Viva Terlingua Fest!

Mark your calendar for a mid-August festival at the gateway to Big Bend, the Viva Terlingua Fest!  Scheduled all day for Thursday, August 14-Sunday, August 17 for the fun, as there will be music, film and visual arts at the Lajitas Golf Resort and the Starlight Theatre! 

Interested in entering your song, film or artwork?  Click on this link for more information!



From the festival organizers post on our calendar of events:  "There are two screening locations, one in Lajitas and one in Terlingua. The Flat Rock Theatre in Lajitas is set up as a small traditional movie theatre. There’s even a popcorn machine in the lobby. The Starlight Theatre has been the site of several indie film premieres—there is a screen that hangs at the back of the stage, PA system, and a full-service restaurant and bar.

Flat Rock Theatre, Lajitas

Enter your short film (less than 65 minutes) in the contest to win cash and prizes. The judges will be looking at your story and how well you tell it. You can submit your film digitally or on DVD. If you make the semi-finals and we screen your film, you’ll need to provide a DVD.

There are several art galleries in Terlingua and Lajitas, and the Starlight Theatre hosts regular art openings and photograph exhibits. That’s where the semi-finalists work will be displayed.
Terlingua has a thriving music scene. The Starlight Theatre and Lajitas Resort have hosted Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, Restless Kelly, Butch Hancock, Greezy Wheels, Steve Fromholtz, Rambling Jack Elliot, and many others.
Enter your song in the songwriting by sending us an MP3 or CD. The level of production is up to you. Our judges will be focusing on the song. Do your lyrics tell your story? Does the melody fit that story? Semi-finalists will have the opportunity to present their songs live on stage at the Festival.
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/terlingualajitas-viva-terlingua-fest#sthash.Ral7u8G7.dpuf

There are two screening locations, one in Lajitas and one in Terlingua. The Flat Rock Theatre in Lajitas is set up as a small traditional movie theatre. There’s even a popcorn machine in the lobby. The Starlight Theatre has been the site of several indie film premieres—there is a screen that hangs at the back of the stage, PA system, and a full-service restaurant and bar.
Enter your short film (less than 65 minutes) in the contest to win cash and prizes. The judges will be looking at your story and how well you tell it. You can submit your film digitally or on DVD. If you make the semi-finals and we screen your film, you’ll need to provide a DVD.
There are several art galleries in Terlingua and Lajitas, and the Starlight Theatre hosts regular art openings and photograph exhibits. That’s where the semi-finalists work will be displayed.
Terlingua has a thriving music scene. The Starlight Theatre and Lajitas Resort have hosted Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, Restless Kelly, Butch Hancock, Greezy Wheels, Steve Fromholtz, Rambling Jack Elliot, and many others.
Enter your song in the songwriting by sending us an MP3 or CD. The level of production is up to you. Our judges will be focusing on the song. Do your lyrics tell your story? Does the melody fit that story? Semi-finalists will have the opportunity to present their songs live on stage at the Festival.
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/terlingualajitas-viva-terlingua-fest#sthash.Ral7u8G7.dpuf

There are several art galleries in Terlingua and Lajitas, and the Starlight Theatre hosts regular art openings and photograph exhibits. That’s where the semi-finalists work will be displayed.

Terlingua has a thriving music scene. The Starlight Theatre and Lajitas Resort have hosted Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, Restless Kelly, Butch Hancock, Greezy Wheels, Steve Fromholtz, Rambling Jack Elliot, and many others.

Enter your song in the songwriting by sending us an MP3 or CD. The level of production is up to you. Our judges will be focusing on the song. Do your lyrics tell your story? Does the melody fit that story? Semi-finalists will have the opportunity to present their songs live on stage at the Festival."

Click here to purchase tickets online!

There's yet ANOTHER great event happening next weekend, the First Thanksgiving Celebration in San Elizario along the El Paso Mission Trail.  From our events calendar:

"The El Paso Mission Trail Association will present the 25th Annual First Thanksgiving Celebration from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27.

