June is the first month of summer vacation for families everywhere. Families heading to Texas for their vacation will have plenty of festivals and events to choose from to fill out their vacation activities.
Having run continuously since 1972, the Kerrville Folk Festival is the longest running festival of its type in North America. Lasting 18 days, the festival features over 100 songwriters, concerts, arts & crafts, kids concerts and more. This year's Folk Festival began on May 21, but runs through June 7.
Aransas Pass' annual Shrimporee offers entertainement, food, music and more. Highlights of the festival, which is billed as the "Largest Shrimp Festival in the World," include a carnival, kidfish tank, shrimp cookoff, petting zoo, arts & crafts, live entertainment and more. The 2009 Shrimporee will be held June 12-14.
Held at Maverick Stadium on the campus of UT-Arlington, the Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games features dancing, athletic competitions, bagpipe band contests, dog show, fiddle and harp competitions, ethnic foods, Celtic art and more. This year's event is scheduled for June 5-7.
Held each June in Bryan, the Texas Reds Festival is an ode to red wine and steak. This steak and wine festival features wine tasting, a steak cook-off, live entertainment, a 'KidZone' and more. This year's festival is set for June 19-20.
Billed as "An East Texas Celebration of the Arts," Longview's Alley Fest has something for everyone, including an art show, live music, a chili cookoff, and 10k, 5k and 1-mile races. The 2009 version of Alley Fest is set for June 5-7.
Sponsored by the Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio's Texas Folklife Festival is an annual celebration of the diverse cultures that combine to make Texas unique. The festival features live music, costume, arts & crafts, and more. June 12-14 are the dates for this year's Folklife Festival.
Albany's Fort Griffin Fandangle is the oldest outdoor theatrical performance in Texas. The performance celebrates Texas' history and includes 300 townspeople, longhorn cattle, a stagecoach, train, Indians, cowboys, soldiers and more. Held each year during the last two full weekends of June, this year's Fandangle dates are June 18-20 and 25-27.
Held in Bowie, the town named for the legendary Texas figure, Jim Bowie Days showcases a rodeo, bass fishing tournament, Indian artifacts show, antique car show, pet parade and more. The 2009 edition of Bowie Days will be June 21-27.
Luling's annual Watermelon Thump is a four-day celebration of everyone's favorite summer treat - watermelon. The festival includes a carnival, kiddie rides, food booths, live entertainment, watermelon seed spitting contest, watermelon eating contest and more. This year's Watermelon Thump will be held June 25-28.
Held each year in Dublin, the Dr. Pepper Birthday Celebration pays homage to a true Texas original - Dr. Pepper. During the birthday celebration, visitors are treated to free tours of the bottling plant and museum. Carnival games and food booths are also onsite during the celebration. This year's event, celebrating the soda water's 118th birthday, will be held on June 13.
