Day Trips

The Marfa Lights have been confounding residents and visitors as to their origins for over a century of recorded history of the Big Bend. When I pulled into the viewing area off of US90, nine miles east of Marfa just before sundown there were already half a dozen cars parked in the area. It was like any other afternoon at a park, except for the eager anticipation in the dry desert air.

As the sun dipped behind the Chinati Mountains, the air began to cool quickly even after a hot July day. The mountains became a dark outline on the horizon and all eyes strained across Mitchell Flat hoping to see the first flicker of light.

The crowd let out a collective sigh when the first light flashed on, but it turned out to be a light at a distant ranch. Then someone yelped, "There's one," and the crowd rushed to get a better look. In the distance (I have no idea how far), to the right of a transmission tower's red beacons were spots of light as brilliant as stars.

For the next hour, the light show continued against the dark mountains. Some of the lights were dim, others were bright, some moved, some were stationary. There seemed to be no real pattern in size, shape, or location. Some of the lights seemed to be halfway up the mountains, while others were just above the desert floor. Some of the lights were flashes, while other lights lasted long enough to point out to the person standing next to you. The Marfa Lights are not a light show like the Aurora Borealis, but it is enough to send tingles down your spine. Anna Reyes at the Marfa Chamber of Commerce said the best time to see the lights is just after sundown.

No explanation has been generally accepted for the lights first reported by cattle drivers in the 1800s. "They're a mystery," Reyes said. Old-timers say the lights are the spirits of the Chinati Apaches who were taken from the mountains and sold into slavery in Mexico. Other theories blame the lights on swamp gases, phosphorescent minerals, mirages, static electricity, piezoelectricity, and car lights. For more information on Marfa, call the Chamber of Commerce at 915/729-4942.

This weekend...

Marfa Lights Festival celebrates the mysterious lights on Labor Day weekend with a street dance and lots of activity on the courthouse lawn, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. 915/729-4942.

Oatmeal Festival became too big for Oatmeal, so portions of the celebration were moved to nearby Bertram for a weekend of fun, food, music, and shopping, Aug. 30-31. 512/355-2197.

Kerrville Wine & Music Festival combines Texas songwriters and wines at the Quiet Valley Ranch for a relaxing weekend, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. 800/435-8429.

Westfest celebrates the Czech heritage of West with polka bands and authentic food, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. 817/826-5058.

Laborfest at Luckenbach features Jerry Jeff Walker and others for a day of music, Sept. 1. 512/469-7469.

Coming up...

Sun & Star 1996: A 100 Day Celebration of Japanese Culture is the largest festival of Japanese culture ever brought to America and will feature film, art, dance, and music events centered around Dallas/Ft. Worth with segments touring around the state, Sept. 4-Dec. 1. 800/605-2726 or http://cityview.com/dallas.