A series of four outdoor, eclectic concerts on the grounds of the Pioneer Museum. Concerts feature both emerging and established artists in an informal, family setting. Come tour the museum buildings, enjoy a meal with beer, wine or beverages for sale and bring the whole family! Performing will be The Moonlites, Men in Black and the New Buddy Holly Band.

Gates open at 5 pm; music starts at 6:30 pm. $12 at the gate or $10 with online pre-purchase or printed $2 coupon. Kids under 18 are free

Beginning March 5, Gillespie County Historical Society will present “Alamo Images: Changing Perceptions of a Texas Experience,” an exhibition organized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University in Dallas and produced by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities in the Vereins Kirche.

Through photographs, illustrations, artwork and text, “Alamo Images” presents a story that has captivated several generations of audiences. The exhibition explores what the Alamo means to Texans and the role of Mexican-Texans in the Texas Revolution. Dozens of photographs and artworks give viewers of this exhibition interesting visuals to illustrate the history of the Alamo as mission, fort and shrine, as well as the drama of its siege and fall in March 1836.

The Gillespie County Historical Society presents “Alamo Images” as a means to promote ongoing dialogue about the significance of the Alamo as a Texas experience, as seen through its various representations in popular culture.

The exhibition will be available to the public from Tuesday, March 05 to April 10 . For more information about viewing hours or to arrange group visits, contact
Evelyn Weinheimer at 830-997-2835.

Humanities Texas develops and supports diverse programs across the state, including lectures, oral history projects, teacher institutes, traveling exhibitions and documentary films. For more information, please call Humanities Texas at 512.440.1991.

Come for some ‘old-fashioned fun’ on the Pioneer Museum Grounds, 325 West Main Street. Perhaps even a visit from the Easter Bunny!

Children ages ten and under are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt on the museum grounds. There will be a special area for toddlers.

Admission is free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The egg hunt will begin promptly at 10:30 am.

Cookies and lemonade will be served.

Fredericksburg based Former Texas Ranger Foundation has partnered with the Gillespie County Historical Society and the Texas Heritage Music Foundation of Kerrville, to produce “Texas History Day”, a truly unique event that will be presented at the Pioneer Museum, 325 West Main Street, in Fredericksburg on Saturday, March 16, 2013. The event is scheduled during Spring Break as an outreach program aimed at the youth of Texas to present messages of Texas History and Texas Values.

Daytime programming will focus on character education by presenting the Five Character Traits of the Texas Ranger (courage – determination – dedication – integrity – respect), while being wrapped in the theme of Frontier Texas, through presentations of song, storytelling, magic and field reenactments. An estimated 2,000 – 2,500 people are expected for the outdoor staging portion of the event from 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM, and will culminate that evening with a catered dinner and concert by award- winning Texas author and singer Mike Blakely. Seating for the evening dinner and concert is limited to 200 patrons.

Admission for the daytime activities is $5 for adults, $3 for children age 7 to 17, and children under 7 are free. The evening dinner show is $40. All proceeds will benefit the Pioneer Museum and Texas Heritage Music Foundation.

Make plans to attend this family oriented, entertaining yet educational event …………
WHERE TEXAS HISTORY and TEXAS VALUES COME TOGETHER for TEXAS YOUTH.

For tickets and information contact Evelyn Weinheimer, Event Coordinator, at the Pioneer Museum (830) 990-8441.

Children ages 10 years and younger are invited to bring their stockings this Saturday, December 8 to the Pioneer Museum for the annual Kinderfest, a special children’s Christmas event held from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the museum at 325 W. Main St., in Fredericksburg. The museum admission is free via the S. Milam Street entrance from 2:00-3:00 p.m. for children accompanied by an adult. On tap will be story-telling, crafts and refreshments, and a visit from St. Nikolaus, a.k.a Santa! For more information, call the Gillespie County Historical Society at 830-997-2835.

Learn more about the needle arts of days gone by including knitting, crochet, quilting and embroidery at the Pioneer Museum, 325 West Main Street. Enjoy demonstrations and even participate — all skill levels are welcome! Call 830-990-8441 for more information.

Guests who cannot wait for the Pioneer Museum’s Tannenbaum Ball to arrive on December 8 in Fredericksburg, can get an early start at bidding for auction items with a new online auction.

For the first time, anyone can bid early on dozens of auction items by visiting www.blacktie-sanantonio.com, then clicking on “auctions” and going to the Gillespie County Historical Society link. The online auction closes on December 4 at 10:00 pm, but will resume the night of the Ball.

Among the items offered are:
Fredericksburg Opera Festival and Champagne Cocktail Party
2 Piece Vera Bradley Luggage
4 16 oz. Fredericksburg Beer Steins
A Cajun Shrimp Boil and Beer Pairing
Blue Mother of Pearl Three Strand Necklace, with Bracelet & Earrings
20-inch Bluegreen Handmade Ceramic Bead Necklace
Handcarved Santa by American Woodcarver – Greg Guedel
Christopher Radko Ornament “Wildflower Wings” ,Hand-Blown Glass Body with Swarovski Crystals
Luckenbach sign and 1 set of dominos
Multi-Color Semi-Precious Stone Doncaster Necklace
Red Coral, CZ’s, 24K Gold Vermeil Chandlier Earrings
Sterling Silver Bell Necklace – “You Are Loved” – handmade in Austin
18 inch Star Sterling Silver Chain and Pendant and matching earrings from
the Museum Collection of Hand and Hammer Silversmiths
Sterling silver Rose Necklace and Bracelet
20″ silver necklace and holly pendant w/red Chalcedony beads Silver bracelet with 7 holiday silver charms
Sterling Silver Moravian Star Pendant on a 20 inch triple Sterling Silver Chain
Virgin, Saint & Angels 4-strand Mixed Pearl and Clear Sea Crystal Necklace and Pendant Earrings
Wood & Pewter Bowl Set by Vagabond House

The Tannenbaum Ball will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2012, from 7 pm until 11:30 pm at the new St. Mary’s Event Center. The celebration features a seated dinner by Delicious Details, open bar, more silent and live auction items, and dance music by The Flying GTs. Segner’s Jewelry will offer a $2400 custom-designed jewelry item in the prize drawing.

