The weekend, distilled. Your insider's guide to live music, food, and events across Bulverde, Spring Branch, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, and Blanco. A New Braunfels brewery stacks four nights of live music starting Thursday, the rodeo is back in Bulverde on Saturday, and a Texas honky-tonk legend plays under the oaks in Canyon Lake.
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Live Music and Nightlife
New Braunfels: Guadalupe Brewing Company fills the stage four nights this weekend. The Ruben V Band brings their blues and Americana set Friday from 6:30 to 9:30 PM, Saturday features Taste of Purple (a Deep Purple tribute band) from 7:00 to 10:00 PM, and Sunday wraps up with the Chris Lopez Band from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Thursday gets things started with Philip Smith from 6:30 to 9:30 PM if your weekend starts early.
Insider tip: The taproom pours house-brewed beers you will not find anywhere else in the Hill Country, and the patio sits right off the Guadalupe River. Saturday's Taste of Purple set is the headliner pick of the weekend. No cover, no reservation needed.
New Braunfels: Freiheit Country Store opens Friday with the Cody Widner Band at 7:30 PM and rolls into Sunday Funday with live music from 1:00 to 7:30 PM. The honky-tonk has been standing since 1889, and the kitchen runs until 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Insider tip: Freiheit goes 21 and over after 9:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, so families should plan for the earlier part of the evening. The bar stays open until midnight, and the dance floor is the real thing.
Bulverde: Tejas Rodeo Company runs its Saturday Night Rodeo this Saturday, August 29, at 7:30 PM. Bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, and mutton busting for the kids. After the arena clears, a live country band takes the outdoor pavilion stage from 9:00 PM to midnight.
Insider tip: Gates open at 5:00 PM. Arrive early, eat from the on-site BBQ and concessions, and settle in before the 7:30 start. This show sells out regularly on summer Saturdays, so buy tickets online at tejasrodeo.com before you head out.
Local Eats and Drinks
Blanco: Milam & Greene Whiskey is an award-winning craft distillery on Carlie Lane in Blanco, about a block from the courthouse square. The tasting room pours their full lineup of Texas whiskeys, from the Provisions Bourbon to limited Blender's Reserve releases, and behind-the-scenes distillery tours are bookable on their website. Open Monday through Wednesday from noon to 6:00 PM and Thursday through Saturday from noon to 7:00 PM.
Insider tip: Book the distillery tour in advance if you want the full walk-through of the rickhouse and production floor. The Triple Cask Bourbon is the one locals reach for, and the Wildlife Collection bottles make a strong gift if you are looking to bring something home from the Hill Country.
Spring Branch: Bourbon & Branch sits on US-281 and stays open later than most things in Spring Branch. The cocktail bar runs karaoke on Thursday, live music on the outdoor stage Friday and Saturday, and an open mic session on Sunday. A taco truck handles the food, and the whiskey list is deeper than you would expect this far from downtown anything.
Insider tip: If your Saturday night starts at the rodeo in Bulverde or ends after a show in Canyon Lake, this is the late-night stop on the way home. The patio is the spot once the sun goes down, and the bar runs until midnight.
Community and Events
On the Radar: Dale Watson and His Lone Stars play High Cotton Texas Tavern in Canyon Lake this Saturday, August 29, from 6:00 to 11:00 PM. Watson is one of the last real-deal honky-tonk artists in Texas, and a Saturday night on the FM 306 stage with SATX Barbecue serving smoked meats on site is about as good as it gets for a summer send-off.
Canyon Lake: Whitewater Amphitheater closes out August with Dylan Gossett and special guest Charles Wesley Godwin this Saturday, August 29, at 7:30 PM. Sold out through the venue, but if you have tickets, this is the last big Hill Country show of the summer. Parking is cash only and there is no re-entry.
The Goal
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See you out there.
Alex
Hill Country Hot Ticket
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