Most sites I recommend in Texas History on Location are open all year long, and you can go whenever suits you. But these events occur on these dates. So check them out and pencil them in as you are planning your schedule for the year.
September
Texas Heroes Day (Section 3: Texas Republic)
2016-Sept-
La Grange (2 hours from Houston/ 1.5 hours from Austin)
The Texas Army, a reenactment group, plans to be at the Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites to commemorate those who fought and died for the Republic of Texas. This is great park to visit for its spectacular view from the bluff overlooking the Colorado River. The park includes a granite crypt and monument memorializing the men who died in the Dawson Massacre and the Black Bean Lottery. And also on the land are the ruins of an old brewery and the house of the Kreische family that ran it.
Past Dates: 2015-Sept-19
Sept 19 Texas Navy Days (Section 3: Texas Republic)
Surfside (the beach at Freeport, south of Houston)
The Brazoria Militia (part of the Texas Army) plans to be here as well and promises costumed interpreters, period artillery and a night fire exercise! For more about the Texas Navy go here.
Sept 26 Battle of Medina (Section 2: Spanish Rule)
Buda, south of Austin
The Buda Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a reenactment of the Battle of Medina. This commemorates the battle that actually occurred in 1813 near Poteet between Spanish forces and Republican forces seeking to become independent from Spain. The battle went badly for the Republicans but it was one of the many rumblings for independence that finally ended at San Jacinto in 1836.
October 2015
Oct 2-4 Come and Take It Celebration (Section 3: Republic)
Gonzales (1.5 hours from San Antonio and 2 hours from Houston)
The Come and Take Celebration commemorates a famous battle (with a famous flag) where Texian forces successfully resisted the efforts of the Mexican Army to take back a cannon previously granted to the Gonzales colony). The celebration is a full-fledged festival with carnival, contests, entertainment and vendor booths. But they promise a battle reenactment, so check it out.
Oct 24 George Ranch Texian Market Days (Sections 3, 4, 5)
Richmond (45 min. south of Houston)
The George Ranch is open year round for school groups and visits and is well worth a trip. But the Texian Market Days not only lets you tour the houses but adds costumed living history actors, battle reenactments, cowboy and folklife demonstrations as well as craft vendors and food. And it is held in generally gorgeous October. What’s not to like?
November 2015
Nov 6-7 Austin Town (Section 3: Republic)
Angleton (1 hour south of Houston)
Austin Town is an event sponsored by the Brazoria County Historical Society and features a “town” populated by a wide variety of pioneer living history exhibitions. The event is designed to be educational and to introduce young people to the skills and crafts and characters of the Republic period. It is well worth taking a group of kids to the event because the exhibitors are eager to share their knowledge and idiosyncrasies with the youngsters.
December 2015
Dec 4 Gonzales Historic Homes Tour (Section 5 Cowboys and Cattle Barons)
Gonzales (1.5 hours from San Antonio and 2 hours from Houston)
The homes on this tour were built when owning cattle could make a man a millionaire. And the rich gentlemen in Gonzales exhibited their wealth by building some fabulous homes, many of which have been restored in recent years. Five of these homes are open for touring during the Christmas season.
Dec 5, 11, 12 Gonzales Pioneer Village and Living History “Stars in the Village” (Section 3,5)
Gonzales (1.5 hours from San Antonio and 2 hours from Houston)
Gonzales also has a living history pioneer village which they gussy up for Christmas and offer live music, wassail and a campfire program. If you are looking for a Texas History Christmas event, this might fill the bill.
Dec 5, 12, 19, 22, 23 George Ranch Christmas in the Park (Sections 3, 4, 5)
Richmond (45 min southwest of Houston)
The George Ranch has a Christmas celebration that lets you experience Christmas customs from the frontier.