Ball Tickets are $110 per person before November 26, 2012, and $125 after that date until December 6. Reservations are required for the Ball. Benefactor tables are available. Tickets may be purchased at the Pioneer Musuem, 325 West Main in Fredericksburg, or on line at www.pioneermuseum.net.

On Saturday, December 1, 2012, guests can tour seven of Fredericksburg’s most distinctive homes from noon until 6pm for the 55th Holiday Home Tour.

Tour Tickets are $25 per person and include a booklet with tour map and full description of each home. Tickets are available for purchase through December 1 at Pioneer Museum 325 West Main Street, Vereins Kirche, and Gastehaus Schmidt in Fredericksburg and Crenwelge Motors in Kerrville. Tickets can also be purchased online or by calling 830-990-8441.

The Tour and Ball are the largest fundraisers for the Gillespie County Historical Society, which is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve the history of the area. Call 830-990-8441 for more information about either event.

Stop by the Pioneer Museum when the Pumpkin Patch opens for business, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be open Monday through Saturday through October 31. Buy pumpkins, pose for family photos, or pick-up decorating ideas at the patch on the museum grounds at 325 W. Main St., in Fredericksburg. All sales will benefit the Pioneer Museum. For information, call 830-997-2835.

Continuing a 55-year-old tradition, the Gillespie County Historical Society is inviting the public to enjoy its Holiday Home Tour and Tannenbaum Ball during this year’s Holiday Happenings week.

55th Annual Holiday Home Tour
Fredericksburg,Texas
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Noon until 6pm

Seven unique, never before toured Fredericksburg area homes all decorated for the Holidays. A booklet with the Tour map and full description of each home is given to each Holiday Home Tour participant.

Tour Tickets are $25 per person and available for purchase through December 1 at Pioneer Museum 325 West Main Street, Vereins Kirche, and Gastehaus Schmidt (you can purchase the tickets online when you make your reservation) in Fredericksburg and Crenwelge Motors in Kerrville.

Tickets can also be purchased online at www.pioneermuseum.net or call 830-990-8441

55th Annual Tannenbaum Ball
St. Mary’sEventCenter
Fredericksburg,Texas
Saturday, December 8, 2012
7pm until 11:30pm 

An evening celebration in the new St. Mary’s Event Center. The event features a seated dinner by Delicious Details, open bar, Silent & Live Auction, and dance music by The Flying GTs. Segner’s Jewelry will offer a $2400 custom-designed jewelry item in the prize drawing.

Ball Tickets are $110 per person before November 26, 2012, and $125 after that date until December 6. Reservations are required for the Ball. Benefactor tables are available.

Tickets may be purchased at the Pioneer Museum, 325 West Main in Fredericksburg, on line at www.pioneermuseum.net or call 830-990-8441.

Call 830-990-8441 for more information about either event.

Stephen Vollmer, Executive Director of the Gillespie County Historical Society, has announced the First Annual Muesebach Lecture Series will be held onFriday, May 18, 2012, at the Hill Country University Center, Fredericksburg TX.

This inaugural event was organized in celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of J.O. Meusebach, Founder of Fredericksburg, Texas. The topic is “Pioneering the Grape and Other Flora in the Hill Country: Yesterday and Today.” It honors Meusebach and his contemporaries’ interests in raising grapes and wine production in the region.

“This program is a unique opportunity to hear well-recognized speakers share their perspectives of the early settlers’ interests in native flora and future of vintner’s art in the Texas Hill Country,” Vollmer said. “It is a full day designed to inform and excite listeners.”

Dr. James Kearney, Lonnie Childs, Dr. Ed Hellman, Bill Lindemann, Penny Adams, and Bill Blackmon will share their insights on how 19th century settlers documented the native flora and shared horticultural information to help lay the foundation for today’s viticulture in the Texas Hill Country.

The afternoon session offers subscribers an option to participate in one of two Field Trips:

Trip #1 – an onsite visit to Granite Hill Vineyard for a discussion on the production of grapes in the Hill Country

Trip # 2 – a pre-determined driving route with stops along the way to view and discuss the native wildflowers and environment of Gillespie County

The day’s schedule follows:

Friday, May 18

Morning Session

7:30 am– Registration

8:30am–12 noon: Lectures

Hill Country University Center
2818 E. US Highway 290
Fredericksburg, Texas

Afternoon Session

1:30pm – 3:30 pm: Field Trips

Admission is $25 to the general public; $20 for students or members of GCHS and Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT). Participants may register on site or in advance by calling (830) 990-8441.

This event is presented by Pioneer Museum/Gillespie County Historical Society (GCHS); Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT); Texas Tech University-Fredericksburg; Hill Country University Center ; Granite Hill Vineyard.

For more information go to www.pioneermuseum.net