by Phil Houseal | Jul 13, 2021 | All Articles, Events, History, People of the Hill Country, Venue
July 14, 2021–When an event has been going on for 133 years, closing the gates for a season is not an option. So last summer, the directors of the Gillespie County Fair & Festival Association decided to hold the county fair and the horse races. Events were...
by Phil Houseal | May 25, 2021 | All Articles, Events, Music
May 26, 2021–You know what helped get me through the year-long live entertainment drought? Polka music. I’m not ashamed to admit that every Tuesday evening I tuned into Mollie B’s Polka Party, a live hour-and-a-half program put on by Mollie Busta Lange and Ted Lange,...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 31, 2021 | All Articles, Education, Events, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
Mar 31, 2021–I wish to issue an apology to the world on behalf of my generation. Back when we were rebelling against everything that “people over 30” did, the casualties included dressing up (wearing ties, ugh), and social etiquette. Thanks to our aversion to...
by Phil Houseal | Feb 3, 2021 | All Articles, Events, History, Music, Philosophy
Feb 3, 2021–On the morning of Feb 3, 1959, 14-year-old Tom LaVille opened up his bundle of newspapers to deliver like he did every day. But this morning was different. There, on the front page of the Mason City Globe-Gazette, was the news that Buddy Holly, the...
by Phil Houseal | Jan 20, 2021 | All Articles, Events, People of the Hill Country
Jan 20, 2021–It’s a serious sport with a silly name. And it’s finally arrived in Fredericksburg. “I couldn’t believe a town like Fredericksburg didn’t have anyone playing pickleball,” said Marcy Guion, a retired teacher and coach who moved here with her husband,...
by Phil Houseal | Dec 7, 2020 | All Articles, Events, Music
Dec 9, 2020–Before he arrived at country music, Justin Biltonen traveled through gospel, punk, rock, and southern rock. Most fans know Biltonen as the long-time bassist for the American rock band 3 Doors Down. But he’ll be performing in Fredericksburg this week as a...
