Day Trips & Beyond: November Events Roundup
Fall events and news from all over Texas
By Gerald E. McLeod, 2:00PM, Wed. Nov. 2, 2022
It’s already time to think about Christmas shopping and where to take your annual holiday-card photo.
In 1956, Jeff McKissack was issued a building permit for a beauty parlor on the lot next to his house in a quiet neighborhood in southeast Houston off Telephone Road and the Gulf Freeway (I-45). Sometime later he added to the bottom of the permit the words, “Beauty parlors going out of style – have better idea – The Orange Show.”
Over the next 23 years he single-handedly built a mazelike monument to his favorite fruit, good health, and hard work. The former postman expected his amusement park made of found objects to rival AstroWorld. Although the Orange Show never attained the popularity of its competitor, it has outlived the mega-amusement park.
After McKissack passed away in 1980, the late Marilyn Oshman, heiress to the sporting-goods store family, worked to save the folk art monument. She and others created the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. It’s the group that brings us the Art Car Parade (April 15, 2023), maintains the Beer Can House, and built Smither Park, plus many other fun and weird community events.
In September it was announced that the National Park Service gave OSCVA a $500,000 Save America’s Treasures grant to help preserve the Orange Show. In addition, OSCVA is planning an expansion at the Orange Show site that includes permanent exhibit space.
You can become a member of OSCVA’s vision for the future by purchasing a paving brick to help save Bob “Daddy-O” Wade’s 70-foot blue saxophone. “Smokesax” is made of oilfield pipe, a VW Beetle, and car parts, and stood outside of Billy Blues Bar for many years. The personalized paving bricks, which start with a $500 donation, will line the artwork’s permanent home in Kensinger Plaza on Brays Bayou Greenway Trail.
Sat. & Sun., 10am-2pm, $5, The Orange Show Monument, 2401 Munger, Houston, www.orangeshow.org
It’s getting to be that time of year again when long hikes in West Texas aren’t baked by the sun. There are few Texas hikes more unique or special than the White Shaman Tours organized by the Witte Museum of San Antonio.
The Lower Pecos Canyonlands west of Del Rio hold one of the largest collections of prehistoric rock art in the U.S. Hikes from Seminole Canyon State Park visit some of the most accessible pictographs on public land.
Near the state park, the Witte’s White Shaman Preserve contains some of the most beautiful of the area’s thousands-of-years-old artwork. Space is limited on the by-reservation-only tours held every Saturday from September to May.
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, White Shaman Tours, Comstock, 210/357-1910, www.wittemuseum.org/white-shaman-preserve
Travel Notes:
Stars are big and bright. From the Gulf shores to the West Texas peaks, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story is a stunning tour of Texas wildlife and landscapes. Directed by filmmaker Ben Masters and produced by Jay Kleberg and Katy Baldock, the film promotes conservation of the unique wildlife of the state by showcasing its diversity. Matthew McConaughey narrates the 103-minute visual extravaganza that is available by streaming or on DVD.
New wildlife ED. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission announced that David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. will be the new executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He is former executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. After 16 years in Corpus Christi, Yoskowitz brings a scientific background to the leadership role at the state parks department. The lifelong outdoorsman earned a Ph.D. in economics from Texas Tech University and has spent decades studying the environmental and natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico. In January 2023, Yoskowitz will replace Carter Smith, who is retiring after almost 15 years as head of the department.
Other November Events:
Georgia O’Keeffe and American Modernism
Nov. 1-Dec. 11, San Antonio, www.mcnayart.org
Movement: The Legacy of Kineticism
Nov. 1-July 16, 2023, Dallas, dma.org/art/exhibitions/movement-legacy-kineticism
Rancho CASI de los Chisos Chili Cook-Off
Nov. 1-5, Terlingua, www.casichili.net
Texas Renaissance Festival
Nov. 1-27, Plantersville, www.texrenfest.com
Terlingua Original (Tolbert) International Chili Cook Off + BBQ
Nov. 2-5, Terlingua, abowlofred.com
Wild West Brewfest
Nov. 3-5, Katy, www.wildwestbrewfest.com
Big Bend Arts Council Membership Show
Nov. 3-Dec. 6, Alpine, www.bigbendartscouncil.org
Dobie Dichos
Nov. 4, Oakville, www.dobiedichos.com
Bob Wills Fiddle Festival and Contest
Nov. 4-5, Greenville, www.bobwillsfest.com
Rockport Film Festival
Nov. 4-6, Rockport, www.rockportartcenter.com/rca-events-1/rff22
Wurstfest
Nov. 4-13, New Braunfels, www.wurstfest.com
Guided Photography Grotto Hike
Nov. 4, Dec. 2, Round Mountain, www.westcave.org/fall-specialty-hike
