Alpine, TX: Heart of the Big Bend

Chris and Heather are joined by the McDonald Observatory's Stephen Hummel to talk about events around the Big Bend celebrating International Dark Sky Week, April 22-26.

Learn about Star Parties, Astrophotography Workshops, Telescope Tours and much more, culminating in events all day (and into the night, of course) in Alpine on Saturday, April 26.

Alpine's Dark Skies Celebration:
https://visitalpinetx.com/alpine-dark-skies-celebration/

McDonald Observatory's Region-wide Dark Skies Festival:
https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/dark-skies-festival

Register here for the Astrophotography Workshop:
https://www.spear3photography.com/event-list

See Stephen's Sprite photography here:
https://spritacular.org/

Learn how to save money and improve your lighting in a dark sky friendly way:
https://darksky.org/

Chris talks with Lisa Nix and Todd Sanborn about their new leadership of the Alpine Gem & Mineral Show. Todd & Lisa have had a long relationship with the Alpine rock show, and now have stepped up to carry the event forward into a new generation!

Chihuahuan Desert Gem & Mineral Club: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064703045076

Heather and Chris talk about Spring Break 2025 in Alpine and the Big Bend. Want to know about a beautiful mountain hike that's not likely to be crowded? Want to know which entrance to Big Bend National Park will probably have a shorter line? We'll survey the things to do in Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis, Terlingua and area parks along with some tips to help make your trip safe and fun while avoiding frustrations!

Chris and Heather talk about the past, present and future of the vibrant Alpine Farmers Market, from its founding by Mark Foster and Debbie Tout to its current home at the Alpine Visitor Center – every Saturday from 9am to noon!

Chris talks with Nick Hurt, guitar instructor at Sul Ross State University, about the 2nd annual Guitar in the Big Bend concert series, coming up Feb 7-8 in Alpine and Marfa.

World-traveling guitarists Dr. Isaac Bustos and Dr. Alejandro Montiel will perform as Duo Fortis in two evening concerts. The pair will also be providing a masterclass for SRSU music students, a fascinating and insightful event that is open to the public. Lastly, a Texas Luthier Showcase will highlight the builders of fine instruments and offer a display of rare and interesting guitars from Alpine's Far West Guitars showroom.

More event details at https://www.guitarinthebigbend.com/

And coming up March 15, a performance by the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra (https://austinclassicalguitar.org/acgyo-give-tour-alpine-tx/)

Chris is joined by Dr. Maureen Frank and graduate research assistant Shelby Duperier of SRSU's Borderlands Research Institute to talk about Wildlife Weekend in Alpine, Jan 31-Feb 2.

Wildlife Weekend is a three-day celebration and investigation of Texas wildlife, including film screenings, research presentations, guided hikes, family activities, a wildlife art workshop, and much more. This year’s event focuses on Bears, Bats and Bighorn!

Visit https://visitalpinetx.com/wildlife for more event details and to enter a drawing to win 3 nights lodging at the Holland Hotel during the event!

Event partners include Borderlands Research Institute, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Bat Conservation International, Texas Wildlife Association, Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, Dixon Water Foundation and Visit Alpine, Texas.

Chris and Heather look back at some of 2024's big events in Alpine, and pull up your calendar now – because you are about to get a snapshot of a year's worth of great upcoming events!

Chris talks with Fort Davis NHS Chief of Interpretation Chelsea Rios and Blackwell School NHS Visual Information Specialist Tori Villareal about these two flagship destinations in the Big Bend region.

When can you see Fort Davis in all the trappings of a Victorian Christmas? What are the latest developments at Blackwell, one of the nation's newest National Park Service units?

Listen and find out!!!

Chris talks with the Alpine Visitor Center's Heather Yadon and Historic Alpine's Wendy Little about the extensive menu of holiday events in Alpine this month, from Santa to Music to Shopping to Tree Lightings to Parades and more. One highlight is the new "Navidad en los Adobes" historic tour of adobe homes and churches, with a presentation on the history of adobe in the region at The Ritchey. Tickets are available at https://historicalpine.org/

NOTE: Since this recording, Doug Moreland's Cowboy Christmas Ball at the Granada Theatre has been moved from Friday, Dec 20 to Saturday, Dec 21 (right after the Christmas Parade)

Chris talks with Artwalk Director Lance Johnson and Kerri Blackman about the latest installments of West Texas' longest-running arts festival, coming up Nov 22-23.