The Hills Are Alive
Since 1972, the Kerrville Folk Festival has drawn crowds to celebrate the art of songwriting. This year, the 18 days and nights of the festival feature daytime activities and nightly concerts. More than 1,500 singer-songwriters have taken the stage since the festival’s inception, and this year’s acts include Jackie Venson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Shinyribs. Around 20,000 “Kerrverts” are expected to attend the 50th anniversary festival taking place May 26-June 12 at Quiet Valley Ranch. While the event originally focused on folk music, it’s evolved to encompass all songwriting, and today’s performers highlight genres from blues to bluegrass, international sounds, rock, and soul.
Evening shows may be the biggest draw, but dedicated festival-goers say the heart and soul of the festival is the campground scene. Campers form micro-communities throughout the ranch and tent camp each year, according to Mary Muse, executive director of the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation. Many people return every year to camp together. “During the day, you’ll find people mingling throughout the camps playing songs, then they’ll go to the stage shows at night, come back to their camps, and have jam sessions till 3 or 4 in the morning,” she says.
In addition to live music, activities include instrument workshops, the Grassy Hill New Folk Competition, a songwriters’ school, canoe trips on the Guadalupe River, Saturday Shabbat services, and Sunday folk song services. “Whether it’s your first time to visit or your 50th, everyone at the festival is greeted with ‘Welcome home,’” Muse says.
Kerrville Folk Festival May 26-June 12 Quiet Valley Ranch, 3876 SH 16, Kerrville. kerrvillefolkfestival.org
BIG BEND COUNTRY
ALPINE
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
May 5-7
Honor the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 with a parade, live music, dancing, a car show, an enchilada dinner, and the Gran Mercado on Murphy Street. Historic Murphy Street, 105 E. Murphy Ave. 432-294-2370
EL PASO
Sun City Craft Beer Festival
May 21-22
More than 50 breweries bring their
