Tenth Annual Wild Game Dinner
OCTOBER 9-11, 2009

JOHNSON CITY, Texas —Hill Country Toy Run/Pig Roast: Proceeds to benefit the Cherokee Home for Children. – Blanco County Fairgrounds in Johnson City. Poker Run, Bike Show, free camping, BBQ on Saturday, bands Friday and Saturday night and more. $25 per person, 6 and under free. Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit their website at www.jcpigroast.org or call Sharon for vendor info @ (830) 864-4832, Lisa for band info @ (830) 868-7693 or Sandie @ (512) 556-5579 or sandieandbob@sbcglobal.net.

Tenth Annual Wild Game Dinner
OCTOBER 3, 2009

JOHNSON CITY, Texas —Blanco County Show Barn, 5:00 p.m. $15.00 donation includes Wild Game dinner & Door prize chance and dance (children under 10 free). Silent Auction, Door Prizes and Live Auction! Music by The Mike Clifford Band. Raffle includes: rifles, shotguns, hunting equipment, camping & outdoor equipment and much more – you do not have to be present to win. Sponsored by the Sale Committee in support of Blanco County Youth Livestock Show – call (830) 833-5335 for more information, to purchase raffle tickets or donate a silent auction item. MORE INFO »»

2nd Annual Lavender Festival
OCTOBER 3, 2009

JOHNSON CITY, Texas —Texas Hill Country Lavender Festival: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tour Johnson City - Fredericksburg lavender farms when one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Hill Country is further enhanced by the lavender in bloom. Special events, food, plants for fall planting, and a variety of lavender and Hill Country products await you. In the evening, feast at the 10th Annual Wild Game Dinner in Johnson City.

MORE INFORMATION about participating Lavender Farm Schedules »»

79th Annual Blanco County Fair and Rodeo & Big Carnival
AUGUST 13-15, 2009

JOHNSON CITY, Texas — Visit our website at www.bcfra.org for more information. *Vendors call Katy Odiorne 830-868-7053

Bamberger Ranch wins land stewardship award
By PAMELA LeBLANC
Austin American-Statesman, JUNE 13, 2009

JOHNSON CITY, Texas — Standing on a hilltop on his Blanco County ranch, J. David Bamberger throws his arms in the air like a tent-revival preacher.

"Hallelujah!" he shouts to a group of visitors, mainly Texas Parks and Wildlife Department employees who are touring the property and inspecting a series of low-stacked rock berms that snake around the ridgeline. The berms slow runoff and allow the land to soak up more water, all part of Bamberger's plan to capture as much of the rain that falls here as possible. READ THE REST OF THE STORY »»

Vineyard Hopping, by Patricia Sharpe
TexasMonthly, JUNE 2009

Texas runneth over with wineries; more than 160 are scattered from the Panhandle to the Piney Woods. But for a doable weekend that blends good wine and well-run tasting rooms with wonderful scenery, side trips, varied shopping, and restaurants both fabulous and funky, the Hill Country is hard to beat. If you can squeeze in some time on Friday, head to Johnson City, fifty miles west of Austin. Wine barrels planted with geraniums direct you into Texas Hills Vineyard, where you belly up to a tasting bar for a nip of vintages like the 2007 Toro de Tejas, a Spanish-style wine. Continue west on U.S. 290 and stop at the Silver K Café, on your right, if you need a Coke or pimiento-cheese-sandwich break. READ THE REST OF THE STORY »»

Johnson City - 7th Annual July Fourth Spange-Dangle
Saturday, JULY 4, 2009

7th Annual July Fourth Spange-Dangle:The Spange Dangle Grand Finale will be held at the Blanco County Fair Grounds on the outside pavilion. It will be preceded by a Grand Spange Dangle Parade at 7pm starting on Pecan Ave in front of the Blanco County Courthouse and running down the spur to Old River Road onto the Fairgrounds. Spectators will be able to watch the parade from any place between the Blanco County Court House to the newly constructed City Park Pavilion, the City Ball Park or just any good ole spot on the spur. There will be Music at the fairgrounds at the outside pavilion from 3:00 pm to 9:15 pm. There will be washer pitching, kids games, fun activities, food vendors (hotdogs, hamburgers, shaved ice, beer, wine, sodas, water and other sorts of things) and various other vendors. So mark your calendars for a fun and exciting afternoon/evening at Spange Dangle - Johnson City Texas. MORE INFORMATION »»

Johnson City Antique Engine and Tractor Pull
JUNE 27, 2009

Now in it's 2nd Year! Starting at 9am. TRACTORS 1965 and back (Nebraska Test Book). All Engines Welcome. no Charge to Exhibitors. Food - Live Music - Vendors- Horse Shoes - Washer Pitchin - Kid's Tractor Pull. Admission: Adults - $5.00, Kids - $3.00, 12 and under - free. 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place and Best in Show Plaques. Proceeds benefit Blanco County Fair Association. Information: 830-868-2809. For Vendor information contact Horst at 830-868-7614 or Robin at 830-868-2510.

Johnson City - Wildflower Days | Art, Wine & Wildflowers
MAY 2, 2009

Join in the Spring FUN!   This event is produced by the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce and a group of committed volunteers. Festivities will include the Wildflower Market with food and product vendors, arts and crafts, live musical entertainment, workshops, demonstrations and fun activities for the whole family.   READ MORE »»

Johnson City - Texas Men's State Chili Cook-off & Bar-B-Q Championship
MARCH 28, 2009 - Blanco County Fairgrounds

It's a Texas tradition!   The Texas Men's State Chili and Barbecue Championships will come to the Blanco County Fairgrounds on the banks of the Pedernales River in Johnson City for the sixth consecutive year the last weekend in March 2009.  Each year, some of the top cooks from throughout the United States gather to compete in this event.  The contestants begin arriving days before the event, scouting out the best campgrounds.  The aroma of barbeque fills the air first, as barbeque cooks stoke their fires and begin entry preparation on Friday evening.  Throughout the night, the fires are tended, the meat is turned and the barbeque cooks sit around the fires competing for the tallest tale of the evening.  READ MORE »»

Johnson City - one of the National Park Service's Presidential Towns on the "Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary."

Visit the National Park Service's on-line American Presidents Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary to learn more about the lives and contributions of American presidents and experience the places they knew during their lifetimes and that honor their memories.

The National Park Service is pleased to announce the launch of the new on-line Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary on the American Presidents. The itinerary is available on the National Park Service website at http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/presidents/index.html.

Good barbecue's not all they do in Texas' Hill Country - USATODAY.com »»
There is also Texas' Wine Industry

Learn More About Lights Spectacular "Hill Country Style" CLICK HERE »»