Dec 12 Christmas-on-the-Brazos (Section 3)
Barrington Farm at Washington-on-the-Brazos
Barrington Farm is a living history farm in the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Independence Hall is where the founders of the Texas Republic signed their declaration of independence from Mexico and then hightailed it out there to try to hang on to their newfound freedom. The Star of the Republic Museum is on site and has a wealth of exhibits. But on this day, you can experience a candlelight tour of offering glimpses in to Christmas in Texas in the 1800s.
Texas History Events 2016
January 2016
February 2016
Feb 27 Beginning of the Siege of the Alamo (Section 3)
San Antonio
The San Antonio Living History Association presents several commemorations of events that occurred during the siege of the Alamo. The siege began on February 23, 1836 and ended 13 days later with all the defenders dead. But those defenders are still remembered 179 years later.
March 2016
Mar 6 Dawn at the Alamo (Section 3)
San Antonio
On March 6, 1836 the brave men defending the Alamo were overrun by the Mexican Army and all were put to the sword. The San Antonio Living History Association commemorates that event every year at 5 am on March 6.
Mar 6-7 Remember the Alamo Weekend (Section 3)
San Antonio
The San Antonio Living History Association takes a whole weekend (the one right after Mar 6) to remember the Alamo.
April 2016
April 2-3 Goliad Massacre (Section 3)
Goliad (between Corpus and San Antonio)
The area around Goliad is rich in Texas history sites. The Goliad State Park houses the Spanish Era Mission Espiritu Santo and nearby are ruins of the Mission Rosario (see by appt only). The Fannin Battleground State Park marks where General James Fannin had to surrender his Texian Army to the Mexican General Jose de Urrea. These same captured troops are the subject of the reenactment held every year near the end of March. Santa Anna ordered Urrea to execute the prisoners and on Palm Sunday he attempted exactly that, although there were survivors who escaped to bring the news to Sam Houston. “Remember Goliad” was cried along with “Remember the Alamo” as the Texians routed Santa Anna’s army at San Jacinto. The reenactment covers both the Sunday massacre and a Saturday night tour of the Presidio La Bahia where the prisoners were held. My family and I happened on this event and took the Saturday candelight tour of the presidio. There actors played the parts of hopeful prisoners and shocked Mexican officers when they receive Santa Anna’s orders. It was very moving experience for us.
April 23 Battle of San Jacinto (Section 3)
San Jacinto Battleground, east Houston
On April 21, 1836, Sam Houston and his small force of troops fought the battle that made Texas possible. Here they defeated the much larger Mexican Army commanded by Santa Anna. And here the first Saturday after April 21, they have a huge reenactment of the battle. If you go to only one reenactment, go to this one. And you have to check out the great museum while you are there and ride the elevator to the top of the monument, the country’s tallest war memorial.
May 2016
May 13-15 General Sam Houston Folk Festival (Sections 3, 4, 5)
Huntsville (an hour north of Houston)
This folk festival, as folk festivals are wont to do, offers dancers, musicians, food and entertainment from the early periods of Texas. And it celebrates Texas’ most famous war hero, president, and governor.
June 2016
June 11-12 Texas Folklife Festival (Sections 2, 3, 4, 5)
San Antonio
The Institute of Texan Cultures sponsors this event each summer. Every culture that has established itself in Texas is represented. And each culture gets to showcase its food, dances, music, and arts. The festival is probably best known for its cornucopia of culinary delights. If you have every wished you could get a taste of every kind of ethnic food available, this is the place. Take a look at the 2015 menu: kolaches, empanadas, dolmas, streudel…I’m getting hungry.
June 18 Houston Juneteenth Emancipation Celebration (Section 4)
Houston
Although the Emancipation Proclamation declaring slaves in the states still at war with the Union to be free was issued in 1862, word did not reach the slaves in Texas until June 19, 1865 when the proclamation was read in Galveston. The black community in Texas has celebrated this day ever since. Former slaves even purchased land in 1872 in Houston to gather and to hold festivities. These festivities spread across the nation, and even Los Angeles holds a Juneteenth festival. But the original celebration all others sprang from will still be held this June in Emancipation Park. There is a parade, music, food, speakers and several days of celebrating.