Highlights include a Zarzuela concert featuring Opera UTEP, a performance by Rosa Guerrero, three historical reenactments of the First Thanksgiving featuring Opera UTEP, a Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Seitz, an 1877 Salt War Reenactment performed by the Pistoleros de San Elizario, haunted tours led by the El Paso Paranormal Society, and musical performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle, Chapter 13, Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios. Food, art, historians, informational booths and entertainment for all ages will abound throughout the weekend.

The celebration will take place at the San Elizario’s historic placita (Veterans Memorial Plaza) in front of the San Elceario Mission-Chapel in the heart of San Elizario, Texas, near where historians believe the Mass, feast and celebration of Don Juan de Oñate’s expedition took place on April 30, 1598.

The El Paso Mission Trail Association was founded in 1989 by philanthropist and historian Sheldon Hall. His vision was to highlight the historic value of the Mission Valley, and he worked tirelessly to increase tourism in the area. His efforts lead to El Paso’s missions, Oñate’s expedition and the First Thanksgiving on the banks of the Rio Grande here being taught in history classrooms all across Texas, putting El Paso County on the map as a heritage tourism destination.

For 25 years, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has worked to educate, promote, preserve and celebrate the Mission Valley and the historic trail between the San Elizario, Socorro and Ysleta missions –Texas’ portion of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Through events, tours, activism, volunteerism and fundraising, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has raised millions of dollars and welcomed thousands of guests to the Mission Valley.

Event Schedule--Events are free unless otherwise noted

Events take place at Veterans Memorial Plaza, (near 1500 Main Street, San Elizario, Texas)

Friday, April 25th

7:00 pm Preview Night at the Adobe Horseshoe Theatre featuring Opera UTEP performing Zarzuela arias.  Tickets are $25 per person (purchase tickets here.)

Advance sales only

Saturday, April 26th

Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits featuring the El Paso Heritage Alliance, El Paso History Museum, Concordia Cemetery and Magoffin Home State Historic Site

Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth

1:00 pm Performance by Rosa Guerrero, “History of Dance in the America’s”

4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

6:00 pm Mass celebrated at the San Elceario Mission-Chapel by Bishop Mark Seitz

7:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

9:00 pm Performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle and Chapter 13

10 pm Haunted Tour led by the El Paso County Paranormal Society ($10 per person)

Midnight Programming ends

Sunday, April 27th

Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits

Noon – 4pm Car show presented by Street Memories

Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth

4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

5:00 pm Reenactment of the 1877 Salt War presented by the Pistoleros de San Elizario

7:00 pm Performances by Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios

9:00 pm Programming ends

The El Paso Mission Trail Association will present the 25th Annual First Thanksgiving Celebration from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. Highlights include a Zarzuela concert featuring Opera UTEP, a performance by Rosa Guerrero, three historical reenactments of the First Thanksgiving featuring Opera UTEP, a Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Seitz, an 1877 Salt War Reenactment performed by the Pistoleros de San Elizario, haunted tours led by the El Paso Paranormal Society, and musical performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle, Chapter 13, Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios. Food, art, historians, informational booths and entertainment for all ages will abound throughout the weekend.
The celebration will take place at the San Elizario’s historic placita (Veterans Memorial Plaza) in front of the San Elceario Mission-Chapel in the heart of San Elizario, Texas, near where historians believe the Mass, feast and celebration of Don Juan de Oñate’s expedition took place on April 30, 1598.
The El Paso Mission Trail Association was founded in 1989 by philanthropist and historian Sheldon Hall. His vision was to highlight the historic value of the Mission Valley, and he worked tirelessly to increase tourism in the area. His efforts lead to El Paso’s missions, Oñate’s expedition and the First Thanksgiving on the banks of the Rio Grande here being taught in history classrooms all across Texas, putting El Paso County on the map as a heritage tourism destination.
For 25 years, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has worked to educate, promote, preserve and celebrate the Mission Valley and the historic trail between the San Elizario, Socorro and Ysleta missions –Texas’ portion of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Through events, tours, activism, volunteerism and fundraising, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has raised millions of dollars and welcomed thousands of guests to the Mission Valley.
Event Schedule
Events are free unless otherwise noted
Events take place at Veterans Memorial Plaza
(near 1500 Main Street, San Elizario, Texas)
Friday, April 25th
7:00 pm Preview Night at the Adobe Horseshoe Theatre featuring Opera UTEP performing Zarzuela arias
Tickets are $25 per person (purchase tickets: bit.ly/EPFirstThanks)
Advance sales only
Saturday, April 26th
Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits featuring the El Paso Heritage Alliance, El Paso History Museum, Concordia Cemetery and Magoffin Home State Historic Site
Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth
1:00 pm Performance by Rosa Guerrero, “History of Dance in the America’s”
4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
6:00 pm Mass celebrated at the San Elceario Mission-Chapel by Bishop Mark Seitz
7:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
9:00 pm Performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle and Chapter 13
10 pm Haunted Tour led by the El Paso County Paranormal Society ($10 per person)
Midnight Programming ends
Sunday, April 27th
Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits
Noon – 4pm Car show presented by Street Memories
Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth
4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
5:00 pm Reenactment of the 1877 Salt War presented by the Pistoleros de San Elizario
7:00 pm Performances by Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios
9:00 pm Programming ends
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/san-elizario-first-thanksgiving-celebration-presented-el-paso-mission-trail-association#sthash.olxZ295i.dpuf

