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On Jan. 28, celebrate the Surfside Beach artist community with the Surfside Food and Art Festival at Stahlman Park Event Center. The festival highlights local artists and includes a Texas cold-weather staple: chili. Around 20 teams compete in a cookoff for Best Taste, Best Showmanship, and People’s Choice. There’s also a beer tasting sponsored by Houston’s 11 Below Brewing Company.
Inside the center, artisans display their work, including paintings, driftwood art, painted shell art, glass fusions, jewelry, and stained glass. “It’s not so much crafters, but fine artists showing off their best stuff,” says Michelle Booth, tourism specialist for the Village of Surfside Beach. There’s also a community art project open to contributions from all attendees. Last year, each festivalgoer added a brushstroke to a canvas of a sea turtle, and this year’s project is a painted mermaid embellished with baubles and beads.
The festival is free to attend, and donations for the chili tastings go to local police and fire departments. “It’s usually a cold day, but between the festival and the chili, it’s a fun and warming community day,” Booth says.
Surfside Food and Art Festival, Jan. 28
Stahlman Park Event Center,
2211 Bluewater Highway, Surfside Beach.
BIG BEND COUNTRY
MONAHANS
Resolution Run
Jan. 14
Keep your New Year’s resolutions with a 5K, 10K, and 1-mile health walk. Monahans Sandhills State Park, 2500 I-20. 432-943-2187; monahans.org
VAN HORN
Culberson County Stock Show
Jan. 21
A stock show and sale is accompanied by a barbecue and a dance. Rodeo Arena and Community Center, 300 Jones St. 432-283-8440; culberson-tx.tamu.edu
GULF COAST
BAY CITY
Wild Game and Wine CamoFest
Jan. 28
Taste wild game, wine, and craft beer. There are also vendors, live entertainment, downtown shopping, and free activities for kids. Downtown Bay City, Sixth Street and Avenue G. 979-557-4890; baycitycamofest.net
CORPUS CHRISTI
Winter Lecture Series
Jan. 18-Feb. 22
Learn about South Texas horticulture and the environment from experts while meeting other enthusiasts over a cup of coffee. South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples St. 361-852-2100; stxbot.org
FREEPORT
History Day
Jan. 7
See exhibits and hear firsthand accounts of significant events that took place in the city of Freeport’s past. Freeport Historical Museum, 311 E. Park Ave. 979-233-0066; freeport.tx.us
FULTON
Winter Texan Appreciation Day
Jan. 19
This event welcomes Winter Texans to the Rockport-Fulton area. The daylong festivities include informational booths, presentations from local businesses and attractions, music, games, and the opportunity to meet fellow Winter Texans. Fulton Convention Center, 402 North Fulton
