Events in Abilene, Texas
- Located in Taylor County, Abilene, Texas, is approximately 142 miles west of Forth Worth and 221 miles northeast of Austin. For tourists, Abilene features a variety of attractions, such as The Grace Museum, Red Bud Park and Frontier Texas. Visitors and residents of Abilene can attend annual events in the city, such as rodeos, hot air balloon shows and music festivals.
- Each September, the city of Abilene hosts the annual West Texas Fair & Rodeo. The festivities occur at the Taylor County Expo Center, a 117-acre facility located along Highway 36. The event begins officially on a Friday and continues for 10 days, ending the following Sunday. A preview event is usually offered the Thursday before the start of the fair. The rodeo includes events in horsemanship with local participants and contests sponsored by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Live music and shows for children also occur throughout the event. Visitors can sample food from numerous on-site vendors, see prize-winning livestock like cattle and llamas, and see demonstrations of activities like woodwork and china glazing. The fair also features carnival rides. In 2010, the cost of general admission to the event was $7 or $10, depending on what activities were occurring that day.
West Texas Fair & Rodeo
Taylor County Expo Center
1700 Highway 36
Abilene, TX 79602
325-677-4376
taylorcountyexpocenter.com - Each year, the Optimist Club Unlimited of Abilene sponsors the annual Big Country Balloon Fest on a weekend in September. The event began in 1995 and usually lasts for three days, beginning on a Friday. Typically, Red Bud Park serves as the venue for the festivities. At least three balloon launches occur during the course of the weekend, and visitors have the opportunity to ride in a tethered balloon. Food and craft booths operate all weekend long, and kite-flying demonstrations are also featured. The attractions also include live musical concerts, such as oldies bands or Christian groups and a 10-km race. Children can participate in organized activities and games, run in a 1-km youth race, ride ponies or the train and enjoy special performances just for them.
Big Country Balloon Fest
Optimist Club Unlimited of Abilene
P.O. Box 3502
Abilene, Texas 76904
325-795-0995
bigcountryballoonfest.com - Each year, the Abilene Public Library sponsors the annual West Texas Book and Music Festival. The event occurs in September and runs from a Monday through a Saturday at a variety of locations in the city, such as the Abilene Public Library, Minter Park, the Abilene Country Club and the Abilene Civic Center. On the weekdays at lunchtime, the festival hosts a live musical performance in an outdoor space, encouraging locals to spend their lunch break at the event. The library also hosts book talks and gatherings at lunchtime during these first days of the event. On Saturday morning and afternoon, visitors can tour displays celebrating Texas authors and listen to live bok readings. The event concludes with live concerts Saturday evening. Public schools in the Abilene area participate in the event by discussing authors featured in the displays during classtime.
West Texas Book and Music Festival
Abilene Public Library
202 Cedar Street
Abilene, TX 79601
325-676-6328
abilenetx.com
