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| November Texas fall festivals inspire good food and family fun state-wide |
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| The fall brings a new barrel full of festivals, and Texas has something for everyone complete with all kinds of food, a variety of music and entertainment, and activities for the whole family. Traditionally, November was the time to bring in the harvest and prepare for the winter, that is, in most places where there are definite seasons. Well, in Texas, its different and Texans like to celebrate, and with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming soon, the party is just getting started. Travel Texas suggests going to these five events in November. |
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| Terlingua Chili Cookoff |
| Each year on the first Saturday of November, Texas plays host to the ultimate celebration of Chili. This granddaddy of all chili cookoffs is held at Rancho CASI de los Chisos in Terlingua, Texas. Rancho CASI is located on the North side of Highway 170, eleven miles West of Study Butte and 7 miles East of Lajitas. |
| The four day celebration begins each year on Wednesday before the big weekend, and finishes on Saturday with the Terlingua International Chili Championship. It's a Texas tradition of epic proportion - complete with an annual proclamation from the Governor declaring "Chili Appreciation Society International Day" in Texas. The grounds officially open on the Wednesday before the first Saturday in November, and the gate admission, per person, for the entire event is $30.00. The gate admission for the first Saturday in November only, is $10.00 per person. The first Saturday in November is the actual day of the TICC, International Chili Championship Cookoff. The nightly stage entertainment starts on Thursday night and continues through Saturday night. |
| The Terlingua International Chili Cookoff is sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI). Proceeds from Terlingua, as well as all of CASI's events, go to charity. The Terlingua International Chili Cookoff was first held in 1967. Nearly 200 teams compete each year. Awards are given for both chili and showmanship. |
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| Wurstfest |
| A Ten Day Salute to Sausage, Wurstfest has been drawing visitors to the German-influenced Hill Country town of New Braunfels for over four decades. In the early days, when it was still known as Sausage Festival, the event drew a few thousand. Today, well over 100,000 people attend the event annually. The 2013 edition, which is set for November 1-10, is expected to be among the largest ever. |
| In addition to a variety of sausage dishes, there are plenty of entertainment options during Wurstfest. Arts and craft show, dance contests, live music and more are staged throughout this celebration of sausage. Although the main attractions are located on the Wurstfest Ground in Landa Park, activities are actually staged throughout New Braunfels and surrounding Comal County. |
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| Pearl Bluegrass Festival |
| Pearl, Texas, has a population of around 125 most of the year, until the Pearl Bluegrass Festival comes to town. The population of the town, located on Hwy 183 northwest of Ft. Hood, grows dramatically during the monthly festival which features a full slate of bluegrass music. Admission is free, but donations and any money raised from food concessions and RV space rental goes towards the restoration of the Pearl Community Center. Good home cooked food is available in the old school cafeteria with great pies for dessert. Videotapes of performances are sold, as are a variety of homestyle foods. Please note, no alcohol is allowed on the premises. |
| Musicians come from all over Texas to jam in every room of the school house, in the halls, outside under the pavilion and under any shade tree you can find. In the auditorium lots of bluegrass, gospel and other good old-time acoustic music is played all day and early evening for the Stage Show. |
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| Nine Flags Christmas Festival |
| For over 10 years, the annual Nine Flags Festival in Nacogdoches has celebrated the rich history and culture of Texas' oldest town. Founded in 1997, the Nine Flags Festival has become one of the most popular holiday celebrations in Texas. Held in Nacogdoches, the state's oldest town, the Nine Flags Festival celebrates all of the various cultures that have influenced Texas through time. The series of events happen throughout November, starting with a unique display of antique and contemporary Santas. The celebration continues into December with the Best Christmas Pageant Ever. |
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| HEB Holiday Parade |
| Like a popular Picante sauce, New York's Macys annual Thanks giving parade has its place, but the real annual T-day Parade holiday season begins in Houston with HEB's Holiday Parade. For nearly six decades, this particular parade has become as much of a tradition in southeast Texas as Thanksgiving Turkey and Christmas lights. Although the parade has changed names over the years, this is still the largest and longest running Thanksgiving Day parade in Texas. |
| This years event is expected to draw 400,000 people. Get there early since there will not be any late seating. The event gets started at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving morning (Nov. 22). The parade wraps through downtown Houston, beginning at Minutemaid Park and ending near the George R. Brown Convention Center. General admission is free, but the area does get crowded. Reserved ticket prices range from $10 to $21. |
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| For more information about these and other popular November festivals and events, click here. |
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