Upcoming Events
Designated the “Storybook Capital of Texas” by the Texas Legislature, Abilene is home to a robust literary culture and the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. September 21–26, the West Texas Book Festival fetes local and regional writers with author luncheons and presentations, a publishing workshop, and book signings at the Abilene Public Library and Abilene Civic Center. A lunch at the Texas State Technical College Culinary Institute and a gala at the Abilene Country Club pair cookbook authors and local vintners for thematic meals; proceeds go to the Abilene Public Library. On September 26, the Boots and Books Luncheon honors Bill O’Neal, a Western historian from Carthage, as this year’s recipient of the A.C. Greene Award for lifetime achievement.
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September 16–20, celebrate the heritage of the Piney Woods forest industry at the Texas State Forest Festival. The event, which draws about 30,000 people each year, includes the Southern Hushpuppy Championship on September 19, featuring 35 contestants vying to cook the most delicious cornbread balls. Another highlight is the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, which stages multiple presentations per day of feats like axe throwing, log rolling, and tree climbing. A carnival, petting zoo, cheerleading competition, an “East Texas Got Talent” show, and other events round out the festivities.
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Cattleman Charles Goodnight entertained many a visitor in the two-story home he built in 1887 on the High Plains east of Amarillo. The Armstrong County Museum in Claude, which operates the house as the Goodnight Historical Center, will revive its legacy of frontier hospitality September 5 with “Goodnight Under the Stars,” a $100-per-person museum fundraiser. The event features a steak dinner, local wine, and Western Swing music by Jody Nix, as well as demonstrations by Texas artists Jack Sorenson and Jeff Gottfried, who will create and sell their work in the historic ranch house.
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Artist Mark Rothko’s name is widely known in Houston because of Rothko Chapel, a meditative sanctuary built by local philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil in 1971 to showcase 14 paintings by the “abstract expressionist.” Now, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is delving deeper into the artist’s work with Mark Rothko: A Retrospective. Running September 20-January 24, the exhibition includes more than 50 paintings by the Russian-born Rothko (1903–1970), tracing his career and stylistic milestones, from figure studies to his signature tiered rectangles.
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September 4–6
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September 12
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September 12
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September 26
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Photos: (from top) courtesy Abilene CVB; courtesy Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce; Nita Dyslin/ courtesy Charles Goodnight Historical Center; courtesy The Estate of Mark Rothko.
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Don’t forget...
All of these events and more can be found at the Texas Highways Events page 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Find Texas Highways at your local newsstand.
Looking for a great way to keep your Dr Pepper cold or to organize pencils on your desk? These handmade leather beverage holders are “made in Texas by a Texan” at Cold Leather Products in Magnolia. Each holder is hand-stitched leather and lined with a polyurethane foam.
   
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