Deliberate Detour

You never know who you’ll find riding a float in the kickoff parade for the mermaid festival in San Marcos. Photo courtesy of visiting San Marcos.

Exploring Texas' Funky Festivals and Curious Roadside Attractions

The state of Texas is full of fun and wonderful people who love putting together festivals that make you scratch your head in wonder.

“Festivals, small towns and big celebrations are a winning combination in Texas,” says Tim Fennell, director for Travel Texas. “The state is known for being big and bold, and our festivals are no exception. They reflect the diversity of Texas’ history, geography and culture, and travelers embrace that uniqueness.”

Some festivals around the Lone Star State started decades ago, as celebrations of the harvest or just as a way to bring people together. Whatever the reason, Texas has an abundance of festivals, each with its share of delights and many that are out of the ordinary. “Travelers visiting the state will have no shortage of fun at our quirky annual events,” Tim says.

Mermaids gather at the Historic Hayes County Courthouse each year for the Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest.

Here Are Just A Few

Think mermaids are just a myth? Don’t say that to the townsfolk of San Marcos, where the beauties of the sea are celebrated each year at the Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest. The town is known for the funky spin it puts on many things, and the festival is no exception. You never know what eclectic floats will appear at the kickoff parade. Then hang around for the street fair. It lasts all day and includes live music, a juried art market and food vendors galore.

Where: Around the grounds of the Historic Hayes County Courthouse
When: Saturday, September 23
Information: San Marcos Website

Photo courtesy of Cultural Heritage Society

Prepare your palate for a hot time at the Dallas ZestFest. Anyone with a zest for life — and an appreciation of the hotter things on the menu — is invited to indulge in a day of hot fun. ZestFest brings together some of the country’s spiciest food exhibitors and products. There’s also music, food samplings, cooking demonstrations, contests and a full lineup of events to add a little spice to your life.

When: September 29th to October 1st.
Where: Dallas Market Hall, 2200 North Stemmons Parkway
Information: Zest Fest website

Always had a hankering to dance the polka? You can! You can also eat Czech food, tap your foot to the sounds of live bands — 17 of them in all — and totally immerse yourself in everything polka at the National Polka Festival in Ennis. It’s a celebration of a culture that grew from a small hometown event to a nationally recognized one.

When: May 26 to May 28
Where: Various venues around Ennis
Information: The National Polka Festival website

Photo courtesy of National Polka Festival

The Wild West comes alive each year at the Billy the Kid Festival in the historic town of San Elizario, right outside El Paso. Grab your partner and watch as some of the West’s most notorious outlaws break out of jail under a hail of bullets. It’s a chance to step back in time for a day of Western adventure and events surrounding Billy the Kid’s visit to this old Texas town in 1876. There’ll be live music, plenty of food, cultural dancing and an original play, “Billy the Kid: 1876.”

When: June 2 to June 4
Where: 1556 San Elizario Road
Information: Visit El Paso website

Roadside Attractions

Photo courtesy of Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau

There’s a moment during every great road trip when you’re driving along, completely unaware of what lies ahead, and you see something that makes you ask, “What is that doing here?” Here are 4 attractions along Texas roadsides worth stopping to see.

Beaumont has a piece of history from the Disney Corporation — a Dalmatian spotted fire hydrant. Standing 24 feet high, the hydrant is outside the entrance to The Fire Museum of Texas with its exhibits of bravery, heroism and the evolution of firefighting. Of note: The spots on the oversized hydrant are actually trademarked by Disney.

Where to see it: 400 Walnut Street, Beaumont

Retired Southern Pacific Railroad worker John Milkovisch found an inventive siding for his house in Houston. He worked 18 years to cover his entire home and fence with flattened beer cans to create what is known as the Beer Can House. It’s now open for weekend tours. Of note: “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” estimates it took more than 50,000 beer cans to complete the Beer Can House facade.

Where to see it: 222 Malone Street, Houston
For tickets: Orange Show Center for the Arts website

Rockport has always been known for great fishing, and now, after 4 years of construction, it’s landed a 6,000-pound blue crab that looks out over the waters of Little Bay. It’s the third monstrous crab to grace the shoreline of Rockport, the other 2 having been destroyed by harsh weather conditions. It’s a landmark and a favorite place for photos before heading out to wet a line or enjoy some of the fresh seafood in area restaurants.

Where to find it: The Big Blue Crab lives at 1522 East Laurel Street
To learn more about the history of Big Blue Crabs in Rockport, visit the Rockport website.

You don’t have to travel to England to see Stonehenge. Just make your way to Odessa where you’ll find a nearly life size replica of the ancient structure with the same diameter as the original, and it’s astronomically correct. It’s an attraction for anyone interested in learning a little more about the beliefs of the ancient Druids.

Where to find it: Preston Smith Road nestled in between the Home Depot and McDonald’s.