America. For 18 straight days and nights each May and June, over 30,000 visitors come from all over the world to experience the magic of what we simply call "Kerrville". Traditional folk, bluegrass, acoustic rock, blues, country, jazz, and Americana music styles are all represented at the festival. Aside from the scheduled concerts, impromptu jam sessions are common around the many campfires or anywhere that people are willing to listen, as well as special concerts and activities for children, songwriting schools, music business seminars, hill country bike rides, canoe trips on the Guadalupe River, Sunday Folk Song Services, and an annual New Folk Competition and concerts for emerging songwriters. Daily Tickets, full-festival ticket packages, and premium KFF Foundation Memberships are available. For more information on the 43rd Annual Kerrville Folk Festival, visit their website at kerrville-music.com.
The Kerr Arts & Cultural Center's Southwest Gourd Fine Art Show will also open May 22nd and run thru June 22nd, 2014. This is a nation-wide competition which attracts gourd artists from around the country to Kerrville. Admission to this amazing show of sculptural gourds is free to the public and is a must see to believe. There will be a reception and awards given on May 24th from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. For more information, please go to kacckerrville.com
The Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Conference Center will once again be the location of the 11th Annual Texas Masters of Fine Art & Craft Invitational Exhibition and Sale in Kerrville. This year's exhibition, sponsored by Linda and Dan Baker, runs from May 23rd - May 25th , showcases some of the finest professional artists and craftspeople from all over Texas, and has earned the reputation as a high-quality, artist-planned and managed exhibition. For more details, please visit texasmasters.com
Art enthusiasts will also be treated to another opportunity to appreciate, experience and support great pieces at the newly established "Masters of Fine Art & Craft at the Inn of the Hills." Admission to this event, which runs from May 23rd - May 25th, is free. It will kick off with a reception, preview party, silent auction, live auction, music and announcement of Kerr County Legends of Fine Art on Friday evening. If you are interested in learning more about this event, we encourage you to go to facebook.com/WKCSMFAC.info
Historic Downtown Kerrville will be the location for the newly organized Kerrville Festival of the Arts, a juried Fine Art Show and Sale open to artists residing anywhere in the United States. All art work that will be exhibited must be designed and executed by the artist, and the artists will be on hand to meet with visitors. There will be a range of items available for both the casual shopper and the fine art buyer. The event will open May 24-25, from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. More information on the Festival of the Arts can be found at kvartfest.com
Visitors looking for a special gift, original paintings, sculptures, fabrics, jewelry, wood carvings, or even heritage tomatoes and herbs to plant in their garden, will be able to find that and more at the Kerr County Market Days. The "old fashioned Market on the Square" will be open for business May 24th -25th, on the Kerr County Courthouse lawn in downtown Kerrville between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. The event is family-friendly, as well as pet-friendly, and more information can be found at kerrmarketdays.org.
The 2nd Annual Texas Hill Country Wine & Brew Festival will be held around Lake Comanche Trace on Saturday, May 24, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. General admission will be $35.00, which includes a choice of a souvenir wine or pilsner glass, a wine-bottle carrier, as well at 10 tasting tickets. Additional tickets will be available for purchase. Admission for an adult non-alcohol patron is $25.00, admission for individuals under 21 will cost $10.00, and children under 12 get in free. The first 200 people through the gate that have purchased a $35.00 General Admission ticket will receive a complimentary festival t-shirt. There will be music, entertainment and booths that appeal to all ages. Along with last year's favorite wineries, microbrews, specialty food vendors and unique specialty retail vendors, the 2014 Wine & Brew Fest is adding new wineries and retail vendors. This year's festival promises to be bigger and better! More details can be found by visiting texashillcountrywineandbrewfest.com
Visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a nostalgic afternoon of classic music from the Fabulous Forties when The Sentimental Journey Orchestra returns to the Cailloux Theater on Sunday, May 25, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. The celebration of music from the golden era of the Big Band promises to transport listeners back in time! For ticket and more event information, details can be found at caillouxtheater.com
Get On The Bus! There will be a free bus service available on Saturday and Sunday to transport people from event to event. Check signage at pickup sites for pickup and drop off times. This service is being made available to the public in order for people to be able to enjoy each of the venues, without having to worry about parking or driving. Drop off/pick up sites will be at the Y.O. Ranch Hotel, the Downtown Parking Garage, the Inn of the Hills, Comanche Trace, and Quiet Valley Ranch.
For further information regarding the Memorial Day events, dining and lodging in the Kerrville area, please contact the Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-221-7958 or kerrvilletexascvb.com