Fresh Farmers and Artisan Market
Nov. 5, Bellville, www.discoverbellville.com
Artist Community Market
Nov. 5, Midland, www.acmidland.org/artist-community-market
DiwaliSA Festival of Lights Parade
Nov. 5, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/diwali-sa-festival-of-lights-parade
Lamar Market
Nov. 5-6, Rockport, www.lamarvfd.com
Fossil Fest
Nov. 5-6, Round Rock, www.austinpaleo.org/fest.html
Saturday Night Rodeo
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, Bulverde, www.tejasrodeo.com
Eastside Market
Nov. 6, Waco, www.eastsidemarketwtx.com
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Nov. 9-13, Harlingen, www.rgvbf.org
Scottish Gathering and Highland Games
Nov. 11-13, Salado, www.saladoscottishfestival.com
Big Star Texas Night
Nov. 12, Burton, www.burtontexas.org/bigstartexasnight
Williams Creek (Albert) School Open House
Nov. 12, Gillespie County, www.historicschools.org
Heritage Syrup Festival
Nov. 12, Henderson, www.depotmuseum.com/syrupfestival.html
Market Days
Nov. 12, Kyle, www.cityofkyle.com/recreation/kyle-market-days-14
Folkfest
Nov. 12, New Braunfels, www.texashandmadefurniture.com/livinghistory
Father of Texas Celebration
Nov. 12, San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/events/5544
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Nov. 12-13, Bryan, www.friendsbcs.org
John Fairey Garden Open House
Nov. 12, 26, Dec. 3, 17, Hempstead, www.jfgarden.org
Monster Mix and Match
Nov. 12-Jan. 8, San Antonio, www.thedoseum.org
Country Music Showcase
Nov. 13, Pearland, www.visitpearland.com/countrymusicshowcase
Desert Door Fifth Anniversary
Nov. 16-20, Driftwood, do512.com/events/2022/11/16/desert-door-five-year-anniversary-tickets
Come and Taste It
Nov. 17, Gruene, www.grapevineingruene.com
Texas Word Wrangler Book Festival
Nov. 18-19, Giddings, www.giddingspubliclibrary.org/word-wrangler
Trade Days
Nov. 18-20, Fredericksburg, www.fbgtradedays.com
Weihnachtsmarkt
Nov. 18-20, New Braunfels, www.newbraunfelsweihnachtsmarkt.com
A Christmas Carol
Nov. 18-20, 25-27, Dec. 2-4, 9-11, Ingram, www.hcaf.com
Lightscape
Nov. 18-Jan. 1, Houston, www.hbg.org/lightscape
Meyer Observatory Open House
Nov. 19, Clifton, www.centexastronomy.org/content.aspx?page_id=4001&club_id=901132
Corpus Christi Wine Festival
Nov. 19, Corpus Christi, www.corpuschristiwinefestival.com
Heights Bicycle Tour
Nov. 19, Houston, aiahouston.org/v/event-detail/Heights-Bicycle-Tour-November-19/23d
Holiday Lighted Parade
Nov. 19, Kerrville, www.kerrvilletx.gov/1344/Holiday-Lighted-Parade
King Ranch Hand Breakfast
Nov. 19, Kingsville, king-ranch.com/visit/special-events
James McMurtry in Concert
Nov. 19, La Grange, www.thebugleboy.org
Ranch Hand Weekend
Nov. 19-20, Kingsville, www.ranchhandweekend.com
Parade of Lights
Nov. 20, Fort Worth, www.fortworthparadeoflights.org
Scott Cuellar & Miles Fellenberg Four Hands On Piano
Nov. 20, Fredericksburg, www.fredericksburgmusicclub.com
Food & Wine Festival
Nov. 20, Round Rock, www.kalahariresorts.com/texas/things-to-do/experiences/food-and-wine-festival
Christmas Holiday Parade
Nov. 22, Wharton, www.whartonchamber.com/parade
Holiday River Parade and River Lighting Ceremony
Nov. 25, San Antonio, www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com
Homestead Fair
Nov. 25-27, Waco, www.homesteadfair.com
Nativity Exhibit
Nov. 25-Dec. 4, Port Lavaca, www.facebook.com/events/1021187908703336
Texas Christkindl Market
Nov. 25-Dec. 23, Arlington, www.txchristkindlmarket.com
Cistern Illuminated
Nov. 25-Jan. 8, Houston, buffalobayou.org/visit/destination/the-cistern/#cistern-illuminated
Traditional Spanish Market Artist Show
Nov. 26-27, Santa Fe, NM, www.traditionalspanishmarketartistshow.com
Christmas Wine Affair
Nov. 28-Dec. 23, Various locations, texaswinetrail.com
Christmas Lights:
Holiday at the Arboretum
Nov. 9-Dec. 31, Dallas, www.dallasarboretum.org
Walkway of Lights
Nov. 18-Jan. 1, Marble Falls, visitmarblefalls.org/walkway-of-lights-faq
MSU-Burns Fantasy of Lights
Nov. 21-Dec. 26, Wichita Falls, fol.msutexas.edu
Wonderland of Lights
Nov. 23-Dec. 30, Marshall, www.marshalltexas.net/483/Wonderland-of-Lights-2022
ElectriCritters: A Lighted Christmas Display
Nov. 25-Dec. 23, Wichia Falls, www.riverbendnaturecenter.org
Starry Starry Nights Lighted Christmas Park
Nov. 25-Dec. 31, Llano, www.llanostarrystarrynights.com
Lights Spectacular
Nov. 25-Jan. 8, Johnson City, www.lightsspectacular.com
PEC Holiday Lights
Nov. 25-Jan. 8, Johnson City, www.pec.coop/our-community/pec-holiday-lights
Gerald McLeod has been traveling around Texas and beyond for his "Day Trips" column for more than 25 years. Keep up to date with his journeys on his archive page and follow him on Facebook.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Gerald E. McLeod, May 31, 2024
Gerald E. McLeod, May 3, 2024
June 28, 2024
June 21, 2024
Day Trips, Orange Show, Houston, Witte Museum, prehistoric art, San Antonio, White Shaman Tours, Deep in the Heart, Ben Masters, David Yoskowitz, Texas Parks and Wildlife, holiday lights
