Cooler temperatures arrived just in time for what can only be described as a hometown weekend to remember, as thousands of visitors made Wimberley their destination for an extraordinary lineup of events.
The festivities began Saturday morning with the Best Little Dogwalk in Texas. Benefitting the Freedom Canines International, dog enthusiasts turned out for photos with their best four-legged friends, an agility course, a Sniffari sniff safari, a canine training demonstration, doggie Costume contest and talent show that culminated in a group dogwalk on the grounds of the Wimberley Baptist Church. Freedom Canines International, based in Wimberley raises and trains life-saving assistance dogs and provides them to Texans who need them, at no cost. The nonprofit organization engages high school students to help raise and train the dogs. In 2023, they pioneered the first dog behavior and training class offered in a Texas Public High School.
Blue Agave Art Fair
Art lovers made their way to the second annual Blue Agave Art Fair, organized by the Wimberley Valley Art League, held at the Community Center. The two-day fair displayed the fine work of more than 30 artists and artisans proficient in a variety of media. From weavers to wood workers to painters, jewelry makers and ceramicists, the juried show attracted collectors and the curious who wanted to take home a memento of the Wimberley artistic scene.
Dragon Fest
The Katherine Anne Porter School launched its fundraising Dragon Fest with artists, vendors and music by Rebel Flesh and the KAPS band. The relaxed, fun-loving event showed off KAPS students, instructors, administrators and supporters who showed their passion and dedication to keep the campus alive despite a worrying shortfall of $300,000.
“Boo! Hole” Fastontheheelsofthe Dragon Fest at KAPS, was the record-breaking “Boo Hole!” organized by Wimberley’s Parks and Recreation Department. More than 5,000 people attended the free outdoor Halloween-themed event where costumed shape-shifting gave entry into fun, games and sweet treats provided by the city, schools, banks and other local organizations.
Hunters Night Out
As the afternoon climbed into the evening, a thousand ticketholders gathered under the big tent at St. Mary Catholic Church for the iconic Hunters Night Out. The 21st annual event, orchestrated by an army of volunteers, provided visitors with a barbecue dinner and drinks, live music, raffles and auctions for the price of a ticket.
The evening opened with local singer Ashton Naylor who sang the national anthem as the VFW Color Guard presented the national flag to assembled guests. As dinner wound up, guests began to peruse the 17 Bucket Raffle items that included a kayak, deer feeder, hand carved duck de- coys, $500 cash, a beer cart, beverage barrows, local merchant donations and gift cards.
The event’s popular live auction featured weekend getaways, golf equipment, a golf weekend, puppies, longhorn cattle, hunting and fishing trips, and a Hawaii vacation. Admission tickets qualified purchasers for a chance to win one of 30 guns in the gun raffle. The new silent auction proved to be a first time hit as bidders vied to provide the top bid.
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Council 9151, the enormous undertaking raised money in the form of community grants for charities, religious organizations and scholarships. This year the KofC contributed $80,000 to more than 23 local nonprofit organizations. The gifted funds were raised through the generosity and contributions of HNO sponsors, local community supporters, friends, members and spouses of the organization.
To date, the annual Hunters Night Out has raised and contributed back to the Wimberley community more than $1.6 million.
A beautiful Texas sunset ushered in the final performance of the day at the Wimberley Valley Winery in Driftwood. Called the jazziest small town big band, the Wimberley Valley Big Band led off the free concert with Benny Goodman’s classic number, “Sing! Sing! Sing!”