#30DaysofBiking
Our month long feature of cycling assets in the region continues...how about a ride down this road, that looks just about the same it did in 1910? 

The El Capitan to El Capitan Heritage Bike route is 55 miles from the historic Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn to the base of El Capitan in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Read more about this adventure, here!

Presidio BiNational Arts Festival Next Weekend!

Presidio, Texas Welcomes You to the Arts of the Big Bend of Texas!
The Presidio Arts Festival 2014 is inviting local artists, student artists, professional and amateur alike, dance groups, musicians, performers and cultural organizations to participate in the 3rd annual Presidio Arts Festival. This event will be an annual celebration that will be held this year on March 27,28,29, 2014.
One new event will be our own “Artwalk”… to Ojinaga, on Thursday, March 27th, where artists, dance groups, & vendors will perform and sell their wares. This event is the brainstorm of our own Mayor, John Ferguson. It will give our sister city a chance to shine and participate in our Bi National Arts Festival! You will be able to walk across and enjoy all of the activities!
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/presidio-binational-arts-festival#sthash.8tcQpvBh.dpuf

The Presidio Arts Festival 2014 is inviting local artists, student artists, professional and amateur alike, dance groups, musicians, performers and cultural organizations to participate in the 3rd annual Presidio Arts Festival, March 27-29!

Meet Tux, Gentleman Cat of Historic Hotel Limpia

Tux takes a break from his vigorous and exhaustive
duties on the Hotel Limpia porch

There's a quiet gentleman overseeing the staff, greeting visitors, and generally making sure everyone has a terrific stay at the historic Hotel Limpia in Fort Davis. 

Meet Tux, a big boy black-and-white "tuxedo" cat whose duties also include supervising cushion softness, and sunlight maintenance on porch furniture.  He does a great job, too, as the property maintains a gracious hospitality for visitors to the Davis Mountains.

While the Hotel Limpia has its roots in the early days of Fort Davis, now Fort Davis National Historic Site, the current hotel main building dates back to 1912.  Read about the hotel's history here.

Many hands (and paws, as it turns out) contribute to a hotel's hospitality.  Tux is one of those unsung heroes of the Davis Mountains.

When you're planning a trip to McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis National Historic Site, Davis Mountains State Park, or Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center....or the upcoming Fort Davis Hummingbird Festival (which is hosted by the Hotel Limpia!) consider the Hotel Limpia for your next stay!

Tux on Baseboard Control Duty

Labor Day Weekend - Catch the Marfa Lights Festival!

Head to Marfa for Labor Day Weekend and have a great time!  Here's some images from last year's festival!

The Chamber of Commerce puts on the festival.  Here's information from their website:

"The Marfa Lights Festival will take place on Labor Day Weekend,  August 30 - September 1, 2013 around the historic Presidio County Courthouse. This will be the 27th year for the festival.
The festival begins at 5pm on Friday when food and craft vendors open their booths. Saturday morning starts with a 5K walk/run and  a parade down Highland Avenue. There will be live music throughout the weekend and street dances on Friday and Saturday nights. As always, the Marfa Lights Festival promises lots of fun for the entire family."