Desert Spirit
The agave thrives in West Texas’ Chihuahuan Desert. For thousands of years, inhabitants used the plant for everything from shoe- and soap-making to crafting poison arrows. From June 16-19, Marfa residents celebrate the plant at the annual Agave Festival—four days of food, films, speakers, science, and spirits.
The agave is an indicator species for the area, meaning its successes or failures show the condition of the area at large. “As I deepened my knowledge of this region, I found that agave kept coming up again and again,” says Tim Johnson, the founder and director of the festival. “When you see a certain type of agave, you know you’re in that specific desert.”
On Thursday, Hotel Saint George starts the festivities with a pool party and specialty drinks. The rest of the weekend features an array of guest speakers, including C.J. Alvarez, author of ; and Raquel Gutierrez, a poet and essayist launching her book . Fran Hutchins of Bat Conservation International will give a talk about the role agave plays in bat migration, and Cactus Liquors is hosting two days of tastings with representatives from more than 30 brands speaking about the
