Texas in September: Wine, Hotdogs, Music, Party!

Okay, here’s a question: If you are spending September in Texas, what is there to do besides hanging out at the waterparks? (FYI: Texas has really the best waterparks in US, if you’ve never heard of Schlitterbahn). Anyways, I digress. It will still be hot at this time of the year, but you can beat the heat by checking out the events that rock in this corner of the globe.

First, the Marfa Lights Festival. Marfa may not be the biggest, most exciting town in Texas but it has its share of glory — in the form of out-of-this-world skylights that occur in September. Everybody in town celebrates with parade, music, barbecue, and good ol’ Texas partying. Labor Day weekend is usually the time the Marfan residents celebrate this event.

Then, there’s the Grapefest. How can you be in the Dallas area if you’ve never tried to join this world renowned event? Shame on you! And yet even non-Dallasites come around to be part of the grape stomping and a gazillion other contests. This North Texas event is hardly overrated — there are indeed so much good stuff to check out. Wines? Of course. Painting, golf, carnival, stage shows…and everything in between. Be warned it can get crowded, especially on Thursday and Friday (September 17-18) when admission is free.

If it’s music, music, and more music that you want, head south for Corpus Christi. On September 25th to 27th our folks from Southern Texas are celebrating the Bayfest. What’s better than hobnobbing by the shoreline listening to bands big and small with the sound of waves in the background? What’s nicer than a mere $7 ticket to get in? The Bayfest homepage can help you where to find a great hotel to stay at, where to park, food vendor information, and a guide to the musical performers throughout the week. Can’t wait to party?

Now, I’ve saved the best for last. Texas won’t be without the biggest event ever: the State Fair of Texas. Another one of those events Dallasites should be proud of. It runs from the last week of September to mid-October. Perfect time for the start of autumn, when the weather is starting to mellow down to eighties. Car shows, livestock exhibits, arts and crafts, wines, corn dog contests, ice cream, carnival…this is truly an event for the whole family. The Big Tex is waiting out there!

September is truly never a boring month for Texans and visitors alike. There’s plenty of stuff to do in the Lone Star state. Whether you live in the north, or on the south, there is one more room for your family in the events. It’s truly hot out here, with sizzling events even non-Texans can enjoy!

Lake Theo, Caprock Canyons

As soon as we got to Quitaque, we checked out the travel center and asked for a Texas map of the Caprock Canyons Parks and biking trail. We picked up camp site #10 in Honea, the most quiet spot a block away from the facilities.

Biking around the place led us to Lake Theo and Dry Creek. Me and Joe are  always on the lookout for a place to swim. Some people camped out near the wooden bridge by Lake Theo. I couldn’t blame them, ’cause the area is so relaxing. You could sit by the bridge and watch the sun go down while children play by the shallow part of the lake.

Since the sun doesn’t set in northern Texas until about 7:30 at night, we were still able to roam around at the South Prong Primitive Camping area. There was a lone old man in his car. When he saw Joe and the rest of us climb up one of the lower canyons, he came up to us and said, “Boy, I never thought that place is accessible until I saw you climb up there!”

I took a good look at the spectacular view around me while standing on top of the canyon. Joe and Jayson set off to climb the summit of one particularly steep one, about half a mile away from where I was.

Texas Department of Public Safety Issues New Driving Laws

by Richard Whittaker 

Last session, the Legislature failed to agree on how to fund new highways, but it did pass a lot of laws, coming into effect Sept. 1, about what drivers and school-bus-users can and can’t do on existing roads.

Several of these laws hold that not all drivers and driving offenses are created equal: House Bill 586 means a ticket for speeding more than 95 miles per hour can’t be dismissed with a driving-safety class. Senate Bill 153 rules that the responsible driver in the car with a learner can’t be drunk or asleep. “It seems pretty obvious that you should be paying attention to these new drivers so that if there is any dangerous driving, it can be corrected immediately,” said Tela Mange, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Similarly, HB 84 ends license renewal by mail or online for drivers older than 79 and requires an eyesight test every two years for drivers older than 85. Currently, families can contact the DPS about a relative they feel is no longer physically capable of driving, but few do. “When you take away someone’s driving license, you’re taking away their ready independence,” said Mange, “and a lot of people weren’t prepared to do that to their parents. This is just another way of making sure that someone who shouldn’t be driving has to come into DPS.”

HB 3190 tightens up the traditional autonomy of school districts when it comes to buses. Originally a simple 14-line bill barring anyone guilty of vehicular manslaughter from being a school-bus driver for 10 years, it swelled into an omnibus school-bus law by session’s end. Students will have to stay in their seats, and schools will not be able to exceed the manufacturer’s stated capacity by squeezing in extra seats. HB 323 will require that all new buses bought by a school district be fitted with lap/shoulder seat belts. It goes into effect Sept. 1, 2010 – but only if the Lege puts the required money into future budgets. No cash, no student seat belts.

Students will, at least in theory, be further protected from guns starting Sept. 1. That’s when HB 2112 extends current firearm bans on school property to buses and parking lots.

Another potentially life-saving bill won’t take effect, however. Although passed with broad support in both chambers, HB 3457, which stopped drivers from leaving diesel-engine buses idling at school events, was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry at session’s end. “We were deeply disturbed by the governor’s actions,” said Rob D’Amico, spokesman for Texas AFT (formerly the Texas Federation of Teachers). “It wasn’t going to cost a lot of money. It was just about educating drivers in the district about the impact on the environment and an easy way to improve student health.”

That wasn’t the only transport-safety bill that failed to get on the road. SB 154 would have made Texas the 19th state banning drivers from using a cell phone without a hands-free device, but it stalled after amateur radio operators claimed it stopped them from assisting emergency services. In any case, the DPS still thinks drivers should put safety over conversations. “Our take all along,” said Mange, “is that anything that distracts drivers from the task at hand of controlling a 4,000-pound vehicle, and that includes talking on a cell phone, is a bad thing.”

source: Austin Chronicle

City of Grapevine ready for 21st GrapeFest

The city of Grapevine, located just north of Dallas-Fort Worth, is ready for a big weekend. Grapevine’s annual flagship event, GrapeFest, takes place Thursday through Sunday.

GrapeFest, billed as “A Celebration of Texas Wines,” is now in its 21st edition. It is the largest wine festival in the Southwest, and was named a Top 100 Event in North America by the American Bus Association.

The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic is a festival highlight, and is the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation. It focuses on Texas wine.

There is also a black-tie gala, the Texas Wine Tribute, and a Vintner’s Auction.

For a change of pace, attendees can visit the International Wine Garden, check out the culinary and cooking area, or tour local wineries.

There will be plenty of live music, with diverse offerings on six stages. Featured performers include Ty England and Deep Blue Something.

Other diversions include the USTA-sanctioned GrapeFest Tennis Classic, train rides, and wares from numerous arts and crafts vendors.

And yes, there is the GrapeStomp, a team event requiring a barefoot stomper and a helper to catch the grape juice. Trust me, stomping grapes is harder than it looks.

Admission is free all day Thursday and until 5 p.m. Friday. Thereafter, admission prices are $8 for adults, and $5 for senior citizens and children ages 6-12. Younger children may attend free. Weekend passes are also available for $18 and $23 (with souvenir).

For more information, go online at www.grapevinetexasusa.com or call (817) 410-3185.

By Vianei Robinson

Source: Reporternews.com