Thursday, April 29th, 2010
| 120th Annual Maifest
The 120th Annual Maifest Celebration commemorating local German heritage takes place May 7-8 at Fireman’s Park in Brenham, Texas. Complete with parades, coronations, children’s carnival, German music and dancers, other entertainment, food, crafts, and more, Maifest offers a weekend of fun. A sparkling Junior Parade featuring the Junior King and Queen kicks off Friday’s activities at 10:30 am, and the Senior King and Queen Parade high-steps its way through the historic downtown district at 10:30 am Saturday. Floats, elaborate fantasy costumes, and enthusiastic children and young people add to the hometown parade atmosphere. Maifestival takes place Friday evening and all day Saturday with a children’s carnival, festival food and drinks, a German Village and Kinder Village activities, and more. Evening activities include the Junior Coronation Friday at 7:30 pm and the Senior Coronation Saturday at 8 pm. Admission is free for both the parades and the Festival grounds; coronation tickets are $12 per event. For more information, call 1-888-BRENHAM (273-6426) or visit www.BrenhamTexas.com or www.maifest.org. Come and enjoy a day of fun-packed Washington County German Heritage; while in Brenham enjoy the beautiful springtime sites in the Washington County area. |
| Reconnect
Wow…. May…. we are nearly through the first half of 2010 and time is flying by and gaining speed. Are you looking for a place to catch up with your loved ones, enjoy the slower pace and replenish your soul as we move into summer? Come to Brenham/Washington County. The lush green rolling hills seem to help slow the pace, reconnect with the beauty of southeast Texas and recharge the relationships in your life. Whether you are looking for an escape from your rushed, busy everyday life to hide away in one of our lovely lodging properties or enjoy leisurely visits to the spa. Stroll our unique shops and find those one-of-a-kind pieces or enjoy our wineries, lavender farms and many great dining options, we are ready to help you relax and reconnect. This is it….. start the second half of 2010 off rejuvenated. Relax…… |
| Wine, Poetry and Plays…
what more could you want? Enjoy the sunset at the end of a beautiful spring day at Pleasant Hill Winery in Brenham. “Wine Down” on the deck and indulge in a glass of wine and cheeseboards with friends from 3 pm -sunset. Wine Down happens every Friday in May. The winery is located at 1441 Salem Road in Brenham. Enjoy three days of readings, workshops, conversations on the craft and unique performances for Poetry at Round Top to be held at the 200-plus-acre Round Top Festival Institute April 30-May 2. Winedale presents The Merchant of Venice on April 30-May 1. One of Shakespeare’s darker comedies, aptly begins, “In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.” The play highlights the conflict of spiritual and material values in the cosmopolitan city of Venice. When a bond is forfeit for lack of payment, religious tensions erupt into a threat of bloody revenge. Meanwhile, three caskets and a dead father’s will determine the fate of a rich young woman and her suitors. Justice and mercy hang in the balance in a courtroom where nothing is as it seems. Light-hearted elements of song and disguise complement this provocative exploration of ethical values. A Festival of Play at Winedale on May 1 is a celebration of all things spring and Shakespeare. Come out to Winedale to enjoy performances by Shakespeare Outreach participants, Eeyore’s birthday (Winnie-the-Pooh’s favorite donkey), a Maypole, and other fun activities. Winedale Festival of Play performances are noon-2 pm Saturday in the Barn, to be followed 2-4 pm on the Winedale grounds by the annual family-friendly version of Eeyore’s Birthday Party, featuring games, music, and a birthday cake. If live theatre is more your style, Unity Theatre presents a compact version of the timeless Camelot. In an idyllic kingdom where might is used only for right, King Arthur, Queen Guinevere and Lancelot, a knight of the Round Table, are caught in a love triangle where passion threatens to destroy their dreams. Performances through May 9. Visit Unity Theatre for times, prices and more. |
| May Events! Apr 30-May 2 Camelot – Unity Theatre Apr 30-May 2 Poetry at Round Top -Festival Hill Apr 30-May 1 Shakespeare atWinedale Presents:The Merchant of Venice May 1 The Pin OakGrandstand -Leftovers May 7 Book Signing – Doug Welsh, PhD -Ellison’s Greenhouses May 8 Mother’s Day Herb Seminar & Luncheon -Antique Rose Emporium May 15 Wildlife & Conservation Committee Fishing Rodeo!-Lillian Farms May 15 Rowdy Loafers and Upstanding Citizens -Washington-on-the-Brazos May 15 Wildscapes and Finding Butterflies in Texas -Winedale May 30 ”100 Days of Summer” Festival -Brenham Catholic Church |
with a scoop of “the best ice cream in the country!” March 15-19, Blue Bell Creameries will expand their tours to accommodate more visitors. Tours of the little Creamery will be conducted between 8:10 a.m. and 3 p.m., with groups of 50 people at a time every 10 minutes! This year, visitors will be able to purchase tickets for a specific time on that particular day at the information booth in Blue Bell’s courtyard. Of course, if Spring Break 2009 is any indicator of this year’s event, get to Blue Bell early to buy your tour tickets. If you choose not to take a tour you can watch the Blue Bell Creameries history movie in an outdoor tent and buy your scoop! 
Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is THE place to enjoy the beauty of spring and connect to your inner-Texan! Known as the “Birthplace of Texas,” this is where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed by 59 brave men as the Texians battled the Mexican dictator Santa Anna. As this document was being crafted, heroes protecting the Alamo died and General Sam Houston built an army which would eventually defeat Santa Anna in the battle of San Jacinto on April 21 in only 18 minutes. There is so much to see and do while visiting the nearly 300-acre park! Tour the replica of Independence Hall; mosey on down the trail to see where ferries crossed the Brazos River. Tour the two-story Star of the Republic Museum and don’t miss all the animals and action taking place at Barrington Living History Farm, the 1850s working farm of the last president of the Republic of Texas. The park is open seven days a week.
golf pro, king or queen of laser tag or the Jeff Gordon of go-carts?! Horseshoe Junction is 
Another must see for families is the Monastery of St. Clare’s Miniature Horse Farm. The sisters invite you to come and roam the grounds and gift shop and see these tiny horses and maybe a few newborn foals during their special spring break hours. The farm welcomes visitors during Spring Break on Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Remember, the monastery is closed the week before Easter. 
Mar 3-7 The Art in Fiber – Copper Shade Tree